TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE 17^TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF UNIVERSITY CHOIRS "UNIVERSITAS CANTAT", 13-16 MAY 2026

THE FESTIVAL'S MISSION:

The International Festival "Universitas Cantat” promotes academic culture in the field of musical arts – choirs and orchestras. More than ten university choirs and orchestral ensembles from all around the world are invited to Poznań to participate in the event. Participants have an opportunity to present music of their countries in its full diversity. All of these activities create a space for an inspiring cultural and artistic exchange.
Poznań, the city which hosts the festival, is one of Poland's most important choral art centres with an extraordinarily rich tradition in this domain. The main auditorium of the Festival is Adam Mickiewicz University Hall - a beautiful neo-Renaissance concert venue famous for its remarkable acoustic properties.
"Universitas Cantat” owes its amazing atmosphere to people - joyful, radiant, in love with choral music and engaged in the concerted organizational effort. Their passion for each festival shows that the participation of young people in producing high culture is a matter of international importance and that performing music together is a universal value of enduring attractiveness.
The festival is of non-competitive nature. Learn more about the Festival at www.cantat.amu.edu.pl.

THE ORGANISERS

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
AMU Chamber Choir Friends' Association

PARTICIPANTS

The Festival is intended for academic ensembles:
• choirs: mixed, male or female ensembles up to 40 singers (ensembles with a larger number of singers need to pay an additional fee for each person that exceeds the limit)
• vocal ensembles
• academic orchestras and big bands up to 50 performers (larger ensembles need to pay an additional fee for each person that exceeds the limit)

DATE OF THE EVENT

The 17^th International Festival of University Choirs UNIVERSITAS CANTAT 2024 will be held in Poznań, 13-16 May 2026.

FESTIVAL CONCERTS

Festival ensembles must participate in three concerts:
1. Gala Concert in the UAM Hall (half-recital, 25-30 minutes)

• the programme must predominantly consist of pieces written by composers from the ensemble's home country, pieces that belong to the musical traditional of the ensemble's home country or compositions in a musical idiom that the ensemble specialises in.

2. Concert in the Greater Poland Voivodeship (cultural centres, churches, etc.) – recital (45-60 minutes):

• The ensemble may present a programme of its own choice, provided that it is suitable for the intended concert venue.

3. Final Concert of UC 2026 featuring short individual presentations of choirs and a joint performance of the festival piece

• The score of the pieces performed during the Final Concert will be sent to the participating ensembles two months before the Festival by e-mail.
• The participating choir undertakes to practice pieces for Final Concert with due diligence in advance of the Festival and to take part in the Festival rehearsals with other choirs. 

FESTIVAL EVENTS

1. During the Festival there are workshopsfor the participants, including compulsory rehearsals to the Final Piece.
2. Meetings of the conductors with the aim of exchanging their artistic experiences.
3. A meeting of ensemble representatives (conductors and choir managers) with the AMU Rector.
4. Participants will also have the opportunity to get to know each other during parties at the Festival club (details will be provided further into the organisation process).

RULES OF APPLICATION:

1. By submitting the application form, the ensembles agree to the Terms and Conditions of the Festival.
2. The organisers of “Universitas Cantat” recruit ensembles on the basis of submitted application forms with attachments (including recordings), ensuring a high level of performance at the Festival. To participate in the Festival, the choirs will be selected by the Artistic Council on the basis of the application form and choir's recordings of at least two songs (recorded not earlier than within the last two years) sent by email (link) or by post on CD/DVD/pendrive. We will announce the results of the application procedure as soon as the necessary documents and attachments have been collected.
3. Deadlines
    

COSTS

1. The ensembles must cover their transportation costs, including:

• costs of travel to and from Poznań
• parking fees, when they apply
• public transport fees in Poznań, when they apply
• transportation to and from regional concert venues in Wielkopolska province
  At the ensemble’s request the Festival Office may organize transportation from and to the Ławica airport / train station. A flat rate fee of EUR 850 is required. The offer applies to transportation within Poznań and is valid during the Festival.

2. The registration fee is respectively:

ATTENTION: Cancellation of participation after 15 February 2026 will not cause a refund of the registration fee. 
Failure to pay the registration fee by 30 January 2026 (unless agreed with the organisers) shall be equivalent to withdrawing from participation in the Festival.

1. Ensembles are solely responsible for purchasing health insurance, accident insurance and other types of insurance.
2. The organisers shall not be held responsible for any illegal performance of music (due to copyright infringement) and for actions undertaken by copyright collectives due to such an incident.
3. Additional participants (exceeding the limit of 40 persons for choirs and 50 for orchestras) shall pay a total fee of EUR 50 which includes the registration fee, and board.

ACCOMMODATION

At the expense of the participating choirs. List of accommodation within a walking distance from the festival venues, in the center of Poznań can be sent by the festival office or the festival can be at help on request.

Foregin ensembles:
Arrival on Tuesday, 12th May, Departure on Sunday, 17th May. At the ensemble's request, the Festival Office will provide assistance in extending their stay in Poznań.

BOARD

The organisers provide two meals FREE OF CHARGE every day throughout the whole Festival: lunch and dinner.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. The organisers have an unlimited right to register and broadcast the performances of the participating ensembles without payment, in whole or in part, and otherwise dispose of any recording of any such performance in any manner that they see fit.
2. The organisers offer Festival materials: certificate of participation, programmes, posters, badges, etc.
3. The organisers may help build partnerships between Universities.
4. The Erasmus+ (local) programme may help finance the trip and accommodation. https://european-union.europa.eu/priorities-and-actions/actions-topic/culture_en
5. The organisers may offer assistance to foreign ensembles in organising a longer concert tour in Poland.

CONTACT DETAILS OF THE FESTIVAL OFFICE

The Festival Office and Contact: