58th Michele Pittaluga International Guitar Competition opens in Alessandria

One of classical guitar's longest-running international competitions is underway through September 26, with orchestral collaborations and more than €30,000 in prizes.

Sep 22, 2026

58th Michele Pittaluga International Guitar Competition opens in Alessandria

Credit: wfimc.org

The 58th Michele Pittaluga International Classical Guitar Competition opened in Alessandria on September 21 and runs through September 26. Founded in 1968 with Andrés Segovia as its first honorary president, the competition has welcomed more than 1,300 guitarists from over 90 countries and remains the World Federation of International Music Competitions member devoted specifically to guitar.

This year's opening brings in soloists from the Orchestra Classica di Alessandria, while the September 26 final at Teatro Alessandrino will feature I Musici di Parma under Giampaolo Bandini. The prize structure exceeds €30,000, with additional support from the Joaquín Rodrigo Foundation and the Castellani-Andriaccio Trust toward the winner's international touring.

The City of Alessandria's current notice also notes the Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Republic awarded to the event. With the competition now in progress, the story is the occurrence itself rather than its earlier announcement.

Credit: YouTube

Why it matters

Pittaluga is a rare guitar-specific competition with decades of international continuity and a direct route from competition success to touring. Its current edition is a useful snapshot of the emerging classical-guitar field.

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