Application Deadline – May 15, 2025
ClarinetFest® 2026 will take place in beautiful Incheon, South Korea, July 8-12. The Artistic Leadership Team consists of Jerry Chae, Young Dae Yoo, Kyungsun Lee, Xiangyu Zhou, Sun Zhen, Ti Huang, Suling Tseng, Pei-Yun Lin, Brooks Nobuo Thon, and Pei-Lun Tsai, and Artistic Director, Wonkak Kim.
As only the second conference in the ICA’s history to be held in Asia, ClarinetFest® 2026 seeks to showcase a new generation of musicians that are redefining the global music landscape. The theme for 2026 is “Local Roots, Global Connections.” The Artistic Team would like to invite headlining artist proposals that feature and support clarinetists, composers, and musicians from this region, while exploring the following key concepts:
- Fusion of traditional and modern musical elements
- Exploration of diverse cultural influences
- Collaborative approaches across borders and genres
ClarinetFest® 2026 will be held at the Songdo ConvensiA, just 30 minutes from the Incheon International Airport and 30km (~18 miles) from downtown Seoul. Connected to the airport by the stunning Incheon Bridge, the smart city of Songdo (Songdo International Business District) offers an abundance of lodging, shopping, parks, and dining. Major attractions in Incheon include Triple Street, Hyundai Premium Outlets, Songdo Central Park, Sinpo International Market, Incheon Chinatown, and more.
There are several public transportation options from the Incheon International Airport to Songdo ConvensiA including subway and bus services, and taxis are also available.
The ICA will be arranging room blocks at a discounted rate for local hotels near the ClarinetFest® 2026 venue. These options will be announced at a later date.
The ClarinetFest® 2026 Artistic Leadership Team is dedicated to the International Clarinet Association’s Statement of Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion (https://clarinet.org/about/ica-policies/) and recognizes the importance of representation within the clarinet community at this event. As such, the ALT will be organizing featured events that represent a variety of global music styles and traditions and also compositions whose composers and/or performers are members of a marginalized and/or protected community.