International Multi-Genre Festival-Competition «Caspian Talent Fest»

October 30 – November 3, 2026
Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan

Regulations

The International Multi-Genre Festival-Competition «Caspian Talent Fest» is organized by the International European Organizing Committee “Alliance of Talents”, in cooperation with the International Organizing Committee “World Music” with the support of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Music.

Competition Nominations:

• Instrumental Creativity: classical, pop, folk, jazz (solo on various instruments, ensembles, piano ensembles (4 hands on one instrument), orchestras);
• Vocal Creativity: classical, folk, folklore, pop, jazz, choral, show groups (solo, duets, trios, ensembles, choirs);
• Dance Creativity: folk dance, pop dance, classical dance, modern, jazz-modern, free movement, breakdance, children’s dance, competitive ballroom dancing (solo and ensembles);
• Decorative and Applied Arts;
• Fashion Theater: fashion theaters and young fashion designers;
• Original Genre: artistic recitation, circus art, etc.;
• Theatrical Creativity: miniatures, play excerpts, puppet theater, movement theaters, dance theaters, etc.;
• Other Nominations: in accordance with accepted applications.

Jury of the Competition: International Jury.

The competition is held in the format of an audition in the presence of the jury and the public.

Competitive performances of groups are evaluated by a professional jury.

Any violation of the competition regulations results in a deduction of points when evaluating the group’s performance.

Decisions of the jury are final and not subject to appeal.

The Organizing Committee cannot influence the scoring by jury members or the awarding of titles to participants!

Organizational and Technical Requirements for the Competition Program:

• Groups in instrumental, vocal, and dance genres present 1 item per nomination, with a total duration of no more than 5 minutes.
• Each performer in the “small forms” category (solo, duet, trio) presents 1 item with a total duration of no more than 5 minutes.
• Theater groups present one item lasting no more than 15 minutes, with a troupe of at least 5 people. If the troupe consists of fewer than 5 people, the performance time is reduced to 5 minutes or paid at the “Solos” rate. Competition plays may be performed in any language.
• Performers in the “Artistic Recitation” nomination under the “small forms” category present 1 item (e.g., poem and prose), with a total duration of no more than 3 minutes.
• Performers in the “Master of Ceremonies (MC)” nomination present a brief story/presentation about an outstanding person (poet, composer, etc.) or an indoor game program during an animation event (games, contests, and riddles for children, youth, and mixed audiences, no more than 5 minutes). A mandatory condition for participation in the presenters’ competition is submitting an application, resume, business card photo, script text for the game program, and speech text (in electronic form).
• Circus Art: any acts, except for high-altitude performances requiring work under the dome or with a safety harness, as well as performances with large animals. Fire shows are permitted only by prior agreement and exclusively outdoors.
• Fashion Theaters may present 1 collection show, with a total duration of no more than 10 minutes.
• In the “Decorative and Applied Arts” nomination, 1 piece of personal craft/work is evaluated. Technique is free style; works framed in paper matting (passe-partout) are accepted. A label indicating the author’s full name, age, city, and title of work (if any) must be affixed to the front side. Participants must bring the finished work and all materials with them. In the presence of the jury, participants must recreate a fragment of the work (no less than 1/4 of the finished piece).
• For participants performing to backing tracks (“minus”): the audio recording must be sent by email no later than 14 days before the start of the festival. MANDATORY REQUIREMENT: Each sound recording must be a separate file, indicating the ensemble name / performer’s last name (in Latin script), title of the piece, and exact duration. Each group must have a backup sound recording on a USB Flash Drive, named as follows: track title, group name, city (e.g., “Romance”, Iskorka, Tyumen). The USB Flash Drive must contain no other files besides the competition program.
• In the Vocal nomination, competition pieces are performed exclusively to backing tracks (“minus”; recorded back-vocals are allowed only in the chorus). Singing over lead vocal tracks (“plus”) is strictly prohibited.

The preparation and management of the festival-competition are carried out by the Organizing Committee. The order of performances is determined in advance by the Organizing Committee; performances are held both in blocks and as individual numbers.

The Organizing Committee reserves the right to use and distribute (without paying royalty fees to participants and guests) audio and video recordings, printed, and other materials produced during and following the competition events.

Travel and delivery of sets, props, and instruments are at the expense of the competition participants, or a technical rider must be submitted and agreed upon separately with the Organizing Committee.

Any issues not covered by these Regulations are subject to resolution by the Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to make changes to the competition schedule.

By submitting an application, group leaders/parents of participants automatically confirm their agreement with all clauses of these Regulations, as well as consent to the participant’s potential involvement in competition events up to 24:00.

Awarding of participants will take place exclusively at the Gala Concert. Diplomas will not be issued earlier, and results will not be announced in advance. Diplomas and prizes will not be mailed after the competition.

The Organizing Committee reserves the right to disqualify a participant, creative group, or leader for gross violation of internal regulations, discipline, or unethical behavior towards the Organizing Committee, jury members, or other participants.

Competition participants are not entitled to view the scoring sheets without permission from the Jury Chairman. The jury’s decision is final and non-negotiable! Scores from protocol sheets will not be publicly discussed; leaders may request an excerpt from the jury meeting minutes sent to their postal or email address within 7 working days.

Competition results will be published on the Instagram page: @souz_talantov within 3 working days after the conclusion of the event.

Participants may not decline participation in the Gala Concert.

General Performance Evaluation Criteria:

The competition utilizes a qualification evaluation system; therefore, the number of winning places is unlimited and depends solely on the participants’ level of preparation.

The competition program is evaluated by the jury taking into account the age of the performers as indicated in the applications.

Participants are evaluated in each nomination according to age categories. The jury evaluates performances through a closed vote based on the following criteria: performance skill; artistic expressiveness (compositional, thematic, and musical unity of the artistic image); visual appeal (movement technique, costume, performance culture); performance enthusiasm and originality; artistry, interpretation of the artistic image, selection and age-appropriateness of repertoire, and audience response.

Competition Awards:

Results and awards are presented separately by nomination and age category. Awards include Grand Prix winners, Laureates of I, II, and III degrees, festival participant titles, special diplomas, and others. The number of prize diplomas is unlimited and depends exclusively on the level of the performance program presented.

Grand Prix winners and 1st Prize Laureates will receive diplomas and branded commemorative figurines from the Organizing Committee. 2nd and 3rd Prize Laureates will receive diplomas and medals. Groups with over 10 participants receive cups. Trophies/cups are awarded to groups larger than 10 people. One group diploma is awarded to the director/leader, and members receive commemorative medals with the festival logo and personalized diplomas. When participating in two or more nominations, a group diploma is awarded for each nomination. Personal diplomas for group members are issued only once, regardless of the number of nominations. If the director wishes to receive medals and diplomas for each performance number, each performance must be paid at full price without discounts.

All teachers and accompanists will be awarded certificates and letters of appreciation.

The jury reserves the right to share places among participants.

The Organizing Committee reserves the right to add nominations or split/merge age categories according to received applications.

Participant names (Full Name) will be copied exactly as written in the application.

Age Categories:

• 1st category: under 6 years old
• 2nd category: 6–8 years old
• 3rd category: 9–11 years old
• 4th category: 12–14 years old
• 5th category: 15–17 years old
• 6th category: 18–20 years old
• 7th category: 21+ and “Professional” nomination
• Additional age group: “Topotushki-pogremushki” (Toddlers) – 2 to 4 years old
• MIX category

Accreditation Procedure:

For accreditation at the festival, ALL participants must submit:

1. Application form (separately for each nomination) in electronic format.
2. Group list in electronic format with the selected hotel accommodation option.

Financial Terms (Entry Fee):

• Soloists: €30
• Duets, Trios, Quartets, Quintets: €20 per person
• Groups of 6 or more participants: €15 per person
• Special conditions apply for groups over 40 participants.

Sample package for a group of 10+ people:
Cost: €330 per person, 1 group leader free of charge (10+1 scheme).
Included: Group transfer airport/railway station–hotel–airport/railway station on specified dates, hotel accommodation in 3–4 bedded rooms, meals (breakfasts, lunches or dinners), Baku city tour, transportation to the event venue.
Not included: Entry fee.
Each nomination is paid separately.
In case of a participant’s non-appearance at the festival-competition for reasons beyond the organizers’ control, the entry fee is non-refundable!
Accommodation is organized exclusively through the Organizing Committee.
Spectator admission tickets: €5. Group leaders enter free upon presenting badges. Every leader must carry a badge with: Full Name, Group Name, City. Badges are issued by the Organizing Committee and must be returned after the competition.

All audio tracks must be sent to grand-olimpiada@mail.ru no later than October 20, 2025. Each track/backing track filename must include: 1. Composition title (as in application); 2. Group name / Performer’s Full Name. If a letter of appreciation is needed for a school/studio director or leader, specify exact Full Name, credentials, and reason for appreciation in the application.

Submitting an application implies that participants and their parents (legal representatives) have read and agreed to all terms of these Regulations, and consent to the use of photo/video materials featuring them in media and social networks by the Organizer.

Other Conditions:

It is prohibited to throw objects onto the stage during performances, use confetti, feathers, open flame, foam, or water props. Street footwear is strictly forbidden on stage, including during rehearsals. Only choreographers and backstage participants called by the Organizer for the upcoming act according to the schedule are allowed backstage. Uninvited backstage entry or descending into the auditorium from the stage is prohibited. Dressing room allocation is managed by the Organizer; occupying unassigned dressing rooms is forbidden.

Inappropriate or offensive behavior on stage, in dressing rooms, or in the hall towards Organizer staff, Jury members, their decisions, or other participants is strictly prohibited. The Organizer is not liable for accidents or theft during the event and award ceremony. Choreographers/leaders and parents (legal representatives) of minor participants bear financial responsibility for property damage to the hall, venue, or dressing rooms. The Organizer is not responsible for copyright licensing of performance routines. Participants and parents bear full responsibility for their health, minors’ health, and personal property. Entry fees fund event organization (venue rental, staging, awards, promotional products, staff/volunteer compensation, jury honorariums, etc.). If participant quota is not met, event cancellation with full fee refund may occur. In case of rule violations, the Organizer reserves the right to disqualify participants without entry fee refunds.

Document Submission Deadlines:

Applications and group lists are accepted until October 1, 2026.
Payment must be completed by October 10, 2026 to the Organizer’s bank account. A 50% prepayment is allowed, with remaining balance paid in cash in EUR upon check-in.
Registration may close early if entry limit is reached.

Please send accreditation materials electronically! Handwritten or phone-submitted forms are NOT accepted.
If a participant cannot attend for personal reasons, entry fees are non-refundable. Accommodation package refund policy (hotel terms): 30+ days prior to check-in — bank fees deducted; 20–30 days prior — bank fees + 1 night cost deducted; 15–20 days prior — 50% deducted; under 15 days prior — 100% withheld.
Flight package refunds follow the rules of the tour operator/charter airline.

Project Director: Elena Yuryevna Nikitina
Tel: +359 878 422 214 (WhatsApp)
Email: music-classic.kz@mail.ru, grand-olimpiada@mail.ru
Website: www.musicclassic.eu