COMPETITION CATEGORIES & PRIZES!
This year, competitors can compete for over $12,000 in cash and prizes. From individual instrument categories to the prestigious Fiddle Off, talented performers from across the region will compete for top honors.
Registration for the 2026 competition will open in person at 8:00 AM on Saturday at the Heritage Hall Theatre. The day begins with the Youth Competition at 10:00 AM, and competitors are expected to be in place, warmed up, and ready to go at least 15 minutes before the start of the category. See the schedule here.
Competition fee: $15 per person, per category. Cash or Cards.
Youth Competition is open to competitors age 16 and under. However, competitors who are 16 years of age who wish to compete in the adult category. If they register for the adult category, they cannot compete in any youth category. Both Youth and Adults may compete in the Folk Song.
COMPETITION CATEGORIES & PRIZES
In 2026, competitors will vie for more than $12,000 in cash and prizes across our youth and adult competition categories. The winner of the prestigious Grand Champion Fiddle-Off will receive this year’s top prize—a custom Jason Barie fiddle valued at approximately $5,000. From promising young musicians to accomplished adult performers, competitors from across the region will take the stage to showcase their talent and carry Appalachian musical traditions into a new generation.