International Guitar Foundation

Cheltenham Guitar Festival 2026 | Young Artist Platform

Our Young Artist Platform aims to help young musicians in the critical phase between the final stages of music education and the concert platform.

The programme provides much needed performance opportunities and mentoring for young guitarists and ensembles starting out in their careers, as well as the opportunity to work with a composer and premiere a new work.

Help support this year's YAP awardees at Cheltenham Guitar Festival this August!

🎫 12th Aug | Maryna Vosmirova & Rhossili Duo
🎫 13th Aug | Eva Victoria Schockmel & The Fika Duo

Get your ticket now at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/internationalguitarfoundationigf/2323138

Under 18s go free 🔗

Cheltenham Guitar Festival 2026 | Concert series

Don't miss award-winning singer-songwriter, Holly Carter in concert on the 13th of August! 🎸

Holly Carter has already established a reputation as one of Bristol’s leading fingerstyle guitarists and as one of the UK’s only professional female pedal steel players.

Drawing inspiration from a varied musical upbringing, her musicality entwines aspects of folk, roots and Americana to create a mix that echoes everything from the likes of Gillian Welch to Chet Atkins.

🎫 13th Aug, 7:30pm

Tickets are available now at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/internationalguitarfoundationigf/2323138

Under 18s go free

Cheltenham Guitar Festival 2026 | Classical concert series

Tickets are now available for Cheltenham Guitar Festival!

Don't miss...

🎫 11th Aug | Francisco Bernier
🎫 12th Aug | Tom Kerstens
🎫 13th Aug | Francisco Correa & Samuel Moore
🎫 14th Aug | Xuefei Yang

Get yours now at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/internationalguitarfoundationigf/2323138

Francisco Correa Guitar
Samuel Moore
Xuefei Yang

Help two young guitarists get to the IGF summer school this August!

✨

Kieren Mensah and Maria Jablkowska are both aspiring musicians hoping to take their career to the next level through professional tuition at the IGF summer school 🎸

With your support, we can provide funded places for these young musicians, removing financial barriers and ensuring that talent—not circumstance—determines who gets the chance to develop.

Together, we can keep music alive and give gifted young players the opportunity they truly deserve.

We are over halfway to achieving our target of £2000 for this campaign 💰

If you can help add to the pot, head to https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/igf-support-guitar-pros-of-tomorrow

Anything you can give will be a huge help!

Congratulations to Freya Waley-Cohen and Mitu Martha-Maria on their new works for solo guitar.

'Night Sky in a Stone' by Freya Waley-Cohen and 'Basilem' by Martha-Maria Mitu were premiered last Sunday at the IGF Guitar Summit, performed by Young Artist Platform awardee, Maryna Vosmirova.

The pieces join our ongoing list of IGF commissions from women music creators, as part of our project 'La Leona: Women and the Guitar' 🎼

IGF's commissioning programme gives young artists the opportunity to work with the composer ahead of a premiere. This work is made possible thanks to the generous support of Cockayne Grants for the Arts and PRS Foundation

IGF Guitar Summit 2026 has come to a close!

It was an inspiring and exhilarating weekend, filled with incredible music of various genres, plus valuable insights into the music industry 🎶

With huge thanks and congratulations to:

Pedro Navarro Duo
Manuel Alonso
Vick Bain
Rihab Azar
Adjua Mensah
Maryna Vosmirova
Kacper Dworniczak
Freya Waley-Cohen
Martha-Maria Mitu
Cockayne Grants for the Arts
PRS Foundation

And of course, a big thank you to everyone who attended, we couldn't do it without your support!

Here's a few highlights from the festival 📷



Photos by SL Chai

IGF Guitar Summit 2026 opens tonight!

With a rare concert from stars of modern flamenco, Pedro Navarro Duo, plus support from the distinctive voice of Manuel Alonso 🎶

Both internationally recognised, these artists create a magical stage experience by blending traditional flamenco with their own original sound.

This concert will last 90 minutes with no interval 🪭

🎫 7:30pm Kings Place

Final tickets remaining at https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/pedro-navarro-duo-2/