Experience the sound of the world this July at the 2026 Golden Gate International Children’s & Youth Choral Festival. Over the course of one remarkable week, more than 400 young singers from across Europe, Asia, and the United States will gather in the San Francisco Bay Area to share their artistry. Join us July 13-18 for a vibrant celebration of global youth in song!
The biggest and most-anticipated event of the week is our Closing Ceremony on July 18 in Oakland. Selected award-winning choirs and soloists will perform, sharing the repertoire that distinguished them during the Festival. The concert builds toward a massed-choir presentation featuring all Festival participants: more than 400 young singers united on one stage.
Tickets for the Closing Ceremony and all other Festival events are available at https://www.piedmontchoirs.org/ggf-concerts-2026
The Festival opens in Walnut Creek on Monday, July 13 with energy, anticipation, and celebration as all 14 Golden Gate Festival 2026 choirs take the stage for the Opening Sing-Off Concert. This memorable kick-off event offers audiences their first opportunity to experience the extraordinary artistry, cultural traditions, and musical identities represented at this year’s Festival.
The choral excellence continues throughout the week with afternoon competitions in Children’s, Youth, Contemporary and Gospel/Spiritual categories at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, and five evening Spotlight Concerts. All of these are open to the public and free to attend!
Spotlight 1: Oakland Asian Cultural Center. Participating Choirs: PEBCC’s Concert Choir (USA), Young Voices of the Philippines (Philippines), The Choir of E. Mikeladze Central Music School (Georgia).
Spotlight 2: First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Participating Choirs: PEBCC’s Ecco (USA), Kajetan (Czech Republic), Singakademie Graz & Green Guys (Austria).
Spotlight 3: First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. Participating Choirs: Girls Choir Canzona (Poland), Ellerhein Girls’ Choir (Estonia), Cantabella Children’s Chorus (USA).
Spotlight 4: St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Oakland. Participating Choirs: PEBCC’s Ancora (USA), Veus – Cor Infantil Amics de la Unió (Catalonia), Young Musicians Chorus – Collegium Musicum (USA).
Spotlight 5: Central Chinese High School, San Francisco. Participating choirs: Vox Aurea (Finland), PEBCC’s Ensemble (USA).