(headline image: Alana, winners of 2024 Runas contest – Photo by David Bermejo)
The Ortigueira International Celtic World Festival in Galicia, Spain, has officially opened applications for the 2025 Concurso Runas, a competition aimed at promoting emerging talent in Celtic and folk music. Now in its 26th edition, the contest offers up to €5,000 in prizes, an increase from previous years.
The competition is open to bands with two to ten members whose repertoire focuses on traditional Celtic folk music. Applications are accepted until Monday, April 28, 2025, at 23:59 (local time).
The selection process will unfold in two stages:
- First Stage: A technical committee appointed by the Ortigueira Town Council will shortlist up to ten bands.
- Second Stage: From May 7 to May 21 at 14:00, the public can vote for their favorites on the festival’s website.
Finalists will be chosen through a weighted voting system consisting of five votes, one based on public voting (scored from 1 to 10) and four from a jury of industry professionals (musicians, journalists, and promoters) selected by the festival’s organizing committee.
Finalists Announcement and Live Performance
The three finalists will be announced between May 22 and May 26 via the festival’s website and social media platforms. They will perform live on Thursday, July 10, 2025, during the Ortigueira Festival, sharing the stage with notable acts such as Milladoiro, La Bottine Souriante, Gwendal, Dallahan, Flook, Tiruleque, Tejedor, Böj, and Alana, the 2024 Runas winners.
Each finalist will receive a €2,000 performance fee. The overall winner, selected by a professional jury based on the live performance, will be invited to return in 2026 with an additional €3,000 fee, totaling €5,000 in awards.
Since its inception, Concurso Runas has featured over 250 national and international bands, serving as a key platform for new voices in Celtic and folk music, with a focus on original compositions.
More information is available at www.festivaldeortigueira.com.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central