2026 9th KEPMA Cup Acoustic Guitar Competition
Every guitar enthusiast is a seeker of light, moving forward on the path of music. KEPMA is with you, celebrating every breakthrough and every moment you shine!
Competition Dates
Preliminary · OnlineJuly 1 - August 20
Semifinal · OnlineSeptember 1 - October 15
Final · In PersonOctober 28 · Shanghai
About the KEPMA Cup
Since its founding in 2018, the KEPMA Cup has been held for eight consecutive editions. What began as a gathering driven by passion has become a stage where more and more players are discovered. The KEPMA Cup has always pursued one goal: to provide acoustic guitar enthusiasts with an authentic, professional, and open platform.
Whether you have just started playing or have already developed your own style; whether you love fingerstyle or prefer singing your own stories with a guitar, you belong on this stage as long as you are ready to express yourself. This year, we are once again waiting to hear your voice.
Competition Categories
Fingerstyle Category
For solo guitar performances without vocals. If you express yourself through melody, rhythm, technique, and arrangement, the Fingerstyle Category is your stage.
Singing & Guitar Category
For performances combining your own guitar accompaniment and vocals. If you prefer to convey emotion through your voice and carry stories with your guitar, the Singing & Guitar Category welcomes you.
Competition Schedule
Competition Rules
The complete Regulations for the 2026 9th KEPMA Cup are now available, including scoring details, awards, participation terms, and more.
Download Regulations PDFCompetition Judges
This competition will feature professional musicians, guitarists, and industry guests on the judging panel. It is more than a competition—it is an opportunity to connect with professional musicians, outstanding performers, and guitar enthusiasts from across the country.
Current Judge
Young Fingerstyle Guitarist · Music Educator
One of China’s outstanding young fingerstyle guitarists, dedicated to performance, education, and composition. He has released albums including Untitled and Stay True to the Original Aspiration, and published several fingerstyle guitar method books.
Competition Awards
Registration bonus for the 18th, 98th, 168th,
228th, and 298th registrants
Cash Prize
¥8,000
New-Generation KEPMA A1E
Equipped with a new pickup system jointly developed by KEPMA & DOUBLE Acoustics
Reward 2
Custom SHUBB Capo
REBOUND String Set
Cash Prize
¥4,800
New-Generation KEPMA A1
Reward 2
Custom SHUBB Capo
REBOUND String Set
Cash Prize
¥2,400
New-Generation KEPMA A1
Custom SHUBB Capo
REBOUND String Set
Official
Certificate
Popular KEPMA Products
4th-5th: F2S; 6th-7th: F1; 8th-10th: F0PRO
Custom SHUBB Capo
REBOUND String Set
Registration
Domestic participants may register online or at participating stores; international participants may submit their forms and entries through the overseas registration channel.
Competition News
Competition announcements, registration notices, advancing participant lists, judge information, entry releases, and final arrangements will be updated here. Follow the official channels for the latest news.
Registration, categories, schedule, and rules are being released. Acoustic guitar enthusiasts everywhere are welcome to follow and participate.
View DetailsOnline domestic registration, in-store locations, and international registration methods will be announced progressively. Please choose the channel that best fits your circumstances.
View Registration MethodsAfter preliminary judging concludes, the list of semifinalists will be announced through official competition channels. Participants should follow the latest notices.
Coming SoonPreliminary entries, semifinalist lists, final arrangements, winners, and more will be updated as the competition progresses.
Stay TunedFAQ
Answers to your questions about registration, participation, the schedule, and entry submission.
Beginners may follow the competition and prepare to participate. However, entries require a complete 3–5 minute fingerstyle or singing-and-guitar performance video, so participants should have basic acoustic guitar skills. Complete beginners can follow official information, demonstration videos, and future activities as preparation for a later competition.
No. Registration is confirmed upon submission of the form. Once submitted, the form cannot be changed, and only one submission is allowed per IP address. Practice your piece thoroughly, record carefully, and verify all information before submitting.
The competition combines online entry submission with an in-person final. Preliminary and semifinal stages focus on video submission, publishing, and judging. The final will be held in person on October 28 at the Bandai Namco Shanghai Base.
No. Each participant may enter only one category. If two entries are found for the same participant, the lower score will be used as the final result.
Yes. Domestic online participants must record a video, publish it on the designated platform in the required format, add the official hashtag, then copy the video link into the registration form and submit it. Domestic in-store participants may record at a local KEPMA Guitar dealer, which will publish the video on Douyin. International participants must record their own entry and email it with the registration form to the official competition address.
Requirements vary by stage. During the preliminary, in-store registration locations provide competition guitars. During the semifinal, domestic participants must record with the designated guitar, while international participants are not required to use a KEPMA guitar. During the final, all participants must use competition guitars provided by the organizer.
Domestic semifinalists must record with the designated guitar. Online registrants can obtain one through the “Guitar Relay” program; in-store registrants can obtain one from their registration location.
Late registration is not accepted. Preliminary registration and entry submission run from July 1 to August 20. Complete your form and upload within this period. The organizing committee will not accept late applications, so plan your recording and submission in advance.
Follow the official KEPMA Guitar WeChat account, the KEPMA Guitar website, and subsequent official competition notices for results and advancing participant lists. If the schedule changes, the latest official notice will prevail.
Access the latest competition information and contact options through the official KEPMA Guitar WeChat account and website. The official website is www.kepmaguitar.com International participants may send registration forms and entries to the official competition email: zhibin@kepmaguitar.com。
