The World Choir Games, the planet’s largest choir competition, is set to take place in Auckland, New Zealand, from July 10 to 20, 2024. This event, known for its celebration of creativity, diversity, friendship, and peace, will be hosted in Aotearoa for the first time ever.

A Global Stage

The 13th edition of the World Choir Games will welcome participants from an impressive 41 countries, turning Auckland into a melting pot of cultural harmony and musical excellence3. The city is renowned for its manaakitanga—a Māori term for hospitality—which will surely be felt by all attendees.

Competitions and Categories

The games will feature a variety of competitions, including categories for young children’s choirs, secondary school choirs, youth choirs, and various vocal ensembles. From sacred choral music to contemporary, jazz, gospel, and pop, the event promises a rich tapestry of choral expressions.

Highlights and Events

A highlight of the 2024 Opening Ceremony will be the spectacular ‘Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand’ show, which will showcase the country’s breathtaking nature and impressive Māori culture. The event will also include creative team performances for both the opening and closing ceremonies.

Participation and Legacy

The World Choir Games are more than just a competition; they are a platform for choirs to learn from each other, share experiences, and foster international friendships. The legacy of the games will resonate with the spirit of unity and the joy of singing together.

The World Choir Games 2024 in Auckland will welcome participants from an impressive 41 countries. It’s going to be a vibrant and diverse event showcasing talents from across the globe!

The World Choir Games, originally known as the Choir Olympics, is the largest global choral festival and competition, inaugurated on July 7, 2000. The event was organized by the Interkultur Foundation with the aim of bringing people together from all over the world through singing in peaceful competition. The motto of the Games is “Singing together brings nations together,” emphasizing unity and interaction through the art of choral music.

The idea for the Games originated from the desire to unite people and nations through singing, demonstrating that unity through the arts can be effectively and illustratively achieved. The focus of the Games is on participation above winning, inspiring people to experience the strength of interaction by singing together.

The first international Choir Olympics, later renamed the World Choir Games, were held in Linz, Austria, and involved choirs from 60 countries. The Games are hosted biennially in different cities around the world, where choirs compete in various categories. The event includes competitions in two classes (Champions and Open), festival concerts, artistic workshops, and various ceremonies. During the competition, choirs vie for gold, silver, bronze, or “Successful Participation” awards, with the highest-scoring choir in a category being named the “Champion of the World Choir Games” for that category.

The Games have grown significantly since their inception, both in the number of participating choirs and the visibility of the event. They continue to be a testament to the power of music in bringing people together.

The World Choir Games 2024 in Auckland will be held over 11 days in various concert halls, churches, and large public venues across Tāmaki Makaurau. One of the main locations for viewing the events is the Spark Arena. For a complete list of venues and to plan your visit, you can check the official NZ Choral Federation website or the INTERKULTUR website for details.

Tickets for the World Choir Games 2024 in Auckland will be available for purchase online. You’ll be able to buy tickets for the Opening, Closing, and Awards Ceremonies, featured Celebration Concerts, as well as day passes to all Competition performances. The concert and workshop programs will be announced in April, and that’s when the ticket sales will start. Make sure to check the official NZ Choral Federation website or INTERKULTUR website for the most up-to-date information on ticketing.