The FECOEX Coral Competition 2026 is set to take place on Saturday, 24 October, starting at 20:00 in the historic Temple of Diana, located in Mérida, Extremadura. Antonio Vélez, the regional delegate for culture, emphasised the importance of live music in contrast to modern technology, highlighting the initiative's inclusive and heritage-focused nature.
This free event will showcase five selected choirs from the region, marking the only competition of its kind held in Extremadura. This year's repertoire will focus on African music, symbolising coexistence and cultural exchange. Pepe Valadés, president of FECOEX, which represents 79 choirs in the region, stated, “These five choirs will demonstrate how the region sings, showcasing the choral tradition in Extremadura and our willingness to tackle any type of work.”
The organisers aim to elevate the competition to a national level in future editions, attracting choirs from across Spain to the regional capital. The selected choirs were chosen based on competition guidelines that assess submission timelines, repertoire variety, and prevent the repetition of works. Each participating choir will have approximately half an hour to perform three pieces, with one of the pieces being evaluated directly by the jury.
