Press Kit

The 2026 ceremony will honor artists and ensembles who have made their mark over the past year, across several key categories: Instrumental Soloist of the Year, Lyric Artist of the Year, Composer of the Year, Recording of the Year, as well as Rising Star categories (young talents) for instrumental soloist, lyric artist, and conductor.

Live musical interludes will punctuate the evening: nominated artists will perform excerpts from classical works (opera arias, instrumental pieces, etc.), accompanied by the orchestra. Special guests and tributes will also be featured: for example, at the 2025 edition, a dance opening was choreographed by Mehdi Kerkouche with students from the Rouen Conservatory, and an Honorary Award was presented to soprano Natalie Dessay for her entire career. All these highlights will be experienced live from Brest, a first for this city hosting the ceremony, showcasing the cultural vitality of the Brittany region.

Media coverage of nominees: In the weeks leading up to the ceremony, an extensive media campaign introduces the nominees to the general public. From the January 19 announcement, portraits and interviews of the young talents will be broadcast. France 3 will schedule short daily features – "mini portraits" – dedicated to each of the Rising Star artists, just before the evening news, during the days preceding the ceremony. Meanwhile, France Musique will dedicate special programs to the rising stars: nominees in the Rising Star categories (instrumental and lyric) are traditionally guests on the "Générations France Musique, le Live" show hosted by Clément Rochefort, to introduce themselves to the public through interviews and live performances.

Beyond TV and radio, the promotional campaign extends widely across the Internet and social media. Organizers regularly publish content on the official Victoires de la Musique Classique accounts (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter), highlighting the nominees' journeys through various formats: video interviews, "10 questions" portraits, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, etc. This content allows music lovers to discover the nominees and their backgrounds in a lively way, particularly on social media and the France 3 website. Public enthusiasm is thus generated in advance, especially since everyone can then morally support their favorites (even though the final vote remains the prerogative of professionals).

Throughout the evening, categories follow one another, alternating between award announcements and musical interludes. For each category, nominees are introduced by pairs of invited personalities (distinguished musicians, hosts, patrons…), who open the envelope and announce the winner live. Immediately after the announcement, the winning artist takes the stage to receive their Victoire (a trophy in the shape of a golden winged figure) and deliver a few emotional words.

Tradition often calls for a prestigious elder to present the trophy: in 2025, for example, soprano Natalie Dessay (6-time winner in her career) presented the Rising Star Lyric Victoire to young Julie Roset, symbolizing a passing of the torch between generations. Each nominated artist also performs on stage: singers interpret an opera aria or oratorio excerpt of their choice, instrumentalists a concerto movement or virtuoso piece, all in concert conditions with the live orchestra. These performances allow the audience to discover each finalist's talent "in action," creating moments of emotion and virtuosity throughout the evening.

Beyond the televised evening, the adventure continues for the young winners and nominees. Indeed, the Victoires de la Musique Classique partners with CIC, a long-standing sponsor, to organize a Rising Stars concert a few months later each year.