The organisers of the XXIII National Contest of Flamenco (CNAF) in Córdoba confirm that the registration period for artists interested in participating has been extended until Sunday, October 16, 2022. The previous final registration date was October 7. You can see the open call to performers, as well as the registration information on the website.

This edition of the contest has three phases from which the winners of the three categories (singing, dancing, and guitar playing) will be chosen. The admission phase is first and begins just after the registration period. During this phase, the jury will review all applications to determine who will proceed to the next phase. From October 20 it will be made known who has moved onto the next phase. 

The selection phase will take place from 17:00 on November 8 to 15, 2022 at the Góngora Theatre in Córdoba. The singing section will hold its sessions on Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10. The guitar section will be on Friday 11. The dance section will take place on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15. Admission to the theatre will be free until full capacity is reached.

«The National Flamenco Contest in Córdoba, at least as a triennial event, began in 1956 with the goal of preserving the purity of the old Cante Jondo, which sat on the margins of show circuits»

Lastly comes the final phase, or the award winning phase. It will be held at the Gran Teatro de Córdoba between Sunday 20 and Wednesday 23 November. You can attend this phase by purchasing tickets, which cost eight euros. There are also tickets costing  24 euros to attend the four functions.

At most four artists per section will be selected to be finalists. These artists will obtain recognition as finalists of this edition of the CNAF, as well as winning three thousand euros, and an accrediting diploma. From there will come the winners of the three disciplines of the contest. They will be chosen by the jury, and will receive eleven thousand euros each, along with a commemorative diploma.

Starting at 20:00 on Saturday, November 26, 2022, the winners will return to the stage at the Gran Teatro de Córdoba for the closing gala of the twenty-third edition of the contest. Here the awards will be presented to the finalists, as well as the winners of the singing, dancing, and guitar awards.

The National Flamenco Contest in Córdoba, at least as a triennial event, began in 1956 with the goal of preserving the purity of the old Cante Jondo, which sat on the margins of show circuits – whilst not wanting to forget the event that was held in Granada in 1922, which was promoted by Manuel de Falla and Federico García Lorca.

Translation: John Lucey