OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM
A high-quality, independent platform for talented young people aged 8 to 35 with an interest in musical theater. Participants get the chance to showcase their singing talent before both a professional jury and a live audience.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
April 26, 2026
RESULTS ANNOUNCED (ROUND1)
By May 17, 2026
FINAL
June 13, 2026
ROUND 1 - ONLINE
To enter Round 1, register, upload a video of yourself singing one song, name two additional songs, submit a signed consent form, and pay the entry fee. The jury decides who advances, and we'll let you know by email by May 17, 2026..
SOLO: 9.000Ft
DUET: 16.000Ft
GROUP: 24.000Ft
Early bird (until March 8):
solo: 6.000Ft, duet: 10.000Ft, group: 16.000Ft
FINAL
If you advance, the jury will pick one of the two remaining songs from your registration for you to perform in the final. Just email us your backing track and pay the final entry fee.
SOLO: 9.000Ft
DUET: 16.000Ft
GROUP: 24.000Ft
June 13, 2026, Lóvasút Kulturális- és Rendezvényközpont
1121 Budapest, Zugligeti út 64.
GENRE CATEGORIES
musical
musical professional
pop-rock
operetta
AGE GROUPS
child 8-12
junior 13-16
youth 17-20
FORMATIONS
solo
duet
group 3-10 people
adult 21-35
bands
1st–3rd place winners receive a medal and certificate; every finalist receives a certificate of participation, and special-prize winners receive a certificate. In addition, prizes in the form of goods, training, and performance opportunities are awarded. In 2024, the grand prize was a music video shoot; in 2025, we awarded 8 professional audio recordings; in 2026, the grand prize was a music-video filming location at the Museum of Illusions, worth 500,000 Ft.
Pánczél Klaudia
Opera singer She has won prizes at several international singing competitions. Since this year, she has been a soloist at the Teatro Comunale di Todi in Italy. She also teaches singing to the acting students of the Nemes Nagy Ágnes Vocational Secondary School and to the students of Budapest Musical School.
Finta Gábor
Choreographer, dancer and award-winning dance teacher A former character dancer of the Royal Ballet of Vallony and the Szeged Contemporary Ballet Co. He now creates immersive dance shows with video mapping around the world. He is the artistic director and dance master of Budapest Musical School.
Várkonyi Mátyás
Chairman Composer, lyricist and conductor, and holds the the Ferenc Erkel Prize. He founded and led the bands ZéGé and Generál, and created the legendary Rock Theatre (Rock Színház), serving as its founding director. He also took part in many of the defining moments of Hungarian rock history.
Berecz Beáta
Voical and singing coach For nearly thirty years, she has been shaping the voices of Hungarian theatre. Bea currently works with the University of Theatre and Film Arts, the Béla Pintér Company, the Örkény Theatre and the Katona József Theatre. She has also been the singer of the band Apostol since 1998.
Kocsis Dénes
Musical theatre actor A leading artist of the Budapest Operetta Theatre. Dénes has been recognised with several awards, including the Honthy Prize and the title of Musical Actor of the Season in 2018.
Full rules, categories, requirements
Download, print, sign, and upload
Acceptance is required to enter
General Questions (5) When is the Dal Derby held in 2026? Application deadline: midnight, April 26, 2026 (online round). Results announced (Round 1): by May 17, 2026, via email. Final (for those who advance): Saturday, June 13, 2026 — Lóvasút Cultural and Event Center, 1121 Budapest, Zugligeti út 64. Who can enter the competition? Anyone aged 8 to 35 who loves singing and musical theater. Age categories are determined by the participant's age on the day of the final. What are the age categories? Children: ages 8–12. Junior: ages 13–16. Youth: ages 17–20. Adult: ages 21–35. How much is the entry fee? Round 1 (online): Solo 9,000 HUF, Duet 16,000 HUF, Group 24,000 HUF. Round 2 (final, only if you advance): same amounts. Will I get my entry fee back if I don't advance or don't attend the final? No. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Application and Registration (9) How do I apply? Fill out the registration form, upload your video, upload the signed consent form (PDF), transfer the entry fee, and accept the privacy policy. Do I need a Google account to apply? Yes — the registration form is a Google Form, so a Google account is required. Where should I upload my video? You have two options: upload it to YouTube (set so it's visible to anyone with the link), or upload it directly through the registration form. What should the video file be named? Use the format NAME.AGE GROUP.GENRE — for example: KISVIRAG.JUNIOR.MUSICAL. Where do I send the entry fee? Recipient: Indo-Selera Nonprofit Kft. Account number: 10700244-46861209-51100005. Reference/note: contestant's name, Dal Derby. International transfer — IBAN: HU79107002444686120951100005, SWIFT: CIBHHUHB. My school is paying my entry fee. What should I do? Enter your school's/school district's billing details during registration. If needed, we can send a payment request or invoice in advance — just let us know at dalderbyenek@gmail.com. Can I change my details after applying? Once registration closes, changes are no longer possible. If a change is truly necessary, we charge a 2,000 HUF administrative fee. What happens if I miss the deadline? Applications received after the deadline (midnight, April 26) will not be accepted, and on-site registration is not possible either. I'd like to enter in two categories. Do I need to pay the entry fee twice? Yes — a separate entry fee applies to each performance. This applies to both the preliminary round and, if you advance, the final as well.
Video and Online First Round (4) What should the video look like? Content: a short introduction (name, age, song title, genre) + 1 song (max. 5 minutes). Quality: filmed with a camera, clear audio. Format: MP4 or another standard video format. Recorded within the past year, with no post-production editing, and the singer(s) must be visible. How many songs do I need to prepare in total? Three songs in total: Round 1 (video) — 1 song; the final — the jury picks one of the remaining 2 songs. Do all three songs need to be in the same category? Yes — all three songs must belong to the same category (musical, pop-rock, operetta, etc.). When will I find out if I've advanced? We'll notify you by email, at the address given at registration, by May 17, 2026.
Categories, Genres and Formations (9) What categories are there? Musical, Musical Professional, Pop-Rock, Operetta, Band (minimum 3 members, ages 8–21, with live band accompaniment). What's the difference between the Musical and Musical Professional categories? The Musical Professional category is only open to those who have already appeared in a professional theatrical production. What falls under the Pop-Rock category? Every style of popular music: pop, rock, jazz, blues, hip-hop, R&B, soul, funk, etc. I'm not sure which category my song belongs to. What should I do? Ask the organizers before applying: dalderbyenek@gmail.com. Can the jury move my song into a different category? Yes — if the jury feels a song doesn't fit its category, they may reclassify it or ask for a different song to be submitted. Can I enter as a duet or a group? Yes. Solo: 1 person, Duet: 2 people, Group: 3–10 people. Does the repetiteur/pianist count toward the group size? No — the musical accompanist is not counted among the performers. Can we bring dancers on stage? Yes, but keep the stage size in mind (approx. 5×3 m²). Non-singing dancers don't count toward the formation's headcount. If we're entering as a group but have an older contestant among us, which age category do we enter? The higher (older) age category. For example, if a group includes both a 15- and an 18-year-old, it must enter in the Youth category.
Musical Accompaniment / Repetiteur (2) Can I perform with musical accompaniment / a repetiteur? Yes, you can perform with live piano accompaniment on the piano we provide. If you're accompanied on a different instrument, you'll need to provide that instrument yourself. Does the repetiteur count toward the number of people on stage? No — a repetiteur or musical accompanist (on another instrument) doesn't count among the performers. Can a band accompany me? Yes. In that case, you should enter in the Group category. Can I accompany myself on an instrument? Yes, but please let us know in advance when you apply.
Original Song / Songwriter Category (4) Can I compete with an original song? Yes, but this year's competition doesn't have a separate songwriter category. What do I need to do if I'm competing with an original song? On the registration form, list yourself as the songwriter, and perform your own song in the video. If you advance to the final, only 1 of the 2 songs you submit may be an original composition. If I'm competing with an original song, which category do I belong to? Choose your category based on the song's genre (Musical, Pop-Rock, Operetta) — the other, non-original song must also fit the chosen category. Can I have musical accompaniment when performing my original song? Yes — you can use a backing track, or have one extra musical accompanist on stage.
Band Category (2) What are the requirements for the Band category? Minimum 3 members, ages 8–21, with no age subgroup or genre category. An electric piano and drum kit are provided — bring any other instruments yourself, as there won't be time to set up your own piano or drum kit. Can we compete with an original song in the Band category? Yes, but if you advance, only 1 of the 3 songs may be an original composition — the other two must be covers.
Song Selection and Backing Track (9) What song should I choose? A quality piece suited to your age group — one that matches your abilities, vocal range, and style. Can I edit/cut the song? Yes, but any editing must be done carefully and precisely, following proper music editing standards. Can I transpose the song? Yes, transposing the backing track is allowed. What format should I submit the backing track in? As an MP3 file, sent by email to dalderbyenek@gmail.com, AND brought on a USB drive to the final. How should I name the backing track file? Contestant_name_age group_genre_song title — for example: Kis_Virag_junior_poprock_We_are_the_champions. When do I need to send the backing track? If you advance, by the deadline given in the notification email — and also bring it on a USB drive to the final as a backup. What if I'm performing with a repetiteur? Do I still need a backing track? No, but let us know on the registration form that you'll be arriving with live piano accompaniment. What happens if I send the wrong backing track or the file name is wrong? The organizers are not responsible for any resulting errors, playback issues, or a performance not going ahead. Who should I list as the songwriter — the original performer? No — list the actual songwriter (composer, lyricist), not the performer you know the song from.
Final (4) How does the jury decide which song I'll sing in the final? Of the 3 songs you submitted, the jury will choose which of the remaining 2 you perform. What do I need to bring to the final? A valid ID, the backing track on a USB drive (if singing with a backing track), sheet music for the repetiteur (if singing with piano accompaniment), and any props/costumes if needed. Can we use props or set pieces? Yes, but they must not put performers' physical safety at risk. The Lóvasút venue is a glass hall, so we can't provide darkness/blackout conditions. Pyrotechnics and polluting materials are strictly prohibited. Performers are responsible for picking up any props that scatter. Can I change the performance order? We won't change the published performance order — please indicate any needs in advance on the registration form or by email.
Photo and Video (3) Will photos and videos be taken at the competition? Yes — the organizer, Indo-Selera Nonprofit Kft., has professional image videos and photos made, which may also be used for promotional and advertising purposes. Can I record my own video of the competition? Yes, but only amateur footage, without flash or a tripod, filmed from the edge of the audience area, for a maximum of 10 minutes, and without disturbing others. Any other use requires written permission at least 1 week in advance. Can I order the video recording made of the competition? Yes — an outside company makes a professional video recording of every performance, which can be ordered from rendezvenyek@freemail.hu (András Csenki). How can I share my favorite photos with you on social media? Use the hashtags #dalderby and #dalderbyofficial — we're happy to reshare your photos.
Other Important Information (5) What happens if I get sick on the day of the final? The entry fee is non-refundable, and participation is voluntary and at your own risk. Please notify the organizers if you're unable to attend due to illness. Is the organizer responsible for injuries or lost belongings? No — the organizers and the venue are not responsible for any injuries or lost items during the competition. How can I reach the organizers? Email: dalderbyenek@gmail.com. Phone: Krisztina Németh, +36 20 549 0893. Where can I find the consent form and privacy notice? On the Dal Derby page, available as a downloadable PDF. I'm a minor. Who needs to sign the consent form? Your legal guardian (parent/guardian).
Technical Questions (2) What technical setup is available on stage? The Lóvasút venue has a 3×5 m² stage and 5 vocal microphones available. Finalists will receive detailed information by email before the final. Is there a rehearsal before the final? We provide two warm-up/vocal-check blocks during the day, about 1 minute per person to test the equipment. The schedule will be sent out before the competition.
Pontozás és zsűrizés, díjazás (7) Hogyan pontoz a zsűri? 5 fős szakmai zsűri, tagonként 0–50 pontig értékeli a produkciót. Maximum elérhető pontszám: 250 pont. Milyen szempontok alapján pontoznak? 5 kategória: technikai alapok és hangszín; zenei készségek és zeneértés; artikuláció és szövegérthetőség; kifejezőkészség és átélés; színpadi jelenlét és előadói képesség. Kapok visszajelzést a zsűritől? Igen — a döntőn szóban kérhető értékelés a zsűritagoktól a szünetekben és a verseny után. Megfellebbezhetem a zsűri döntését? Nem, a zsűri döntése végleges és megfellebbezhetetlen. Mikor van az eredményhirdetés? A verseny ünnepélyes eredményhirdetéssel zárul az esti órákban, 19–20 óra körül. Milyen díjakat lehet nyerni? 1–3. helyezés: érem, oklevél, díj. Támogatói díjak: tárgyi, oktatási, szereplésbeli felajánlások. Különdíjak: oklevél. Minden döntős: emléklap. Nagydíj (maximális pont esetén): kupa. Mi volt az előző versenyek fődíja? 2024-ben egy videóklip-forgatás, 2025-ben 8 db professzionális hangfelvétel készítése, 2026-ban forgatási helyszín 500.000Ft értékben.
