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2025 International Blues Challenge

2025 dates to be announced!

The International Showcase will open the event in January with competition rounds in venues located along historic Beale Street. The International Blues Challenge will conclude with finalists performing at the Orpheum Theater.

International Blues Challenge

Takes place in various clubs on Beale Street

The Blues Foundation, is world-renowned as THE organization dedicated to preserving blues music history and celebrating recording and performance.  The International Blues Challenge is the Blues Foundation's signature event that turns all of Beale Street into a five-day big blues venue for more than 260 blues acts from around the world.

International Blues Challenge

Five days of Blues on Beale

The 2025 International Blues Challenge will be the 40th year of Blues musicians from around the world competing for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. The world's largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its affiliated organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. 

International Blues Challenge

Finals at the Orpheum Theatre

Acts fill the clubs up and down Beale Street for the quarter-finals on Wednesday and Thursday, the semi-finals on Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday.

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