Announcing the 2026 Encore Crescendo Contest

Performance tours create moments that stay with you. A quiet warmup before the doors open. A view from the risers that captures the character of a venue. A snapshot from a city walk that reminds you how far from home your music has carried you. These are often the images that define a tour long after it ends. The Crescendo Contest invites travelers to share those moments and help us highlight the experience of performing abroad.

The 2026 Encore Crescendo Contest is open to anyone traveling with Encore between September 1, 2025 and August 30, 2026. Whether you are part of a choir, orchestra, band, jazz ensemble, or another type of performing group, we encourage you to submit photos that reflect both your performances and the everyday scenes that shaped your tour.

The contest is open to all travelers, and the prize structure is designed to celebrate both the people behind the camera and the programs they represent. When a traveler submits a winning photo, they receive the listed gift card and their group leader receives a matching tour scholarship. When a winning submission comes from a group leader or assistant, the prize becomes two tour scholarships valued at twice the listed cash amount. This approach highlights traveler perspectives while still recognizing the creativity and care directors and assistants bring to documenting their ensemble’s journey.

If you would like to see the types of images that stood out last year, you can explore the 2025 Crescendo Contest winners. We look forward to seeing the moments that stood out during your journey.

How to Enter

• Post a photo or video from your Encore tour to your public Instagram feed or the Encore Tours Facebook wall. We are not able to view entries from private accounts.
• Tag your entry with @EncoreTours and include the hashtag #EncoreCrescendo2026 in your caption.
• If you prefer not to use social media, you may email your entry to contests@encoretours.com.

What to Capture

The strongest entries usually combine people, music, and a sense of place. Each photo should include a traveler along with either a musical element or a recognizable location. Instruments, folders, batons, or sheet music help tell the story of the ensemble. Landmarks, city scenes, and performance spaces show where your travels took you. Together, these elements help convey the feeling of being on tour.

Eligibility and Deadline

The contest is open to all Encore travelers from the 2025 to 2026 tour season. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on October 30, 2026.

Prizes

Travelers may choose either the listed gift card or a tour scholarship. Group leaders and assistant group leaders receive a tour scholarship valued at twice the listed cash amount.

Place	Traveler Prize	Group Leader or Assistant Prize
First	$300 Amazon Gift Card or $450 Scholarship	$600 Scholarship
Second	$200 Amazon Gift Card or $300 Scholarship	$400 Scholarship
Third	$100 Amazon Gift Card or $200 Scholarship	$200 Scholarship

Scholarships may be applied to an Encore performance tour in 2027 or 2028.

Winner Selection and Announcement

Entries will be reviewed by a panel from the Encore team. Judges will consider composition, creativity, and how effectively the photo reflects the experience of traveling and performing abroad. Winners will be announced on Encore’s Instagram and Facebook accounts in early January 2027. We may request high-resolution versions of selected photos for future Encore materials.

Questions

If you have questions about the 2026 Crescendo Contest, please email contests@encoretours.com.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates and featured submissions once the contest opens.