International Blues Challenge 2025
International Blues Challenge 2025
IBC will be held January 7-11, 2025 on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee!
The International Blues Challenge represents the worldwide search for blues bands and solo/duo blues performers ready for the international stage, yet just needing that extra big break. The world’s largest gathering of blues musicians will take place on Beale Street, with over 20 clubs hosting the challengers and fans. In addition to featuring these final rounds of the prestigious blues music competition, the IBC event week will offer seminars, showcases, master classes, film screenings, networking events, book signings, and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals.
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.
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.
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.