IDMIC Competition Theme for 2026
Heritage of the Yangtze River
The Yangtze River, the longest river in China, is often celebrated as the Mother River of China. Rising from the majestic Tanggula Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it journeys eastward across the vast expanse of China before finally reaching the East China Sea. Along its course, it nourishes hundreds of cities and gives birth to one of the world's most enduring civilizations. For thousands of years, the river has carried not only water, but also stories, memories, and cultural legacies. Its flowing currents echo with the spirit of generations, connecting the past with the present through music, art, and history.
The powerful chants of Yangtze boat trackers are resonating across the waters, their voices rising with the rhythm of the river. The sound echoed through the mountains, resonating with each other…
The magnificent Dazu Rock Carvings stand proudly along its banks, with thousands upon thousands of sacred Buddha statues emerging from the clouds…
From the dramatic landscapes of Chongqing, to the crossroads of Wuhan, to the cosmopolitan vitality of Shanghai, countless cities have flourished beside the river, each contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Yangtze…
The Yangtze River is a living archive of Chinese civilization and an endless source of artistic inspiration. In 2026, the theme of the International Digital Music Innovation Competition (IDMIC) will be Heritage of the Yangtze River. We are now inviting digital music works from all over the world to explore, interpret and inherit the musical memories of the Yangtze River.
Track A: Theme Song Composition
Creation Requirements:
- The work shall be an original song, including lyrics and vocals (instrumental pieces are not accepted).
- Created and produced using digital music techniques such as electronic music design, digital audio production, MIDI production, etc.
- No restrictions on music style.
- No restrictions on production tools or methods.
- Duration should not exceed 5 minutes.
Submission Materials:
- Audio file (WAV file with 44.1kHz/16Bit sampling rate, no larger than 100MB).
- Project file (to be uploaded by the participant to Baidu NetDisk with a permanent valid link, and provide the link upon submission).
- Bilingual production report (Chinese and English, PDF).
Track B: Thematic Music Composition & Video Scoring
Creation Requirements:
- Original instrumental music or scoring for images/video materials (songs are not accepted).
- Created and produced using digital music techniques such as electronic music design, digital audio production, MIDI production, etc.
- No restrictions on music style (including but not limited to orchestral, electronic music, EDM, etc.).
- Duration should not exceed 8 minutes. The image or video materials must not involve any copyright issues.
Submission Materials:
For Music Composition:
- Project file (to be uploaded to a cloud storage service with a permanent valid link, and provide the link upon submission).
- Audio file of the work (WAV file with 44.1kHz/16Bit sampling rate, no larger than 100MB).
- Bilingual production report (Chinese and English, PDF).
For Video Scoring:
- Work file: Upload MP4 video file. Video compression format: H.264 or H.265, max resolution 1080p, max frame rate 60fps, max bitrate 5Mbps, standard color gamut and standard dynamic range. Audio compression format: AAC, max sampling frequency 48kHz, max bitrate 320kbps, stereo.
- Maximum size per video file: 200MB. Video files not conforming to the above specifications will not be accepted.
- Bilingual production report (Chinese and English, PDF).
Track C: Music Technology & New Media Art
Creation Requirements:
- Original music technology and multimedia artworks created using various technical means.
- Including but not limited to: music/sound and multimedia installation works, new instrument design (hardware and software), music and sound visualization, AI music design, interactive electronic music and multimedia works.
- The work should demonstrate the integration of music and technology, incorporating technologies such as digital audio, computer music, computer vision, artificial intelligence, etc.
Submission Materials:
- Demonstration video of the work (MP4 file). Video compression format: H.264 or H.265, max resolution 1080p, max frame rate 30fps, max bitrate 5Mbps, standard color gamut and standard dynamic range. Audio compression format: AAC, max sampling frequency 48kHz, max bitrate 320kbps, stereo.
- Maximum size per video file: 200MB. Video files not conforming to the above specifications will not be accepted.
- Bilingual production report (Chinese and English, PDF).
Track D: Artificial Intelligence Music Composition
Creation Requirements:
- The work must be created entirely using artificial intelligence-based music generation tools.
- There are no restrictions on musical style, genre, or form.
- No restrictions on AI tools or creative workflows (e.g., SUNO, Udio, ACE, or other AI music generation platforms).
- The duration of the work must not exceed 5 minutes.
Submission Materials:
- Audio file of the work (WAV format, 44.1kHz/16Bit sampling rate, maximum file size: 100MB).
- Bilingual production report (Chinese and English, PDF), including:
- Complete prompts used during the creation process;
- Screenshots of the generation interface;
- Screenshots illustrating the creative workflow;
- For song-based works, the full lyrics must also be included.
Track E: Track for Composers Under 18
Creation Requirements:
- Participants in the Youth Track may submit works of any type covered by Tracks A, B, C, and D.
- No restrictions on style or genre.
- No restrictions on tools or workflows.
Submission Materials:
- Submissions for Youth Track must follow the submission requirements of Tracks A, B, C, or D accordingly.
- Youth Track does not have a separate submission portal. Participants shall check the “Youth Track” option during registration; Otherwise, the submission will be reviewed under the regular track.
