TEHRAN -- The 18th National Youth Music Festival officially launched on Tuesday, spotlighting young talents from across Iran’s rich musical landscape. 
This vibrant festival, running until September 17, brings together hundreds of emerging musicians competing across multiple categories including Iranian classical (dastgah), regional folk, and Western classical music.
The festival’s opening day is dedicated to the captivating sounds of Azerbaijan, with performers on traditional instruments such as the tar, qopuz, qanun, kamancheh, garmon, oud, and qaval taking the stage. Vocalists also join the lineup, performing before a panel of distinguished judges including Imran Heydari, Shahriar Sadegh, Hussein Malekizadeh, and Amir Rastbad.
This year, the festival drew an impressive 1,640 applicants: 840 in the dastgah category, 351 in Western classical, and 449 in regional folk music. 
After rigorous initial judging, 217 musicians advanced in dastgah, 272 in folk, and 116 in classical to the final rounds — setting the stage for fierce competition and incredible performances.
In the composition category, competitions for the Iranian violin and piano were single-stage events, with winners announced at the festival’s closing ceremony.
Organized by the Iranian Music Association and supported by the Music Office and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s Arts Deputy, the festival is a key platform for discovering and nurturing Iran’s next generation of musical innovators.
Behind the scenes, 88 expert jurors across dastgah, classical, and folk genres bring their deep knowledge to ensure fair and insightful evaluation.
The 18th National Youth Music Festival is a celebration of Iran’s rich musical heritage, a spotlight on youthful creativity, and a beacon for the future of Persian music