Competitions: Acoustics & Sound Design
LE MANS INTERNATIONAL SOUND CONTEST IS BACK FOR ITS FOURTH EDITION!
Apply until January, 5th 2026
Registration Form
What are the biennial sound contests?
Organised by Le Mans Sonore in partnership with Radio France, these are the largest European sound competitions, held every two years to reward projects and research in two distinct fields: sound design and acoustics. Since their creation in 2019 and over three editions, the competitions have analysed 42 candidate projects, 21 of which have been winners!
The objectives of the two competitions
The Sound Design Awards
The Trophées du Design Sonore (Sound Design Awards) recognise and reward the best sound creations of the year at an international level. The aim is to highlight, through three prizes, the diversity of applied sound design, i.e. design that enhances the use of sound.
Read the rules for the Sound Design Awards
The Acoustics Awards
The Acoustics Awards recognise the most outstanding student achievements of the year as well as promising early-career scientific research on an international scale. This competition highlights research in acoustics by rewarding the originality and impact of fundamental or applied work. It aims to encourage and honour advances made in both the academic and professional fields.
Read the rules for the Acoustics Awards
Categories and expected projects
Sound Design Awards
- Objects and services: Concerns sound creations integrated into industrial objects or services, whether software or hardware.
- Life and society: Concerns only devices combining sound, space and audience participation.
- Radio France : As in 2024, Radio France is commissioning a creation. For the 2026 edition, the sound creation request concerns a Radio France sound signal ‘Alerte application ICI’ (App alert HERE). See the rules for more details.
Acoustics Awards
- Young researchers (thesis): Concerns all research projects carried out over the last 3 to 5 years involving acoustic/mechanical waves, whether fundamental or finalised.
- Students: Concerns all student projects dating back less than 2 years relating to acoustics. The project may be a new object/material, or an innovative method or software programme.
Competition Prizes
Sound Design
Radio France
The winner of the Radio France Prize will receive:
– A trophy specially designed for the competition.
– Broadcast on one of Radio France’s channels.
– A day of visits and meetings with Radio France’s sound design and audio innovation teams at the Maison de la Radio et de la Musique (Paris).
– A sound mixing session in one of the studios at the Maison de la Radio et de la Musique during the day of visits.
If the winner’s proposal is selected for actual use on mobile devices and on the air, the product will be covered by a contract with Radio France.
Objects, services and society
– The trophy specially designed for the edition.
– A cheque for €500.
Interactive device
– The trophy specially designed for the edition.
– A cheque for €500.
Acoustics
Young researchers (thesis prize)
– The trophy designed specifically for the edition.
– A prize worth €1,000.
Student prize
– The trophy designed specifically for the edition.
– A prize worth €500.
Competition rules
Detailed projects, application criteria, terms and conditions and selection process, jury and awards, general terms and conditions: find all the information about the competitions in the rules.
Competition Rules
Competition Rules
