The 10th Katara Award for Qur’an Recitation has attracted 1,304 entries from 60 countries, the Cultural Village Foundation announced. The competition’s episodes are scheduled to be broadcast during the upcoming Holy month of Ramadan.

The annual award aims to encourage the beautification of Qur’anic recitation, identify outstanding talent, and promote adherence to the rules of tajweed, the proper pronunciation and articulation of Qur’anic text. This year’s submissions included 570 entries from 18 Arab countries and 734 from 42 non-Arab countries, marking the first time that international participation has exceeded that of Arab nations.

A screening committee will review all entries to select the top 100 contestants. From this group, 15 finalists will be chosen to compete in Doha. Each episode will feature one contestant who will advance to the final stage. The winners will be announced during a special program produced in cooperation with Qatar Television, which will air the competition throughout Ramadan.

The judging panel comprises six members: three Qur’anic recitation specialists authorized in different readings and knowledgeable about tajweed rules, alongside three experts in vocal modes and the aesthetic quality of recitation. In addition to the competition, Katara plans to produce a complete recording of the entire Qur’an by the first-place winner.

The total prize pool for the award amounts to QR800,000, distributed as QR500,000 for first place, QR200,000 for second, and QR100,000 for third. Since its inception in 2017, the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs has been the official sponsor of the Katara Award for Qur’an Recitation.