1. Competitors in this competition may not also compete in the Open, Accompanist, or Traditional Championship. Limited to first 30 fiddlers that check in or register ONSITE for the  Finals and 10 fiddlers selected to compete in the Championship.
2. No electric instruments (except piano) and no instruments playing "lead" will be permitted. Fiddler may use up to 4 accompanying instruments. Any stringed instrument or piano is acceptable.
3. Trick fiddling or show tunes are discouraged. "Double shuffle" is acceptable.
4. Rags will not be accepted as a breakdown.
5. “Limerock” will not be accepted as a Breakdown.
6. “Ragtime Annie” will be considered as a Breakdown.
7. In the Finals round, the fiddler must play a Breakdown and a Waltz, IN THAT ORDER. Fiddler must give their tunes, in order of play, to the M.C.
8. The top scoring Ten Finalists will be selected to complete in the Championship round. They will play a Breakdown, a Waltz, and a Tune of Their Choice - IN THAT ORDER - excluding the tunes they have already played. "Tune of Their Choice" means any tune of ANY type and CAN BE another breakdown or waltz.
9. Failure to play the tunes in the correct order, playing the incorrect type of tune, or repeating a tune in the Top 10 will result in a 30-point deduction from the total score.
10. Points from both rounds will be added to determine the final score.
11. There is a 6 MINUTE Guideline - this is not a set time limit - but excessively going over this limit can result in a 30-point deduction.
12. A contestant winning the Grand Master Fiddler Youth Championship the past two years in a row is not eligible for this year’s contest. They can choose to sit out a year and compete again (age permitting) or return and compete in the Open, Accompanist, or Traditional Championship categories.
13. Contestants should be ready to compete when called to the stage. Contestants will be required to begin their first tune within 30 seconds from the time they are announced to the judges. Consideration will be given for broken strings, switching instruments, etc. Violation of this rule will result in a 30-point deduction.
14. In the event a contestant breaks a string, they will be allowed to restart their tune. If they continue, the tune will be scored as is. If their accompanist breaks a string, the contestant has 30 seconds to decide whether to stop and restart the tune or continue. Any stoppage after this 30 second grace period will result in the tune being scored as is.
15. The decision of the judges is FINAL. Any contestant or accompanist who harasses, threatens, or verbally abuses a judge or contest official will first be warned and next be expelled from the contest  for the current and next year.
16. Upon contestant registration, all commercial recording, photo, and video rights during the contest are reserved and shall become the property of the Grand Master Fiddler Championship.
17. Traditionally, the winner of this category is offered a performance opportunity on the GMFC slot on the Grand Ole Opry (if slot is granted by the Opry) for the next year. The winner can only perform at that time or the performance is forfeited.

Last revised: NOV 3, 2025