The Preliminary Round of the Ljubljana Festival International Competition – Piano 2026 is conducted online via video submission. Applicants are required to submit a 25–30 minute unedited video performance, recorded in a single take, by 15 September 2025.
The Competition Jury comprises a distinguished international panel of eleven musicians, presided over by Professor Emeritus Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak.
The members of the Competition Jury are appointed by the Organiser of the Ljubljana Festival International Competition – Piano 2026.
| Sections | Piano |
| Deadline | 21 feb - 15 sep 2025 |
| Finals | 28 feb - 01 mar 2026 |
| Where | Ljubljana, Eslovenia |
| Age groups | Open to professional pianists of all nationalities who were born between 1995 and 2009 |
After a very successful first edition, Ljubljana Festival will again organise the piano Competition bringing the best young and aspiring pianists to the capital of Slovenia. Ljubljana Festival International Competition – Piano 2026 will be held in Ljubljana from 21 February to 1 March 2026. The triennial Competition is open to professional pianists of all nationalities who were born between 1995 and 2009. Its goal is to promote young, talented pianists among first class musicians, and to share excellent classical music with large international audiences. The Competition is a stimulation for an even livelier contact between young pianists and their introduction to bigger, more international audiences.
The Ljubljana Festival International Competition – Piano 2026 is a triennial event open to professional pianists of all nationalities born between 1995 and 2009. The competition comprises four stages:
Preliminary Round: Video selection featuring a 25–30 minute program, including a Chopin Etude (excluding op. 10, no. 3, 6, 9 and op. 25, no. 1, 2, 7), a Liszt Etude, a complete Sonata by Haydn or Mozart, and one or more works of the applicant’s choice.
Round 1 – Recital: A 45–50 minute recital featuring a complete Beethoven Sonata (excluding op. 2, no. 1; op. 10, no. 1, 2; op. 14, no. 1, 2; op. 49, no. 1, 2; op. 54; op. 78; and op. 79) and one or more works of the competitor’s choice.
Round 2 – Recital: A 55–60 minute recital including one important Romantic work, one important 20th Century work, and one or more works of the competitor’s choice.
Round 3 – Finals with Orchestra: Performance of a piano concerto with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, selected from a specified list available on the official website.
The following main prizes may be awarded to the six finalists:
- 1st Prize: 50,000 €
- 2nd Prize: 30,000 €
- 3rd Prize: 15,000 €
- 4th Prize: 8,000 €
- 5th Prize: 5,000 €
- 6th Prize: 3,000 €
Special diplomas may also be awarded for the following best performances:
- Best performance of a Baroque work: 500 €
- Best performance of a Classical Sonata: 500 €
- Best performance of a Romantic work: 500 €
- Best performance of a 20th Century work: 500 €
- Best performance of a 21st Century work: 500 €
- Best performance of a work by a Slovenian composer: 1000 €
- The highest ranked pianist representing Slovenia: 500 €
The Organiser is in the process of negotiating a number of major recital and orchestra engagements for the 1st Prize winner, to be performed within the two-year period following the Competition.
Yes, the Ljubljana Festival International Competition – Piano 2026 provides financial support to selected competitors. While competitors are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation, the competition offers a reimbursement of €800 after the competition to help offset these expenses. This amount is subject to applicable tax deductions as determined by law.
Audiences are welcome to attend all live rounds of the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition.
Rounds 1 and 2 will be held at the Slovenian Philharmonic, and the Finals (Round 3) will take place at Cankarjev dom.
All rounds are open to the public and will also be livestreamed, allowing broader access to the performances.
Admission to the 1st and 2nd rounds of the competition is free.
The inaugural Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition, held in 2023, recognised several outstanding pianists. Taiwanese pianist Kai-Min Chang secured the First Prize, British pianist Yuanfan Yang earned the Second Prize and was also honored with special awards for Best Performance of a Classical Sonata, Romantic Work, and a piece by Fryderyk Chopin. Belarusian pianist Uladzislau Khandohi received the Third Prize along with the award for Best Performance of a 20th Century Work. Other laureates included Yangrui Cai (Fourth Prize), Roman Lopatynskyi (Fifth Prize), and Kostandin Tashko (Sixth Prize). Urban Stanič, representing Slovenia, was recognized as the highest-ranked Slovenian pianist and received the award for Best Performance of a work by a Slovenian composer.
