I
Ljubljana Festival International Competition – Piano 2026 (hereinafter called the Competition), organised by Festival Ljubljana (hereinafter called the Organiser), will be held in Ljubljana from 21 February to 1 March 2026.
II
The Competition is open to professional pianists of all nationalities who were born between 1995 and 2009.
III
Pianists wishing to enter the Competition will have to submit the required application documents by 10 May 2025 and, if accepted by the Preliminary Round Jury, participate in Competition held in Ljubljana from 21 February to 1 March 2026. Round 1 performances will begin on 21 February lasting until 24 February 2026. Round 2 will take place on 25 and 26 February 2026, and Finals with the Orchestra in Round 3 on 28 February and 1 March 2026.
IV
Applications must include:
- a link of 25 to 30-MINUTE VIDEO RECORDING of the applicant’s performance; the applicant needs to upload the video recording to their YouTube channel and make it private (only accessible to those with a link to the video recording); the video must be filmed in a single shot, with high audio quality, without cuts between the pieces, with a fixed camera that frames the entire figure of the pianist and with his/her hands and face clearly visible; the program used for the video recording can eventually be included also in the Round 1 of Competition; the video recording should not be older than four months prior to submission (for example: If an application is submitted on 10 May 2025, the video recording should not be filmed before 10 January 2025); applicant cannot apply using a collage of different videos for different pieces, the video must be filmed in a single shot; the applicants must play from memory
- birth certificate or equivalent PROOF OF AGE showing the applicant was born between 1995 and 2009
- three current PHOTOGRAPHS, including at least one portrait photo, to be used in Competition publications (electronic version 300–1200 dpi; accepted formats – jpg, gif, bmp, jpeg)
- short BIOGRAPHY in English including musical education, performances and awards if any to a maximum of 250 words
- the COMPLETE LIST OF THE REPERTOIRE to be performed in the Preliminary Round (video selection) and Rounds 1, 2, 3 of Competition with accurate timings for each piece
- TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, one from the applicant’s current professor and one from a renowned pianist
- PROOF OF PAYMENT of the non-refundable application fee of 150 € into Organiser’s account; if the application fee is not paid, the application will not be reviewed by the Preliminary Jury
V
The application and all correspondence relating to the participation in Competition should be in English. If the applicant fails to meet the abovementioned requirements or does not provide complete information, Organiser of Competition may reject their application.
VI
The applications should be made using the electronic form available on the official Competition website. No other method of submission will be accepted. The applications should be submitted no later than 10 May 2025.
VII
By submitting the application, the applicant confirms their acceptance of all the Rules. The applicant will receive a formal confirmation of their application by email.
VIII
It is the applicant’s responsibility to take all the necessary steps so that the application can be submitted by the deadline. Organiser cannot be held responsible if an application is not received on time.
IX
If an applicant encounters technical problems during the online application process, they must inform Organiser of Competition about the problem as soon as possible by sending an e-mail to info@ljubljanafestival-pianocompetition.si so that the problem can be solved, and the application received on time.
X
All applications will be overviewed by the Jury of the Preliminary Round, consisting of three renowned musicians, based on the Preliminary Round Rules. Organiser of Competition will appoint the members of the Preliminary Round Jury.
XI
The Jury of the Preliminary Round will in principle admit no more than 30 applicants into Round 1 of the Competition. The Preliminary Jury will also select 10 applicants to be considered part of the waiting list, placed in the order of the received points in the Preliminary round. The results will be published on Organiser’s website no later than 10 August 2025. All the applicants selected for Round 1 of the Competition and those selected for the waiting list will also be contacted via email.
XII
Competition will consist of three separate rounds. Competition Jury consists of a distinguished international panel of nine musicians who are appointed by Organiser of Competition. Competition Jury will in principle advance no more than 12 competitors to Round 2, and 6 competitors to Round 3.
XIII
Organiser will make practice pianos available to all competitors at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana (Ižanska cesta 12 1000 Ljubljana). The pianos will be available from 19 February to 1 March 2026.
XIV
Steinway & Sons, Fazioli and Yamaha pianos will be used in all rounds of Competition. One day prior to Competition, 20 February 2026, there will be an introductory meeting in Slovenian Philharmonic at which all competitors must be present. Each competitor will have 15-minute time to choose one of the pianos to perform on in all the rounds. Once they decide, further changes will not be allowed. The exact time of the meeting will be announced later.
XV
Organiser will not assist the competitors in obtaining Slovenian visas. If needed, Organiser will provide a note in the form of an invitation letter confirming their participation in Competition.
XVI
The order of performances of competitors for Round 1 will be determined by drawing at the introductory meeting on 20 February 2026 and published on Competition website. The order of performances in Round 2 and Round 3 will follow the order of Round 1. This order will also be valid for choosing the piano. Organiser of Competition reserves the right to change the order of performances in any of the rounds for organisational or program-related reasons.
XVII
The Competition Jury can interrupt the competitors during any stage of their performance.
XVIII
Competitors are not permitted to have contact with any Competition jury member during their participation in Competition. Failure to observe this rule may lead to disqualification of the competitor.
XIX
Competition will be open to the public. All rounds of Competition and interviews will be livestreamed.
XX
Applicants and Competitors must play from memory.
XXI
In the Preliminary Round, each applicant will perform a program that should last no less than 25 and no longer than 30 minutes. The program must include one virtuoso Etude by Frédéric Chopin (except for op. 10, no. 3, 6, 9 and op. 25, no. 1, 2, 7), one Etude by Franz Liszt, one complete Sonata by Joseph Haydn or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (repeats may be taken at applicant’s discretion) and one or more works of the applicant’s choice. Only complete works are acceptable (if not specified differently). If an applicant chooses a work that is only deemed as complete by the concert practice, the choice has to be approved by Organiser of Competition. The pieces may be performed in any order. All the pieces performed must be published works. Applicant cannot apply using a collage of different videos for different pieces. The recording must be filmed in one shot. The competitors must play from memory. The program used for the video recording can eventually be included in Round 1 of Competition.
XXII
In Round 1, each competitor will perform a recital that should last no less than 45 and no longer than 50 minutes. The program must include one complete Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven (except for 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; repeats may be taken at competitor’s discretion) and one or more works of the competitor’s choice. Only complete works are acceptable (if not specified differently). If a competitor chooses a work that is only deemed as complete by the concert practice, the choice has to be approved by Organiser of Competition. The pieces may be performed in any order. All the pieces performed must be published works. If the competitor exceeds the time limit, the Competition Jury is allowed to stop their performance. The competitors must play from memory.
XXIII
In Round 2, each competitor will perform a recital that should last no less than 55 and no longer than 60 minutes. The program must include one important work from the Romantic period, one important work from the 20th Century and one or more works of the competitor’s choice. Only complete works are acceptable (if not specified differently). If a competitor chooses a work that is only deemed as complete by the concert practice, the choice has to be approved by Organiser of Competition. The pieces may be performed in any order. All the pieces performed must be published works. If the competitor exceeds the time limit, the Competition Jury is allowed to stop their performance. The competitors must play from memory. Competitors cannot include any pieces already performed in Round 1.
XXIV
The competitors who wish to compete for the Special Prize for the best performance of a work by a Slovenian composer have to include one or more pieces for piano which together are not shorter than 8 minutes in any of the first two rounds. Pieces can be chosen from the following works by the Slovenian composers mentioned below:
LUCIJAN MARIJA ŠKERJANC (1900-1973)
– 12 Preludes for Piano (10 minutes, to be played complete; Ed. DSS 269)
– 7 Nocturnes for Piano (selection; Ed. DSS 527)
– Four Piano Pieces, 1925 (to be played together with some Nocturnes or Improvisations; Ed. DSS 527)
– 6 Improvisations for Piano (selection; published by Državna založba Slovenije, 1962, the music can be obtained by request to the Organiser of Competition)
VILKO UKMAR (1905-1991)
– Expressions for Piano (selection; Ed. DSS 113)
– 7 Parthenions for Piano (selection; Ed. DSS 235)
– Sentences for Piano (selection; Ed. DSS 326)
MARIJAN LIPOVŠEK (1910-1995)
– 3 Impromptus for Piano (selection; published by Državna založba Slovenije, 1941, the music can be obtained by request to the Organiser of Competition)
ALOJZ SREBOTNJAK (1931-2010)
– Macedonian Dances (10 minutes, to be played complete; published by G. Schirmer, New York, 1978, the music can be obtained by request to the Organiser of Competition)
– Variations on a Theme by Marij Kogoj, 1984 (14 min, to be played complete; Ed. DSS 1126)
– Variations on a Theme by Lucijan M. Škerjanc, 1996 (12 min, to be played complete; Ed. DSS 1427)
JANEZ MATIČIČ (1926-2022)
– 10 Etudes for Piano, op. 66, 1993-2014 (selection; Ed. DSS 2155)
– Preludes for Piano, 1947 (selection; Ed. DSS 776)
– Palpitations for Piano, op. 44, 1971 (to be played together with some Preludes for Piano or Etudes, op. 66; Ed. DSS 538)
– Dances Grotesques pour Piano, op. 31 (to be played complete; published by Amphion, Paris, 1962, the music can be obtained by request to the Organiser of Competition)
XXV
In Round 3 each finalist will perform a Piano Concerto with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra chosen from the following list:
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major, K. 595
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73
- Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
- Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
- Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
- Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
- Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 43
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44
- Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16
- Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
XXVI
Potential program changes must be sent no later than 31 October 2025 (Midnight, Central European Time). After this date, the repertoire of any of the three rounds cannot be changed any more.
XXVII
Competitors must provide one copy of the score for all the pieces that will be performed in all three rounds to the Jury. The scores need to be provided no later than 15 November 2025.
XXVIII
Competitors who advance to Round 3 will have one rehearsal with the orchestra before their final performance.
XXIX
Organiser of Competition reserves the right to change the order of a day’s performances for organisational or program-related reasons. In the event of an illness or accident, officially confirmed by a medical service, the competitor may be permitted to perform outside the established order, at the end of the current round.
XXX
The competitors must arrange their own travel and accommodation. After the beginning of the Competition, they will be refunded 800 EUR to cover their costs of travel to and from Ljubljana to participate in the Competition and to cover the accommodation. This amount is subject to tax deductions determined by law.
XXXI
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 €
XXXII
The sums above are subject to the applicable tax deductions as required by law.
XXXIII
The Competition Jury’s decisions are final, and they are not subject to appeal.
XXXIV
The members of the Competition Jury reserve the right not to award all the listed prizes and special diplomas.
XXXV
The results of Competition will be officially presented at a ceremony on 1 March 2026 after the Competition Jury reaches the final decision. The results will also be made public on Competition website.
XXXVI
Organiser is in the process of negotiating several major recital and orchestra engagements for the 1st prize winner. The concerts are to be performed within the two-year period after Competition.
XXXVII
Each competitor:
- agrees with radio and television broadcasts of their performances.
- agrees with live audio-video broadcasting and with broadcasting of the recording of entire performances on the Organiser’s official website and Facebook page, and use of the entire video recording of all their performances for the promotional purposes of the Organiser (promo videos, YouTube channel, Vimeo, social networks, official Competition website, and so on).
- agrees that the Organiser can share the promotional video recordings with their partners/sponsors, which they can then use on their websites and social media accounts.
- will transfer to the Organiser all property rights to any related photographs, statements, and interviews.
XXXVIII
Any matter not provided for in the rules will be subject to Slovenian law. Any legal disputes will be negotiated mutually, and disputes arbitrated in the local court in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
XXXIX
In case of doubt, the Slovenian language version of these rules will be used in interpreting and clarifying their provisions.
