The 6th Takamatsu International Piano Competition 2026

The 6th Takamatsu International Piano Competition 2026

Competition Dates:
February 7–23, 2026

Application Deadline:
August 14, 2025

About the Competition

First held in 2006, the Takamatsu International Piano Competition is a globally recognized music competition initiated by local residents and held every four years. Its mission is to discover and nurture outstanding pianists from around the world. It also seeks to provide local youth with opportunities to pursue their personal development goals, promote international exchange through contact with world-class musicians, and contribute to the development of local music and culture.

Age Requirement

Applicants must be born between January 1, 1991 and January 1, 2011.

Schedule Overview

• Registration & Drawing Lots: February 7, 2026

• Venue Orientation: February 8

• Piano Selection: February 8–9

• First Round: February 10–12

• Second Round: February 14–15

• Third Round: February 17–18

• Final Round: February 21–22

• Award Ceremony: February 22

• Winners' Concert: February 23

Required Application Materials

1. Scanned copy of passport photo page

2. Preliminary audition video

3. Recent high-resolution photo (upper body, front view)

4. Other documents as directed by the competition office

Preliminary Video Round

Repertoire Requirements:
Applicants must record one piece from each of the following three groups and submit them in MP4, AVI, MOV, or WMV format:

• (A) One movement (1st movement) of a Beethoven sonata listed in the Third Round repertoire (e.g. Op. 101: Movement I or II)
  This piece may also be played again in the Third Round.

• (B) One Étude by Chopin from Op. 10 or Op. 25

• (C) One Étude by one of the following composers: Bartók, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Stravinsky, or Prokofiev

Preliminary Jury

• Chairperson: AOYAGI Susumu (Japan)

• Jury: Pascal DEVOYON (France), Sofya GULYAK (Russia)

Results Announcement: November 5, 2025

Participation Fee: 20,000 JPY due by December 15, 2025

Competition Repertoire Requirements

First Round

Perform works from groups (A), (B), and (C) in order, with a total time limit of 25 minutes.
Performance may be cut off due to time, but this will not affect evaluation.

• (A) Bach: Choose one of the following:

  • Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903

  • Fantasy and Fugue in A minor, BWV 904

  • Any one of the Toccatas: BWV 910–916

  • Italian Concerto, BWV 971

  • Capriccio in B-flat major, BWV 992

• (B) Liszt: Choose one from:

  • Transcendental Études (S.139): Nos. 2, 4–8, 10, 12

  • Grandes Études de Paganini (S.141): Nos. 1–6

  • Trois Études de Concert (S.144): Nos. 2 or 3

  • Deux Études de Concert (S.145): No. 2

• (C) One or more pieces by:

  • Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, Messiaen, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Balakirev, Shostakovich, Albéniz, Falla, Granados, Bartók, Janáček, Busoni (original works only)
    Pieces performed in the preliminary round may not be repeated.

Second Round

Perform works in the following order. Total time must not exceed 45 minutes.

• (A) Mozart Piano Sonata: All movements of one of the following:

  • K.310 in A minor

  • K.333 in B-flat major

  • K.457 in C minor

  • K.570 in B-flat major

  • K.576 in D major

• (B) One or more works by Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, Mendelssohn, or Chopin
  Sonatas must include all movements. Multiple composers allowed.

Third Round

Perform all three sections in the following order:

• (A) Beethoven Sonata: One full sonata from:

  • Op. 2-3, Op. 7, Op. 53, Op. 57, Op. 101, Op. 110, or Op. 111
    Follow specified repeats and da capo instructions.

• (B) Commissioned Work: A new piece written specifically for this competition

• (C) Piano Quartet: Choose one and perform with competition-assigned string players:

  • Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 47

  • Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60

  • Saint-Saëns: Piano Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 41
    Use Henle (Schumann/Brahms) or Durand (Saint-Saëns) editions. No repeats except movement III in Schumann.

Final Round (Concerto)

Perform one concerto with the Seto Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by HIROKAMI Junichi:

• (A) Beethoven: Nos. 3, 4, 5

• (B) Chopin: Nos. 1, 2

• (C) Schumann: Op. 54

• (D) Liszt: Nos. 1, 2

• (E) Brahms: No. 1

• (F) Saint-Saëns: Nos. 2, 4, 5

• (G) Tchaikovsky: No. 1

• (H) Grieg: Op. 16

• (I) Rachmaninoff: Nos. 2, 3

⚠️ Notes

• All rounds are open to the public.

• Time limits will be enforced; judges may cut performances without penalty.

• Except for the commissioned work and the piano quartet, all pieces must be performed from memory.

• Any repertoire change requests must be submitted via email by December 15, 2025 and are subject to approval.

‍⚖️ Final Round Jury (alphabetical order)

• AOYAGI Susumu (Japan)

• BALZANI Vincenzo (Italy)

• DANG Thai Son (Vietnam)

• DEVOYON Pascal (France)

• EBI Akiko (Japan)

• IKEBE Shinichiro* (Japan)

• GIGLACEK von ARNIM Jan (Germany)

• KAPLINSKY Yoheved (USA)

• KIM Daejin (Korea)

• POPOVA-ZYDRON Katarzyna (Poland)

• SIIRALA Antti (Finland)
  *Composer

Awards

• 1st Prize: ¥3,000,000

• 2nd Prize: ¥1,000,000

• 3rd Prize: ¥500,000

• 4th Prize: ¥300,000

• 5th Prize: ¥200,000

Special Awards (Planned):

• Best Chamber Music Performance: ¥100,000

• Best Commissioned Work Performance: ¥30,000

• Kagawa Governor's Prize

• Mayor of Takamatsu Prize

• Matsudaira Foundation Prize

• Takamatsu Convention Bureau Award

• Takamatsu Cultural Arts Foundation Prize

Additional Rewards for 1st Prize Winner:

• Solo recital and orchestra performance engagements in Japan and abroad

• All related costs (performance fees, travel, accommodation) covered

• Honorarium: ¥200,000

• Obligatory participation in winner's performances

• Winner must inform the office about other concert engagements in Japan prior to local appearances

✈️ Travel & Accommodation

• Travel subsidy available

• Lodging provided from February 7, 2026 (3 days before competition start) through the morning following your elimination or concert, depending on how far you advance

  • Breakfast included

  • Other personal expenses (meals, calls, etc.) not covered

• Homestay program available upon request after the competition