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2026 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition

Here is the translated and fully formatted English version of the 2026 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition announcement:

2026 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition

Competition Dates: February 26 – March 7, 2026
Application Deadline: September 22, 2025

The Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition (HIPCC) is a globally acclaimed biennial event that aims to discover and nurture outstanding young pianists aged 16 to 30. As a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, the HIPCC is recognized for its unique format and professional opportunities. The 2026 edition will be held at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, United Kingdom, drawing elite pianists from around the world.

Competition Highlights

  • Unique Format:

    • First Round: Collaboration with piano accompaniment performing concerto excerpts

    • Semi-Final: Performance with Southbank Sinfonia at St John's Smith Square

    • Final: Full concerto performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Second Round: Includes a newly commissioned solo work

  • International Jury: Composed of renowned pianists and educators

  • Commissioned Work: A new solo piano piece composed by Stephen Hough for 2026

Prizes

1st Prize (Total value approx. £35,000)

  • £20,000 cash prize

  • Hastings Arts Fund Artist Development Programme (career mentorship and creative industry support)

  • Concert engagements:

    • Performance with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall

    • Solo recital at Wigmore Hall, London

  • Professional photoshoot during competition week

2nd Prize

  • £10,000 cash

  • One-on-one mentoring sessions with established artists

  • Concert engagements

  • Professional photoshoot

3rd Prize

  • £4,000 cash

  • Career mentoring and concert opportunities

  • Professional photoshoot

4th Prize

  • £3,000 cash

  • Mentoring + concert opportunities + photoshoot

5th Prize

  • £2,000 cash

  • Mentoring + concert opportunities + photoshoot

️ Special Prizes

  • Sussex Prize: £1,000

  • Hastings Prize: £500

  • Semi-finalists not advancing to the final will each receive £150

Eligibility

  • Open to pianists aged 16–30 during the competition period

  • Former 1st prize winners are not eligible

  • Current or recent students (within 3 years) of the Chair of Jury are not eligible

Application Materials

  1. Copy of passport photo page

  2. £145 application fee

  3. Pre-selection video recording

  4. CV / biography

  5. Full repertoire list

Pre-selection Video Requirements

  • At least two solo pieces from different periods with contrasting styles

  • Total duration: 25–30 minutes

  • Repertoire may not be repeated in Round II

  • Videos must be recorded after April 1, 2025 and include a visible date stamp

Official Competition Rounds

First Round – Concerto Excerpts (with second piano)

Total performance time: max 28 minutes, including pauses

  • A Group Concerto Excerpt: max 14 minutes

  • B Group Concerto Excerpt: max 14 minutes

  • Must perform selections from both A and B groups

  • Selections can be movements or excerpts

  • The jury may request specific passages or stop performances if time limits are exceeded

A Group Concertos
(Beethoven & Mozart):

  • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

  • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58

  • Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 9, 20–24, 26, 27

B Group Concertos
(Broad Romantic and 20th-century works):

  • Bartók, Beethoven No. 5, Brahms No. 1, Gershwin, Grieg, Liszt (Nos. 1 & 2),
    Prokofiev (Nos. 2 & 3), Rachmaninov (Nos. 1–3 & Rhapsody),
    Ravel, Saint-Saëns No. 2, Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann,
    Tchaikovsky No. 1, Scriabin, Florence Price

Second Round – Solo Recital

20 pianists advance

  • Duration: 30–35 minutes, including pauses

  • Must include a newly commissioned work (~5 minutes) by Stephen Hough

  • Must include music by at least two composers from different historical periods

  • No concertos allowed

  • No repertoire from pre-selection video may be repeated

Sheet music for the commissioned piece will be provided after the participant is confirmed.

Semi-final – Full A Group Concerto

  • Top 10 participants perform their selected A Group Concerto

  • Accompanied by the Southbank Sinfonia

  • Must be the same work as the First Round A Group choice

Final – Full B Group Concerto

  • Top 5 finalists perform their chosen B Group Concerto

  • Accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Must be the same work as the First Round B Group choice


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