Introduction
For the twentieth time, the town of Ettlingen organises the Ettlingen International Piano Competition, from August 2-9, 2026. The competition is open to young pianists from all nationalities, including stateless people.
There are no restrictions regarding the musical education of the competitor (e. g. university, college, academy, conservatoire, music school or private instruction).
All stages of the competition are open to the public.
By participating in the competition, all participants surrender to the competition the right to record, to reproduce and to distribute their performances during the competition. Fees cannot be claimed by any competitor.
In the event of disagreements or differences of opinion arising from translation, the German text in the printed brochure is definitive.
Age Categories
The competition is divided into two categories:
Category A: Competitors born after August 1, 2010
Category B: Competitors born after August 1, 2003
Competitors can perform in one category only.
Competitors who have already won a First Prize in a former Ettlingen International Piano Competition cannot compete again in the same category.
Repertoire Category A
Competitors born after August 1, 2010
The competition for Category A will take place in one round.
The total playing time must amount to at least 20 minutes,
but must not exceed 25 minutes.
1. One of the following etudes:
Czerny, from ”Art of Finger Dexterity” op. 740
Chopin, from op. 10, nos. 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
Chopin, from op. 25, nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12
Liszt, concert etudes ”Waldesrauschen”, ”Gnomenreigen”, ”La leggierezza”, ”Un sospiro”.
2. One movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven.
3. One or more works or single movements from the Baroque period up to the present.
Competitors can perform their programme with or without repeats,
as long as the total length of the programme remains within the prescribed playing time.
The jury reserves the right to stop the competitor if the performance exceeds the time limit.
All pieces must be played from memory.
The audio-recordings for the prejudging should contain the following works (no time limit):
a) The etude (Repertoire section 1)
b) One work or movement from section 2 or 3
Repertoire Category B
Competitors born after August 1, 2003
The competition for Category B will take place in two rounds.
For the second round, approximately eight competitors will be chosen from those who took part in the first round.
First Round: The total playing time must amount to at least 15 minutes, but must not exceed 20 minutes.
1. Haydn: The first movement of a sonata of the competitor‘s choice, without repeats.
2. J. S. Bach: One Prelude and Fugue from the ”Well-Tempered Clavier” Book I or II.
3. An etude by Chopin, Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin or Ligeti.
4. One or more pieces or movements chosen by the competitor, which may also be chosen from the repertoire of the second round.
Second Round: The total playing time including repeats must amount to at least 30 minutes, but must not exceed 40 minutes.
5. A sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert.
6. One or more romantic works.
7. One or more works from Impressionism up to the present.
Pieces required in section 1, 2 and 3 (first round) may not be played in the second round.
Competitors can perform their second round with or without repeats, as long as the total length of the programme remains within the prescribed playing time.
The jury reserves the right to stop the competitor if the performance exceeds the time limit.
All works must be played from memory.
The audio-recordings for the prejudging should contain the following works (no time limit):
a) The first movement of the Haydn-Sonata (Repertoire section 1)
b) The etude (Repertoire section 3)
c) One work or movement from section 6 or 7
Application • Deadline
Applications are possible online on www.portal.pianocompetition.org
from January 1, 2026 until April 18, 2026.
After the deadline, no further applications will be accepted.
The application must contain the following items:
a) the fully completed online-application form
b) a recent portrait picture in high quality
c) mp3-files with audio-recordings by the applicant
d) receipt for the transfer of the registration fee »
Prejudging » • Repertoire Category A » • Repertoire Category B »
Prejudging
A prejudging based on the recordings decides who may take part in the competition. The jury for the prejudging consists of Robert Benz (Germany, President), Reinhard Becker (Germany) and Kristin Merscher (Germany).
The candidate's name and nationality are unknown to the jury during the prejudging.
All prizewinners of former Ettlingen International Piano Competitions are allowed to take part without submitting a recording.
Four weeks after the closing date, the results of the prejudging will be emailed to all applicants.
Admission
Together with the result of the prejudging, admitted applicants will receive further information regarding the competition.
Once arrived in Ettlingen, admitted applicants are asked to come to the competition office and to show a valid passport for their registration.
The order of playing will be decided by ballot. The competitors must be present personally during the registration and the drawing of lots.
Registration fee
A fee of 50 euros is due upon registration. A receipt for the bank transfer must be uploaded when registering.
Participation fee for admitted participants
The fee is 160 euros and must be transferred by 1 July 2026. The receipt must also be uploaded. There is no participation fee for those not admitted to the competition.
All bank transfer should be made, free of charge for the payee, to
Account holder, postal address
Piano Ettlingen, c/o Musikschule, Pforzheimer Str. 25, 76275 Ettlingen, Germany
Account number (IBAN)
DE73 6605 0101 0001 0707 05
Bankcode (BIC)
KARSDE66
Bank name
Sparkasse Karlsruhe
Bank postal address
Sparkasse Karlsruhe, Kaiserstraße 223, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
When making the bank transfers, the participant’s full name should be indicated. The fees are non-refundable.
Adjudication
The competitor‘s performance will be assessed with a points system.
If a jury member has taught a competitor within the last two years, the jury person will not assess this competitor.
The results for Category B will be announced after each round, the results for Category A after the competition of this category.
The results are incontestable, and the jury‘s decision is final.
Preliminary Jury
Robert Benz, Germany (President)
Reinhard Becker, Germany
Kristin Merscher, Germany
Main Jury
Robert Benz, Germany (President)
Susumu Aoyagi, Japan
Reinhard Becker, Germany
Roland Krüger, Germany
Yong Kyu Lee, Korea (Republic)
Kristin Merscher, Germany
Eliane Reyes, Belgium
Catherine Vickers, Canada
Mikhail Voskresenskii, Russia/USA
Artistic Directors » • Juries »
Prizes and Awards
Category A
1. Prize 3,000 EUR
2. Prize 1,500 EUR
3. Prize 1,000 EUR
4. Prize 750 EUR
5. Prize 600 EUR
Category B
1. Prize 6,000 EUR
2. Prize 3,000 EUR
3. Prize 1,500 EUR
4. Prize 1,250 EUR
5. Prize 1,000 EUR
Encouragement Awards (Categories A and B)
Special commendation for young talents (Category A)
Haydn-Prize (Category B)
EMCY Special Prize (Category A or B)
The First Prize of both categories cannot be shared.
The First Prizewinner in Category B will be invited to give a piano recital in Ettlingen. In addition there will be an invitation to perform a piano recital in Trier (Germany).
The prizewinners are obliged, according to the wishes of the jury, to participate in the Awards Ceremony and the Prizewinners‘ Concert, otherwise they will lose their right to the prize awarded.
Expected Order of Events
Category B
Thu, July 30, 09:00-18:00, Registration (Musikschule)
Fri, July 31, 09:00-18:00, Registration (Musikschule)
Sat, August 01, 09:00-13:00, Registration (Musikschule) – Deadline 13:00
Sat, August 01, 16:00, Drawing of lots (Musikschule)
Sun, August 02, 09:30-12:50, 15:00-ca. 18:40, Auditions First Round (castle)
Mon, August 03, 09:30-12:50, 15:00-ca. 18:40, Auditions First Round (castle)
Tue, August 04, 09:30-12:50, Auditions First Round (castle)
Tue, August 04, after 18:00, Announcement of results (Musikschule)
Wed, August 05, 09:30-12:30, 15:00-ca.18:00, Auditions Second Round (castle)
Wed, August 05, after 21:00, Announcement of results (Musikschule)
Category A
Tue, August 04, 09:00-18:00, Registration (Musikschule)
Wed, August 05, 09:00-13:00, Registration (Musikschule) – Deadline 13:00
Wed, August 05, 16:00, Drawing of lots (Musikschule)
Thu, August 06, 09:30-12:45, 15:00-ca. 18:40, Auditions (castle)
Fri, August 07, 09:30-12:45, 15:00-ca. 18:40, Auditions (castle)
Sat, August 08, 09:30-12:45, 15:00-ca. 17:00, Auditions (castle)
Sat, August 08, after 20:30, Announcement of results (Musikschule)
Category A + B
Sun, August 09, 11:30- 13:30, Awards Ceremony and Prizewinners‘ Concert (Stadthalle)
Instruments • Practicing
For the auditions in the castle there will be a Steinway Grand Piano, Model C.
For the Prizewinners’ Concert in the Stadthalle there will be a Steinway Grand Piano, Model D.
Around 25 upright pianos will be available for practicing purposes at the Musikschule. Schedules for practicing will be organised from 8:00-19:00h during the competition.
Accommodation
Together with the result of the prejudging, admitted applicants will receive a list of recommended hotels in Ettlingen and the surrounding area. Participants are responsible for making their own bookings.
For competitors a limited number of private accommodations is available (free breakfast and overnight stay).
Internationaler Klavierwettbewerb
c/o Musikschule
Pforzheimer Str. 25
76275 Ettlingen • Deutschland
© Copyright 2025 Internationaler Klavierwettbewerb Ettlingen