Munich Piano Competition 2026 – General Provisions
§1 OPEN CALL
The Munich Piano Competition is open to musicians of all nationalities and ages.
Online application form (in English) should be completed no later than 20 March 2026, 23:59 CET
Applicants are obliged to submit online, along with the Application Form:
- a copy of the applicant’s passport, ID or birth certificate
- a colour photograph (suitable for publishing)
- a proof of paid application fee – remittance slip (see instructions on our website),
- a proof of disability: (only for “Inclusive Artists Category”)
- please specify the country, city, school and teacher,
- enclose exact competition programme with exact timings.
§2 Disciplines
- Piano solo
- Piano duo (4 hands on one piano)
- Chamber music Ensemble
§3 Categories
The candidates are divided into the following categories according to their age.
| Category | Age (year of birth) | Duration | Participation fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre category | born 2019–2023 | 1-3 minutes | 60€ |
| Category A | born 2016–2018 | 2–6 minutes | 80€ |
| Category B | born 2014–2015 | 3–8 minutes | 80€ |
| Category C | born 2012–2013 | 5–12 minutes | 100€ |
| Category D | born 2010–2011 | 8–14 minutes | 100€ |
| Category E | born 2008–2009 | 9–16 minutes | 130€ |
| Category F | born 2006–2007 | 10–18 minutes | 130€ |
| Professionals | No age limit | 20–35 minutes | 160€ |
| Music lovers* | No age limit | 5–15 minutes | 160€** |
| Inclusive Artists | No age limit | 2-10 minutes | 100€ |
*this category is for all music lovers who do not study but is a musician as a hobby.
** Price per Ensemble. Chamber music ensembles and Piano Duos can apply in each category.
- Underage contestants must be accompanied by an adult. The Competition will not take any responsibility in safeguarding minors.
- Children who need pedal extension have to organise one for themselves.
- Time limits should be observed! The Jury has the right to interrupted the contestants if the time limit is clearly exceeded.
§4 Stages
Depending on your category the competition consists of 1 or 2 stages:
The following categories consist of 1 Stage. A live audition at Nymphenburg Castle, in front of our jury.
- Pre Category
- Category A
- Category B
- Category C
- Category D
- Category E
- Category F
- Music Lovers
- Inclusive Artists
The following categories consist of 2 Stages - Professionals Piano Solo
- Professionals Piano Duo (4 hands on 1 piano)
- Professionals Chamber Music
For these categories the 1st Stage consist of a video audition which is being reviewed by our jury.
A video link has to be uploaded in the application form. - Duration of the video 15-30 min
- Program can be chosen free of choice and can be the same as for the live audition.
- There should be at least 2 pieces from two different epoches.
- Recording can be from a studio recording or live concert.
The best ranked pianists from this stage will be invited to the 2nd Stage which is the live audition at Nymphenburg castle, in front of our jury.
§5 Program
- Program is performed by the free choice of the candidate.
The program can not be changed after the submission of the application. - The programme must cover two different epochs and must be within the specified time duration for a particular category.
- The entire Programme must be performed from memory for all categories except Piano Duo, Chamber Music Ensembles, Music Lovers and Inclusive Artists Category
§6 Participation fees
- Participation fees are non-refundable. The applicants bear the transfer and bank fees.
- Please sent the “Participation fees” for the Munich Piano Competition 2025 to the following address:
Accountholder:
Kunst- und Kulturverein KulturBox e.V
Alter Messeplatz 2
D-80338 Munich
IBAN: DE97 7025 0150 0029 5682 68
BIC: BYLADEM1KMS
Purpose of payment: Donation, Category of participant
If a bank transfer is not possible please contact us and we will find another solution.
§7 Jury
- The Competition Jury will be composed of internationally recognized musicians and pedagogues.
- The Competition Jury will work according to the high professional standards.
- Competitors are not allowed to communicate feedback in any way with any member of the Jury, until the end of the entire Competition. Competitors can require feedback from the jury after the competition is over.
- A member of the Jury who is related to a competitor, or has had (institutionally or privately) any sort of teaching contact with a competitor, with or without reimbursement for the tuition provided, and regardless of the number of lessons given, cannot score, mark, or rank that particular competitor. Competitors are obliged, upon request from the Competition Secretary, to specify in the Application Form the names of the Jury members with whom they have had such pedagogical contact, and/or the members of the Jury to whom they are related. Competitors who has had such pedagogical contact with more than three Jury members, or is related to them, cannot participate in the Competition.
- The Jury’s decisions are final and are not subject to appeal.
§8 Rating System
- First prize: 90-100 points
- Second prize: 80-90 points
- Third prize: 70-80 points
- Participation certificate/Diploma: 60-70 points
- If multiple contestants have the same number of points, younger contestants have advantage.
§9 Prizes
- All participants will receive a Munich Piano Competition certificate
- Selected participant(s) will get an opportunity to play concerts within in our European Platform and cooperations with our partners.
- Selected participant(s) will get an opportunity to participate in Piano Summer Academy, a masterclasses and cultural program led by eminent Professors, with scholarship.
(The scholarships consists of individual piano lessons and cultural program. Travel and accommodation expenses have to be paid by the student)
§10 Travel and Accommodation
Travel and Accommodation costs are paid by the competitors. The Competition administration will forward information about the accommodation options to the competitors. The contestants can request from the administration recommendations for rehearsal rooms. The Competition does not cover any costs from the contestants (accommodation, instrument rental, transportation, injuries, lost stuff etc.).
§11 At the venue
- Please bring your own pedal extension.
- There is no separated warm up piano at the venue.
- All contestants will get the information to shorty warm up at the concert piano.
- We will sent information for external warm up rooms which can be booked individually by the contestants.
§12 Press, etc.
The Munich Piano Competition will be monitored by music critics, journalists, managers, and other persons, reporting on the Competition’s progress in the media. The entire Munich Piano Competition, as well as the Competition Jury sessions, will be open to the general public.
§13 Recording.
The Competition reserves the right to record, videotape, and broadcast the entire Piano Competition (including internet-transmission), without payment to the competitors. Recordings are the permanent property of the Competition and it is free to use them as it wishes and are free to be used by the Competition for any public occasion.
§14 Visa requirements.
Some foreign nationals will need a visa for their entry into Germany. Expenses for visa issuance are to be covered by the competitors themselves. The competitors must check for visa requirements themselves.
Please contact us if you need an official invitation from the competition. We will kindly sent you a personalised document which you can add to your visa application.
§15 Terms and conditions
By processing the Application Form, competitors accept all terms and conditions of this prospectus, the rules and regulations, as well as the decisions of the competition jury.
By accepting all terms and conditions, you are agree that Piano Summer is allowed publish your photograph and name on its website and social media accounts.
Information / Contact
Please sent any email regarding the Munich Piano Competition to following contact: competition@pianosummer.eu