13 March 2026
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At the invitation of Maestro Cristian Măcelaru, Artistic Director of the Enescu Festival and Competition, an impressive panel of internationally acclaimed musicians will serve on the juries of this landmark edition.
Between 23 August to 19 September, the city of Bucharest will host the 20th anniversary edition of the George Enescu International Competition. Themed “In Pursuit of Excellence”, the competition is recognised as one of the world’s leading classical music contests and it continues to serve as a major platform for emerging artists and a gateway to the George Enescu International Festival.
Here's a flavour of what you'll expect:
The impressive lineup includes pianists Lilya Zilberstein, Nigel Boon, Rena Shereshevskaya and Nelson Goerner; cellists Arto Noras, Enrico Dindo, Valentin Răduțiu and Frans Helmerson; violinists Mihaela Martin, Alissa Margulis, Ida Kavafian, Liviu Prunaru, and Kathleen Winkler, alongside distinguished violinist Nemanja Radulović, himself a former winner of the competition.
Lilya Zilberstein returns as Jury President (© Andrej Grilc)
They will be joined by Polish composer Zygmunt Krauze, pianist and pedagogue Vovka Ashkenazy, and Multi-GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® Award–winning composer Gabriela Ortiz, among other prominent figures of the international music scene.
Competition sections and jury structure
The 2026 edition will feature four sections: piano, cello, violin and composition:
Cello Section (29 Aug-7 Sept)
Presided by Arto Noras, the jury includes Enrico Dindo, Marin Cazacu, Valentin Răduțiu, Dan Prelipcean, Frans Helmerson, and Claudio Bohórquez. From the semifinals onward, Inbal Segev and Elena Dubinets, Artistic Director of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, will join the panel.
Violin Section (4-13 Sept)
The jury is chaired by Mihaela Martin and includes Liviu Prunaru, Vladimir Nemțanu, Bujor Prelipcean, Alissa Margulis, Kathleen Winkler, and Ida Kavafian. Nemanja Radulović and Nora Pötter, Managing Director at Dr. Raab & Dr. Böhm and SCHMID RAAB & BOEHM will participate from the semifinals.
Piano Section (10-19 Sept)
Lilya Zilberstein returns as Jury President, alongside Marie-Ange Nguci, Dana Borșan, Raluca Știrbăț, Nigel Boon, Rena Shereshevskaya, and Vovka Ashkenazy. Didier de Cottignies, Artistic Advisor of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, and pianist Nelson Goerner will join the panel from the semifinals.
Composition Section
The jury is chaired by Zygmunt Krauze and includes Dan Dediu, Adrian Pop, Adrian Iorgulescu, Doina Rotaru, Elsa Vautrain, Artistic Director at Durand Salabert Eschig, Sarah Snider, Steven Mackey, Mark Simpson, and Gabriela Ortiz, some of the most influential figures in contemporary international composition.
Registration and eligibility
Registration for the 2026 edition is open until May 10, 2026 for the piano, violin, and cello sections, and until June 30, 2026 for the composition section. Eligible applicants are artists born after August 1, 1991.
Masterclasses in composition and conducting are open to musicians born after August 1, 1991, while instrumental performance masterclasses are open to musicians born after August 1, 2001.
The Romanian Athenaeum (© Alex Damain)
Venues and Competition format
Four competition stages will take place in Bucharest, with up to 50 participants selected for each instrumental section. The first two rounds will be held at the National University of Music in Bucharest, while the semifinals and finals will take place at the iconic Romanian Athenaeum.
Finals Rounds and Guest Conductors
The finals of the instrumental sections will feature leading international conductors:
Case Scaglione – Cello Final, Romanian Radio National Orchestra
Harry Ogg – Violin Final, George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra
Daniela Candillari – Piano Final, George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra
The concert dedicated to the composition section will be conducted by world renown maestra Marin Alsop, marking her first appearance in Romania at the podium of the Romanian Radio National Orchestra.
Awards and professional opportunities
With a total prize fund of approximately €150,000, the competition offers significant financial awards, including prizes in the composition section and First, Second, and Third Prizes in the instrumental categories. Special prizes, audience awards, and partner distinctions complement the main prizes.
Beyond financial rewards, laureates benefit from performance opportunities at future editions of the Enescu Festival and Competition and within the seasons of leading Romanian philharmonic orchestras, as well as mentoring, career guidance, and artistic representation.
Further useful history and information about the upcoming George Enescu International Competition is available to read in our recent blog.
Click here for full details about the 20th anniversary edition of the George Enescu International Competition