TEL AVIV — The prestigious Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition is now accepting applications for its 18th edition, scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv from April 28 to May 15, 2026.
Established in 1974, the competition is held every three years and is open to pianists aged 18 to 32. It remains one of the leading platforms for launching the careers of outstanding young pianists worldwide.
Prize Structure and Career Support
The competition awards three top prizes:
Gold Medal and Arthur Rubinstein Award: $40,000, plus an additional $10,000 allocated to a career enhancement fund
Silver Medal: $20,000
Bronze Medal: $10,000
Winners will also receive invitations to perform in concert venues across Israel and internationally during the three years following the 2026 event.
Competition Format
The 2026 edition will feature three rounds:
First Round: All competitors will perform a 35–40-minute recital.
Second Round: Sixteen pianists will be selected to perform a 50–60-minute recital.
Final Round: Six finalists will each perform a piano trio, a classical concerto with the Jerusalem Camerata, and a grand concerto with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
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Jury Panel
The competition will be chaired by Arie Vardi and feature an esteemed international jury, including:
- Martha Argerich
- Daniel Barenboim
- Yefim Bronfman
- Akiko Ebi
- Taiseer Elias
- Ian Fountain
- Pavel Gililov
- Yoheved Kaplinsky
- Ella Milch-Sheriff
- Piotr Paleczny
- Soo Jung Shin
Artistic Vision
Ariel Cohen, Artistic Director of the Rubinstein Competition, emphasized the importance of both emotional depth and technical excellence in the selection process.
“The Competition Jury, including some of the world’s leading musicians, come from all over the world,” Cohen said. “They aim to discover pianists whose music lies deep in their soul, and whose technical ability enables them to express their heart’s desire and touch the audience with their playing.”
He added a warm invitation to prospective participants:
“You are invited, young pianists, to take part in the Competition, express your music, excite the audience and the jury, have a great time and, of course, win prizes.”
Notable Past Winners
The competition has helped launch the careers of celebrated pianists including:
- Emanuel Ax
- Gerhard Oppitz
- Angela Cheng
- Alexander Korsantia
- Kirill Gerstein
- Alexander Gavrylyuk
- Igor Levit
- Khatia Buniatishvili
- Boris Giltburg
- Daniil Trifonov
- Juan Pérez Floristán
- Kevin Chen (most recent winner)
How to Apply
Applications are open until August 15, 2025. Interested pianists can apply through the official competition website.
