BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION

Budapest 08. - 14. Sep 2025

FIRST ROUND: PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

The jury will select the 12 candidates for the first round based on the submitted entries. The requirements of the preliminary round may also be played from sheets. Contestants are expected to send their recordings via a shared YouTube link. 

Deadline: 31 March 2025.

SECOND ROUND: SEMI-FINAL
Budapest Music Center 8-9 September 2025.
12 contestants

THIRD ROUND: SEMI-FINAL
Liszt Academy, Solti Hall - 11 September 2025 14:00; 18:00
6 contestants

FOURTH ROUND - FINAL
Liszt Academy, Great Hall - 13 September 2025. 19:00
3 contestants

GALA CONCERT
Liszt Academy, Great Hall - 14 September 2025. 19:30

PRIZES

First prize: 18.000 EUR
Second prize: 12.000 EUR
Third prize: 6.000 EUR

Audience prize: 2.000 EUR
Prize for the best performance of the Kodály composition: 1.000 EUR

INTERNATIONAL JURY

The international jury of seven members includes Anne Gastinel, Jens Peter Maintz, Frans Helmerson, István Várdai, and other renowned artists.

APPLICATION

Age limit: applications are welcome from those born after 1 September 1995.  
Applications must be submitted by filling in the application form online and sending the requested supporting documents by e-mail to competition@filharmonia.hu.
Online application questionnaire

ENTRY FEE

Early Bird registration: 15 February 2025.
Early bird entry fee: 50 EUR

Entry fee: 80 EUR
Application deadline: 31 March 2025.

The entry fee is non-refundable in case of unsuccessful qualification.

Notification deadline: 30 April 2025.

COMPETITION RULES

The competition is open to the public, so any competitors' performances in connection with the competition may be filmed, recorded, and broadcast live on television by Philharmonia Hungary Ltd. By entering, the competitor grants the Promoter, free of charge, all rights to film and audio record the competitor’s performance and to use any and all images and audio recordings of the competitor made during the competition for any and all current and future media without restriction. The Organiser will provide accommodation for the duration of the semi-finals and the final. The competitor must cover travel expenses. Except for the third round (semifinal) and the fourth round (final) the competitors can also play from sheet music. Participation in the Competition constitutes acceptance of these Competition Rules.

For further information please contact: competition@filharmonia.hu 

YOU CAN FIND OUR COMPETITON IN THESE INTERNATIONAL DATABASES:

World Federation of International Music Competitions
Budapest - Budapest International Music Competitions | World Federation of International Music Competitions

Musicalchairs:
Competition: Budapest International Cello Competition 2025