ONLINE PRESELECTION

The jury will select 12 competitors for the first round based on the submitted recordings.
In the pre-selection round, competitors must perform all pieces from memory.

Recordings should be submitted in the form of YouTube links.

Submission deadline: April 15, 2026
Notification of selected competitors: May 1, 2026

Requirements of the Round:

The works must be performed in the following order: A – B

A) One Liszt Étude of the competitor’s choice from the following:

Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, R. 2/b; S. 139
2. Allegro molto
4. Mazeppa
5. Feux follets
8. Wilde Jagd
9. Ricordanza
10. Allegro agitato molto
11. Harmonies du soir
12. Chasse-neige

Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, R. 3/b; S. 141
3. La Campanella (Allegretto)
6. Quasi Presto

Liszt: Zwei Konzertetüden, S. 145

1. Waldesrauschen
2. Gnomenreigen

B) Freely chosen original works by Liszt and/or transcriptions, paraphrases within the remaining time limit, excluding Liszt Études.

(The total duration of the pre-selection video must not exceed 20 minutes per competitor.)

PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

Liszt Academy, Solti Hall – September 14–15, 2026
12 competitors

Requirements:

A) Two pieces of the competitor’s choice from the following:

(Same list as above – Études d’exécution transcendante, Grandes études de Paganini, Zwei Konzertetüden)

B) Freely chosen original works by Liszt and/or transcriptions, paraphrases within the remaining time limit, excluding Liszt Études.

C) Selection from the following works, maximum duration: 5 minutes:

György Kurtág: Játékok "Spiele, Games" (Volumes 5, 6, 7)

The competition repertoire pays tribute to the 100th birthday of György Kurtág, twice Kossuth Prize and three-time Erkel Prize-winning composer, pianist, and chamber music teacher.

Pieces performed in this round may not be repeated in later rounds.
The works may be performed in any order.
Competitors may choose the same works as in the online round.
All pieces must be performed from memory.

(The duration of the first round program must not exceed 30 minutes per competitor.)

SEMI-FINAL

Liszt Academy, Solti Hall – September 17, 2026
6 competitors

Requirements:

A) One Liszt transcription / opera paraphrase of the competitor’s choice from the following:

Reminiscences de Don Juan de Mozart, R. 288; S. 418
Reminiscences de Norma [Bellini], R. 133; S. 394
Rigoletto – Paraphrase de Concert (Verdi), S. 434
Ouverture zu Wagners Tannhäuser, S. 442
Isoldens Liebestod aus Tristan und Isolde (Wagner), S. 447
La Muette de Portici (Auber), S. 386
Saint-Saëns–Liszt: Danse macabre, S. 555 (original version)
Miserere du Trovatore (Verdi), S. 433
La Valse de l’opéra “Faust” (Gounod), S. 407

B) One Liszt composition of the competitor’s choice from the following:

Any piece from Années de pèlerinage
Any Hungarian Rhapsody (Nos. 1–19)
Polonaise, S. 223/2
Fantasia and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H, R. 22; S. 529
Grand galop chromatique, S. 219
Mephisto Waltz (Dance in the Village Inn, from Episodes from Lenau’s Faust), S. 514
Rhapsodie espagnole, R. 90; S. 254
Grosses Konzertsolo, S. 176
Funérailles (Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, No. 7), S. 173

C) One or more freely chosen original works by Liszt or Liszt transcriptions within the remaining time limit.

Works may be performed in any order.
All pieces must be performed from memory.

(The duration of the second round program must not exceed 50 minutes per competitor.)

FINAL

Liszt Academy, Grand Hall – September 19, 2026
3 competitors

Compulsory solo work:
Liszt: Sonata in B minor, R. 21; S. 178

Two concert works to be designated by the competitor from the following list, one of which will be selected for the final:
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, R. 455; S. 124
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, R. 456; S. 125
Liszt: Totentanz, R. 457; S. 126

The Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in the final.
All works must be performed from memory.

INTERNATIONAL JURY

The seven-member international jury will include such distinguished pianists as Olga Kern, Barry Douglas, János Balázs, and several other renowned artists.

APPLICATION

Application deadline: April 15, 2026
Submission deadline: April 15, 2026, 23:59 CET

Age limit: Applicants born after September 1, 1996 are eligible.

To apply, first complete the online application form available via the provided link, then send all requested attachments by email to competition@filharmonia.hu.

Documents to be submitted by email after completing the online form:

• Digital copy of the proof of payment of the entry fee

• Digital copy of ID card (EU citizens) or passport (EU and non-EU citizens)

• Artistic résumé / curriculum vitae

• Two recent high-resolution photos (portrait and landscape format, at least 2–3 MB each)

Video recording requirements for the online pre-selection:

• The recording must be no older than 6 months from the date of registration.

• Hands, feet, and the whole body must be clearly visible at all times.

• The repertoire parts must be recorded in continuous takes, not separately.
  A total of three (3) unedited videos must be submitted as unlisted YouTube links:

  1. A short introductory video (maximum 60 seconds)

  2. Video recording of the pieces chosen for Online Round A, in one continuous take

  3. Video recording of the pieces chosen for Online Round B, in one continuous take

The total length of all three videos must not exceed 20 minutes.
Videos must be uploaded as unlisted on YouTube.

An application is considered complete and final once the online form has been filled in and all required documents, including the 3 video links, have been sent by email to competition@filharmonia.hu.

ENTRY FEE

Entry fee: 100 EUR
The entry fee is non-refundable, regardless of the online round results.
Submission deadline: April 15, 2026, 23:59 CET
Notification deadline: May 31, 2026

Payment should be transferred to the organizer’s bank account:
IBAN: HU69 10004885-10002010-00223335
BIC (SWIFT): HUSTHUHB
Bank: Hungarian State Treasury, 1139 Budapest, Váci út 71.

Please include in the payment note: Applicant’s name – FLIPC
(e.g. John Sample – FLIPC)

PRIZES

First Prize: 35,000 EUR
Second Prize: 18,000 EUR
Third Prize: 9,000 EUR

Competitors advancing to the live rounds will receive high-quality orchestral recordings, in accordance with the terms specified in the Competition Regulations.

Special Prizes: Concert engagements, performance opportunities, and valuable awards from sponsors.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The competition is public, and performances may be recorded, filmed, or broadcast live or later by the organizer, Filharmonia Hungary Nonprofit Ltd.
By applying, each competitor grants full rights, free of charge, to the Organizer to record, reproduce, and use any image, video, or audio material of their performances on any current or future media platform.

For competitors advancing to the semi-final and final rounds, Filharmonia Hungaria Nonprofit Ltd. will provide or assist in arranging accommodation upon request.
Travel expenses must be covered by the competitors themselves. In the competition rounds, the contestants are not allowed to use sheet music. Participation in the competition implies acceptance of the Competition Regulations, which will soon be available at www.filharmonia.hu.

For further information: competition@filharmonia.hu