Conditions

The Competition is open to pianists of any nationality, born between April 9, 1994 and April 9, 2012, with the exception of those who have received the “Prize Jaén” previously.

The accommodation and breakfast expenses for all the participants during his participation in the competition will be at charges of the Organisation. The rooms are to share with another participant. Those participants, they prefer a single room; have to arrange and pay the accommodation in our city on his own and their load.

Applications may be submitted from the following day after the publication of this announcement in the BOP (Official Bulletin of the Province of Jaén) and in the BDNS (National Database of Subsidies), until the January 31, 2026.

The application process has to be done online through this website.

PRESELECTION.

A maximum number of 60 participants is established, leaving the rest of those registered as reserves. In the days following the end of the registration period, the Organization will inform those selected of their final acceptance into the Competition.

The Organization will preselect participants based on the documentation received and the viewing of the videos sent. Each registration will include a link to a recent recording of the candidate that includes:

       – A prelude and fugue by J. S. Bach

       – A study

       – First movement of the classical sonata

The works in the video will necessarily be the same ones that you submit later to the Competition. Each work must be recorded in a single take, although they can be recorded separately, but sent in a single link and without any type of editing.

If the contestant has won one of the prizes in any of the member competitions of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (FMCIM / WFIMC) in the last 4 years, which must be accredited, You are exempt from sending said recording. Likewise, if necessary, a letter of introduction from a professor of recognized prestige will be requested.

Confirmation of acceptance or not to participate in the Competition will be notified to interested parties no later than February 20, 2026.

CONFIRMATION OF ADMITTED.

Admitted participants will have to confirm their attendance to the organization by email before March 2, 2026. Failure to communicate will imply loss of place in the Competition. This place will be offered to the next contestant on the reservation list.

The Competition program, in all its tests, will be reviewed by the Competition Secretariat, whose acceptance or necessary modification will be notified to the contestant.

The established enrolment fee of 80 Euros, have to be paid to the following account:

IBAN: ES90 2103 1210 59 1101000228

SWIFT BIC CODE: UCJAES2M

Bank: savings bank Unicaja    Address: c/Cronista Cazabán, s/n, 23001 Jaén

The receipt of payment must be sent together with the application. All the bank charges relating to the transfer are to be paid by the contestants. This application fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.

The draw of lots take place on April 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., instead to be determined by the Organization. All contestants must be present at this drawing of lots, in the order to determine the order of performances. Any absence have been justified and accepted by the organization, at previous request of the participant.

At this time, the location and schedule of the various performances will be indicated.

The Competition consists of three eliminatory performances and the final round:

  • First and second round; piano solo
  • Third round; piano solo and Chamber Music with the Cosmos Quartet.
  • Final with the Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra.

The repertoire of each round is sorted by groups, according to the annexed program. After each eliminatory performance the Jury will announce its judgement and designate the participants who are qualified to take part in the next round, or in case the prize-winners (for the third round no more than 6 participants and 3 for the final stage).

      FIRST ELIMINATORY PERFORMANCE.

– All the participants shall interpret only the works proposed in the first proof, without exceeding the 20 minutes time limit. The same composer cannot be repeated in sections 2 and 3.

      SECOND ELIMINATORY PERFORMANCE.

– Once the candidates have successfully passed the first elimination, it is compulsory to play just only pieces proposed to the second proof, without exceeding the 50 minutes time limit. Those participants, who wish to interpret the custom piece as an option, will also have the extra time that this work lasts (apart from the 50 minutes).

There is no minimum time set for this performance.

      THIRD ELIMINATORY PERFORMANCE.

– All participants who qualify, shall play only pieces included in the third proof, with a minimum of 50 minutes and maximum a 75 minutes time limit. The work for the quartet should close its perform.

FINAL PERFORMANCE WITH ORCHESTRA.

– All the candidates, who qualify for the final, shall play a concerto for piano and orchestra.

OBSERVATIONS

  • Participants will not be able to change their program once the registration period ends. Modification of the works presented in the pre-selection video will not be accepted.
  • Contestants may choose only one of the works proposed in each section, with the exception of several works from the same Opus.

All works must be played from memory, with the exception of the score of the custom piece and the Chamber Music piece.

To opt for the special prizes, “Rosa Sabater” Prize or “Chamber Music” Prize, the participants who has won one of these prizes in previous editions, must opt for a different work with which he won the prize.

Before taking part in the Competition, the participants must present an official document (National Identity Card, Passport or similar document) proving their identity.

The Competition will be held between 10 to 18 April, 2026. On 18 April will be publicly announced the decision of Jury at the closing ceremony of the Competition.

The Jury will be appoint between important persons with a prestigious artistic career and merit in the international piano world. Those names and remuneration will be published in the BOP of Jaén (Official Bulletin of the Province of Jáen) at least fifteen days before Competition. The decision of the Jury will be final and irrevocable, and will be ratify, if applicable, by the competent department of the County Council of Jaén (Diputación Provincial de Jaén) in the order to award the prizes.

The administrative operation of Jury shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter II of the Preliminary Title of the Law 40/2015, October 1st, of the Legal Status of Public Sector.

To award the different prizes the jury will take his decision based on the quality and aptitude, interpretation and musical culture of candidates, appropriate to award this activity, the purpose specific of this competition.

The First Prize will be declared void only in case all the members of the Jury vote “NO”. Otherwise, the Jury is obliged to propose the award of the Prize.

The awards, subject – if applicable – to the legally established tax deductions, shall be as follows:

FIRST PRIZE:

·         Sponsored by Diputación Provincial de Jaén: Gold Medal, Diploma, a tour of five concerts, three of them sponsored by: Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País de Jaén, International Festival of Music and Dance “Ciudad de Úbeda” in Úbeda, and the Málaga Philarmonic Orchestra in the Chamber Cycle of Picasso Museum from Malaga (The remaining  concerts are to be determined, location and dates), and

20.000 Euros

SECOND PRIZE, sponsored by UNED Jaén (National University of Distance Education), Diploma and

  12.000 Euros

THIRD PRIZE, sponsored by the Fundación Unicaja, Diploma and

10.000 Euros

SPECIAL PRIZES:

 

“CHAMBER MUSIC” PRIZE, sponsored by UNIR (International University

of La Rioja), Diploma and

8.000 Euros

“ROMANTIC MUSIC” PRIZE, sponsored by the University of Jaén, for the best performer of romantic music included in the third eliminatory performance, Diploma and

8.000 Euros

“ROSA SABATER” PRIZE, sponsored by the Mayor of Jaén for the best interpreter of Spanish music, include in the second eliminatory performance, Diploma, a concert in the city of Jaén sponsored by the Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País, and

6.000 Euros

“CONTEMPORARY MUSIC” PRIZE, sponsored by the Culture Ministry of

the Spanish Government goes to the best interpreter of the custom piece, Diploma,  and

6.000 Euros

“AUDIENCE PRIZE”, by audience voting during the final performance.

Bronze Sculpture, without prize money.

 

The payment of prizes will be made by bank transfer to the account that the beneficiary indicates on their creditor sheet, which should be submitted as part of the admission letter.

To justify the prize money awarded by the County Council, the prize-winner must sign a document, which one enclosed the following information: personal details of the winner, the prize money and the legally established deductions for tax purposes.

Each participant who successfully passes the first eliminatory stage and participate in the second eliminatory round will receive a travel grant of 300 Euros. This amount will be raised to 400 Euros if the participant in question also passes the second stage, participate in the third round but does not obtain any prize.

 The 67º International Piano Competition “Prize Jaén” 2026, reserves the reproduction rights by radio, video and television broadcast from the different eliminatory performances. This transfer of rights is agreed gratuitously.

Compatibility or incompatibility with other subventions, grants, deposits or resources.

According to the article 38.38 of the budget of County Council of Jaén, the prizes they will be award on charges of the competition 2026, are compatible with other subventions, grants, deposits or resources from any administration, public or private corporation, national, from the European Union or from international corporation, which one could be grant the beneficiary after the prize award. 

The participation in the 67º International Piano Competition “Prize Jaén” involve the complete acceptance of the aforementioned conditions. The participants in this Competition are exclusively responsible for any violation of the rights protected by Royal Legislative Decree 1/1996, of April 12, which approves the consolidated text of the Intellectual Property Law.

Jaén, July 2025