Contest Rules
Announcement
The III INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION “CIUDAD DE MÁLAGA” will take place from June 19 to 27, 2026.
Pianists of any nationality who have not turned 33 on the day of the start of the first qualifying round may participate in the contest.
Requirements
To be announced soon.
For any questions you can contact us by email at concursantes@concursopianociudaddemalaga.com
Requirements
It is necessary to complete the registration form and attach all the required documentation. The registrations must be sent before February 20, 2026 or they will not be taken into account. It is mandatory to pay the registration fee of 120 euros by bank transfer to the account number found in the rules. The contestant will be responsible for the costs arising from the transfer.
For any questions you can contact us by email at concursantes@concursopianociudaddemalaga.com
Development
Our competition is a serious and challenging journey that begins with registration and culminates in the final competition. Musicians undergo evaluation by our experienced jury, with the opportunity to win prizes and recognition for their artistic excellence
Inscription
To be announced soon.
Preselection
To be announced soon.
Presentation
To be announced soon.
First Phase
To be announced soon.
Second Phase
To be announced soon.
Extraordinary Concert
To be announced soon.
Semifinal
To be announced soon.
Final
To be announced soon.
Development
Our competition is a serious and challenging journey that begins with registration and culminates in the final competition. Musicians undergo evaluation by our experienced jury, with the opportunity to win prizes and recognition for their artistic excellence
Inscription
Registration period begins on January 13 and ends on February 20, 2026
Preselection
The 24 selected contestants are announced on April 3, 2026
Draw
On May 1, 2026, the draw is held to determine the order of performance
Opening Ceremony
June 19, 2026 Opening Ceremony and Concert
First Phase
First eliminatory round 20 and 21 June 2026
Second Phase
Second eliminatory round 22 and 23 June 2026
Extraordinary Concert
24 June 2026
Semifinal
June 25, 2026
Conference
Music Agents Europe and Spain
Final
27 June 2026, with the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cervantes Theatre and awards ceremony
Regulation
Our regulations are the basis of our contest, ensuring equality and excellence for all contestants. Establishes the rules that guarantee a fair and transparent contest.
Inscription
Pianists of any nationality who have not reached the age of 33 on the day of the start of the first eliminatory round may participate in the competition
The registration period begins on January 13, 2026 and ends on February 28, 2026.
Registrations must be received, fully completed and with all the required documentation, before March 1, 2026.
Registration requires:
- a) Online completion of the form, attaching a digital copy of all the documents requested in it.
- b) Sending an audiovisual recording of no more than 20 minutes, including works of different styles, through a link to a platform such as Youtube, Vimeo, etc. Each of the works performed in that recording must have been recorded in a single take, without any cuts or edits, not even between movements. The video cannot have undergone any editing retouching. The recording must have been made within the last two years. They can be recordings from different days but in the same link
- c) Indicate the repertoire chosen for each audition, with the full name of the composer, title of the work, opus number, tonality, duration, etc
- d) Sending at least one letter or email of recommendation, written by one or more prestigious musicians, other than the candidate's current teacher or mentor.
- e) Payment of the non-refundable registration fee of €120. It will be made by bank transfer to the account,
IBAN: ES67 2100 2117 2402 0128 2193
BIC/Swift: CAIXAESBBXXX
NAME: CAIXABANC
ADDRESS: AVENIDA GRAN CAPITÁN 23
ZIP CODE: 14001
CITY: CÓRDOBA
PAÍS: SPAIN
The expenses that this banking operation may entail will be assumed by the contestant, and in no case by the contest.
By submitting the online entry form, you agree to all the clauses of the Competition Rules.
The pre-selection will be made by the artistic direction of the competition.
Admission
The admission of the participants to the First Eliminatory Round will be decided by the Artistic Committee of the International Piano Competition “Ciudad de Málaga”, after examining the documentation received and the recording. Their decision will be final. The result will be communicated to interested parties from April 3, 2026.
Jury
The members of the jury may not present family members or students with whom they have worked. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the elimination of the contestant.
The decisions of the jury will be final.
Draw
The order of performance of the contestants will be determined by means of a LIVE ONLINE draw, on MAY 1, 2026. This order will be respected in all the tests of the Competition, unless, for artistic reasons, the Jury determines otherwise for the concerts of the Final.
Competition Piano
All contestants, before the first round, will be able to test the piano for 15 minutes each. They will be individually informed of the time when they can do so.
Practice Piano
The organization will make studio pianos available to the contestants.
General Considerations
- a) Unjustified delay to any of the tests will mean automatic disqualification
- b) The chairman of the jury may interrupt any performance if the time limit has been exceeded, without this influencing the evaluation of the contestant
- c) The data sent by the contestants for their registration in the contest, and those generated in the contest and in the monitoring of their artistic and professional activities, will become part of the contest database and will not be used for any other purpose that is not related to the dissemination of the contest, contestants or other activities related to the above. The competition organisers are also authorised to use this data to promote the competition during and after the competition
- d) The competition reserves all the rights of broadcasting, audio and video recording, broadcast on TV or internet, live and deferred, of the different tests of the contest and other acts and concerts, as well as the rights for their recording, being able to market and assign, freely, exclusively and without any limitation the aforementioned rights in favor of any person or entity. This transfer of rights is carried out free of charge.
- e) Visa: all travel and visa expenses will be the responsibility of the contestant. The competition organisers will send a letter of invitation, if required.
- f) The management of the competition will resolve all those situations not contemplated in these regulations.
In case of doubt about the interpretation of the rules, the regulations in Spanish will be taken as valid.
Contest Phases
In none of the phases may original compositions of the contestant himself be included. All works will be performed from memory. Only in the semifinal can the score be used.
FIRST PHASE
It will be held on June 20 and 21, 2026
24 pianists will participate.
SECOND PHASE
It will be held on June 22 and 23, 2026
SEMIFINAL
It will be held on 24 and 25 June 2026
On the 24th each contestant will rehearse with the quartet for 60 minutes
On the 25th the semifinal test will take place
FINAL
It will be held on June 26 and 27, 2026, with the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra
3 pianists will participate
Each contestant will rehearse with an orchestra on the 26th, for approximately 60 minutes, and will have a dress rehearsal on the morning of the 27th The final will be held on June 27, 2026.
Repertoire
All works from all rounds must be performed from memory, except for the semi-final play.
No change in the program to be performed will be accepted, once the 24 participants who will play in the first elimination phase in Malaga have been announced.
Pre-selection round
20-minute video, with a free program of different styles that includes a study of Chopin. It may include works that are performed in the first phase of the competition
First round
Each contestant will perform a program of 25 minutes of maximum duration, which must include:
-A Prelude and Fugue from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier
-A Chopin study of op.10 or op.25
-Work or works of free choice, until the time is completed (in the case of sonatas they must be performed in their entirety)
Second round
Each contestant will perform a program of free choice, of a maximum duration of 50 minutes, which must include a Beethoven sonata. In the case of works with different movements, they must be performed in their entirety.
Works from the previous phases may not be performed.
Semifinal
Each contestant will perform one of the following quintets, accompanied by the Gerhard
Quartet
-R. Schumann Quintet Op. 44 in E flat Major
-A. Dvorak, Quintet, op. 81 in A Major
-J. Brahms Quintet op. 34 in F minor
Final
Each contestant will perform one of the following concertos for piano and orchestra:
-L. v. Beethoven Concerto No. 3 Op. 37 in C minor
-L. v. Beethoven Concerto No. 4 op.58 in G Major
-F. Chopin Concerto No. 1 Op. 11 in E minor
-F. Chopin Concerto No. 2 op.21 in F minor
– R. Schumann Concerto in A minor op.54
-E. Grieg Concerto in A minor op. 16
-S. Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2 Op. 18 in C minor
-S. Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
– P. I. Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 Op. 23 in B flat minor
-M. Ravel Concerto in G Major
Awards
The economic prizes and the remunerated fees of the concerts offered will be subject to the tax legislation in force in Spain.
-First prize: 20,000 euros, diploma and trophy designed by FLOW81 and concert tour. Sponsored by AC Hotels
-Second Prize: 10,000 euros and diploma. Sponsored by Fundación Málaga
-Third Prize: 6,000 euros and diploma. Sponsored by Champagne Taittinger
-Best classified Spaniard: 1,500 euros. And a concert with the Iberian Sinfonietta in its season
-Best pianist of the semifinal: 1,500 euros Sponsored by Sol Classic Management, a professional recording and a recital.
-Best finalist of the young jury: Batch of scores
The winning contestants must remain in Malaga until June 28, 2024, inclusive, to attend to the different commitments that arise from their participation in the contest.
The prizes for the best Spaniard and best semi-finalist are cumulative, but not the first, second and third.
Generalities
Travel bags:
-All participants in the first phase who do not pass to the second phase will receive 300 euros as travel aid.
-All participants of the second phase who do not access the semi-final will receive 500 euros as travel aid
-All participants of the semi-final who do not access the final will receive 900 euros as travel aid.
Accommodation and meals
The organization will be responsible for the accommodation in a double room and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) of all contestants, throughout their participation in the contest.
From June 19, 2026 until the last day of their participation in the competition inclusive.
Internal displacements during the competition
Once the 24 contestants have arrived in Malaga, the organization will take care of the trips related to the contest, during their participation in it. Pick-up at Malaga airport, María Zambrano train station or bus station, and transfer to the place of accommodation, study rooms, rooms of the tests of the contest, and extraordinary activities during the contest, and return transfer to the airport, train station or buses.
Extraordinary activities
Contestants will have an invitation to access the opening concert and the extraordinary concert.
Regulation
Our regulations are the basis of our contest, ensuring equality and excellence for all contestants. Establishes the rules that guarantee a fair and transparent contest.
Inscription
The admission of participants to the First Eliminatory Test will be decided by the Artistic Committee of the “Ciudad de Málaga” International Piano Competition, after examining the documentation received and the recording. Your decision will be final. The result will be communicated to interested parties during the month of March 2025.
Admission
Pianists of any nationality, who were born after June 7, 1991, may participate.
The registration period begins on November 9, 2024 and ends on February 1, 2025.
Registrations must be received, fully completed and with all the required documentation, before February 2, 2025.
Registration requires:
a) Online completion of the form, attaching a digital copy of all the documents requested.
b) Sending an audiovisual recording lasting no more than 20 minutes, which includes works of different styles, through a link to a platform such as YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Each of the works performed in that recording must have been recorded in a single take, without any cutting or editing, not even between movements. The video cannot have undergone any editing touches. The recording must have been made within the last two years.
c) Indicate the repertoire chosen for each test, with the composer’s full name, title of the work, opus number, key, duration, etc.
d) Sending at least one letter or email of recommendation, written by one or more prestigious musicians, other than the candidate’s current teacher or mentor.
e) Payment of the non-refundable registration fee of €100. It will be made by bank transfer to the ABANCA account.
IBAN: ES12 2080 1210 3330 4003 3556.
BIC/Swift : CAGLESMMXXX
The expenses that this banking operation may entail will be assumed by the contestant, and in no case by the contest.
Sending the online registration form implies acceptance of all the clauses of the Contest Regulations.
The preselection will be carried out by a commission chaired by the artistic direction of the competition.
Jury
The jury members will not be able to present family members or students with whom they have worked regularly in the last two years. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the elimination of the contestant.
The jury’s decisions will be final.
Lottery
The order of performance of the contestants will be determined by draw, on June 7, 2025, before the opening concert. This order will be respected in all the Competition events, unless, for artistic reasons, the Jury determines otherwise for the Final concerts.
All contestants must be present at the drawing, except in justified cases of force majeure.
Competition Piano
All contestants, before the first test, will be able to try the piano for 15 minutes each. They will be informed individually of the time in which they can do so.
Studio Piano
The organization will make study pianos available to the contestants, ensuring at least 4 hours of study per day per contestant.
General Considerations
a) Unjustified delay to any of the tests will mean automatic disqualification.
b) The president of the jury may interrupt any interpretation if the time limit has been exceeded, without this influencing the evaluation of the contestant.
c) The data sent by the contestants for their registration in the contest, and those generated in it and in the monitoring of their artistic and professional activities, will become part of the contest database and will not be used for any purpose. another purpose that is not related to the dissemination of the contest, contestants or other activities related to the above. The organization of the contest is also authorized to use this data to promote the contest during and after it is held.
d) The contest reserves all rights to radio broadcasting, audio and video recording, broadcast on TV or the Internet, live and delayed, of the different competition events and other events and concerts, as well as the rights for their recording, being able to market and assign, freely, exclusively and without any limitation, the aforementioned rights in favor of any person or entity. This transfer of rights is carried out free of charge.
e) Visa: all travel and visa expenses will be the responsibility of the contestant. The competition organization will send an invitation letter, if requested.
f) The competition management will resolve all situations not contemplated in these regulations.
In case of doubt about the interpretation of the bases, the regulations in Spanish will be taken as valid.
Contest Phases
Original compositions by the contestant themselves may not be included in any of the phases. All works will be performed from memory.
First Phase
It will be held on June 8 and 9, 2025
24 pianists will participate.
Second Phase
It will be held on June 10 and 11, 2025
Semifinal
It will be held on June 12 and 13, 2025
On the 12th each contestant will rehearse with the Thyssen Quartet for 60 minutes
The semi-final test will take place on the 13th
Final
It will be held on June 14 and 15, 2025, with the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra
3 pianists will participate
Each contestant will rehearse with an orchestra on the 14th, for approximately 60 minutes, and will have a general rehearsal on the morning of the 15th.
The final will be held on June 15, 2025.
Repertoire
All works of all phases must be performed from memory.
No change will be accepted in the program to be performed, once the 24 participants who will play in the first eliminatory phase in Malaga have been announced.
Preselection phase
20-minute video, with a free program of different styles that includes a virtuoso work. It may include works that are performed in the first phase of the competition.
First phase
Each contestant will perform a program of maximum duration of 25 minutes, which must include:
-A Prelude and Fugue from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier
-A Chopin study of op.10 or op.25
-Work or works of free choice, until the time is complete
Second Phase
Each contestant will perform a freely chosen program, with a maximum duration of 50 minutes.
Works from previous phases cannot be performed.
Semifinal
Each contestant will perform one of the following quintets, accompanied by the Thyssen Quartet
-R. Schumann Quintet op. 44 in E flat Major
-A. Dvorak. Quintet op. 81 in A Major
-C. Franck Quintet in F minor
Final
Each contestant will perform one of the following concertos for piano and orchestra:
-L. v. Beethoven Concerto No. 3 Op. 37 in C minor
-L. v. Beethoven Concerto nº4 op.58 in G Major
-F. Chopin Concert No. 1 Op. 11 in E minor
-F. Chopin Concert no.2 op.21 in F minor
– R. Schumann Concerto in A minor op.54
-E. Grieg Concerto in A minor op. 16
-S. Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2 Op. 18 in C minor
-S. Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini
– P. I. Tchaikovsky Concert No. 1 Op. 23 in B flat minor
-M. Ravel Concerto in G Major
Awards
The financial prizes and paid caches of the concerts offered will be subject to the tax legislation in force in Spain.
First prize
20,000 euros, diploma and trophy.
Concerts:
1) In one of the cycles organized by the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra.
2) At the “Rafael Orozco” Piano Festival in Córdoba
3) In the season of the Teatro Ciudad de Marbella
4) During the Pharos Arts Foundation season in Pharos (Cyprus)
Second Prize
10,000 euros, diploma and trophy.
Third Prize:
6,000 euros, diploma and trophy.
Best ranked Spanish
1,500 euros.
The winning contestants must remain in Malaga until June 16, 2024, included, to attend to the different commitments that arise from their participation in the contest.
On June 16, the 3 first prize winners will give a recital in a town in the province of Malaga. This concert will have no financial remuneration.
Generalities
Travel bags
All participants in the first phase who do not advance to the second phase will receive 300 euros as travel aid.
All participants in the second phase who do not make it to the semi-final will receive 500 euros as travel aid
All semi-final participants who do not make it to the final will receive 900 euros as travel aid.
Accommodation and meals
The organization will be responsible for accommodation in a double room and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for all contestants, throughout their participation in the contest. From June 7, 2024 until the last day of your participation in the contest, inclusive.
Internal travel during the contest
Once the 24 contestants have arrived in Malaga, the organization will take care of travel related to the contest, during their participation in it. Pick up at Malaga airport, María Zambrano train station or bus station, and transfer to the accommodation, study rooms, competition test rooms, and extraordinary activities during the competition, and return transfer to the Airport, train or bus station.
Extraordinary activities
Contestants will have an invitation to access the inaugural concert and the extraordinary concert, as well as the opening and closing cocktails of the competition.
Become a legend
Open call from November 9, 2024 to February 1, 2025.
Location
