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EPTA UK Piano Competition 2026

Home • EPTA UK Piano Competition 2026

The aim of this year’s EPTA UK Competition is to inspire, encourage, motivate and honour high levels of piano playing and piano teaching nationwide, and to promote musical awareness through participation in performing

Categories

Graded Classes 
These are open to all pianists except for principal study pianists at specialist music schools or Junior Conservatoires. Participants from these institutions who are not principal study will need to confirm this on the entry form. The competition organisers reserve the right to contact the institution concerned if in any doubt. Preparatory and Elementary performers will not progress beyond the Regional Finals.
 
Duet Classes
These are open to all pianists including those at a specialist music school or Junior Conservatoire. 
Duets can progress to the Regional Finals but will not necessarily be included in the Final. This will depend on adjudicator recommendation and timings.
 
Age Range Classes 
These are open to all pianists including those at a specialist music school, Junior or Senior Conservatoire, or University Music Department
If the demand for any Age Range Class is substantial, the organisers of the competition retain the right to select in advance part of the programme. 

Regional Heats

  • All participants will receive verbal and written adjudications and certificates of entry.  
  • Round 1 adjudicators and venues will be chosen by the Regional Organiser. 
  • Certificates of ‘high commendation’ will be awarded where appropriate by the adjudicator. 
  • The adjudicator will choose one performer from each class in each category to go forward into the regional final. A second can be considered only in exceptional circumstances if the adjudicator deems both performances to be ‘equally’ worthy.
  • Performances selected for the regional finals must be “Outstanding”. It is not necessary or expected that anyone be ranked according to number or place.  
    • If more than two performers received “Outstanding” a maximum of two may go through. There are no exceptions and this important rule must always be observed. 
    • If numbers are very small in a class, or no competitor achieves the required standard, there is no obligation to put students through to the regional finals. 

The preparatory class will have the option of non-competitive entries. All non-competitive entries will receive a certificate of participation but will not progress to the Regional rounds. All first rounds must be completed by Friday 27th February 2026. 

Please note, each participant is welcome to bring one accompanying adult. Others are also welcome to attend, though there may be a small charge — please check with your Regional Organiser for details.

Click here to enter the EPTA UK Piano Competition: EPTA UK Piano Competition 2026 – The European Piano Teachers Association (UK) Ltd

Regional Finals

There will be three Regional Finals between 2 and 22 March 2025. Classes, including duets, will be represented in the Regional Finals with 1st place awarded, and 2nd and 3rd places awarded at the adjudicator’s discretion and depending on the number of performers in each class.

Prizes

Graded Classes (Solo)

As well as an opportunity to compete in the Final, prizes will be awarded to the Regional final winner of each of the Graded Classes as follows: 

  • Preparatory                 £10
  • Elementary                  £10
  • Intermediate I             £15
  • Intermediate II            £20
  • Advanced I                  £25
  • Advanced II                 £30

Duet Classes (The Duet category for 2026 will be based on age ranges – the repertoire for this category is often hard to define and not necessarily graded so after consultation with the ROs and the Management Committee the judgement is that category by age would be the fairest option.)

As well as an opportunity to compete in the Final, prizes will be awarded to each duet pair of the Regional Final winners of each of the Age Classes as follows: 

  • Teacher/Pupil               No award
  • 12 & Under:                 £10 for each performer
  • 15 & Under:                 £20 for each performer
  • 18 & Under:                 £30 for each performer

Age Classes (Solo)

As well as an opportunity to compete in the Final, prizes awarded to each of the Regional Final winners of each of the Age Classes as follows: 

  • 12 & Under:                 £20
  • 15 & Under:                 £30
  • 18 & Under:                 £40
  • Over 18:                       £50

EPTA UK Grand Final – Steinway Halls, London on Saturday 28th March 11am-5pm

Winners of the Regional Finals will be invited to perform in the EPTA UK Piano Finals

Prizes awarded as follows:

  • Best Three Performances from the Graded Classes: £80
  • Best Three Performances from the Age Classes:         £80
  • Overall Winners of the EPTA UK Piano Competition:    £200

At the discretion of the jury, the overall winner(s) will also receive live concert opportunities including performances at the EPTA UK National Conference 2026, at Young Artist Recital at CIPSS at Chetham’s and a lunchtime concert as part of the Coventry ‘Mostly Piano’ series. They will also be given a spotlight article in EPTA UK’s prestigious Piano Professional magazine.

All Classes

Two or more contrasting pieces should be played in each round.  The category entry for Graded Classes is determined by the piece of the highest grade in the set, all ages for Age Classes are their age on 31st August 2026. 

A repertoire list is available to assist teachers in the categorisation of pieces. This is an ongoing list. For enquiries, please contact admin@epta-uk.org.  The competition organisers reserve the right to re-allocate a participant to a different class.

Participants may play the same or different repertoire in round 1 and the regional final so long as the grading level remains the same.  EPTA must be notified of any changes in repertoire by emailing admin@epta.uk.org.

Further Information: