Poznan - International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition

Over the decades, the Wieniawski Competition has established itself as a prestigious gateway to international recognition for the world’s most exceptional violinists. Its history is adorned with names that have defined the art of violin playing: Ginette Neveu (1st Prize, 1935), David Oistrakh (2nd Prize, 1935), Igor Oistrakh (1^st Prize, 1952), Wanda Wiłkomirska (2^nd prize, 1952), Rosa Fain (1^st Prize, 1957), Charles Treger (1st Prize, 1962), Piotr Janowski (1st Prize, 1967), Tatiana Grindenko (1^st Prize, 1972), Vadim Brodsky (1^st Prize, 1977), Keiko Urushihara (1^st Prize, 1981), Evgeny Bushkov (1^st Prize, 1986), Bartłomiej Nizioł and Piotr Pławner (1^st Prize ex aequo, 1991), Alena Baeva (1^st Prize, 2001), Agata Szymczewska (st Prize, 2006), Soyoung Yoon (1^st Prize, 2011), Veriko Tchumburidze (1st Prize, 2016), Bomsori Kim (2^nd Prize, 2016), Hina Maeda (1^st Prize, 2022). Their achievements reflect the competition’s enduring role in shaping the careers of exceptional young artists.

In October 2026, the 17^th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition will take place. The event is open to violin players born between 1996 and 2008. The Chairman of the eleven-member Jury will be the distinguished Polish violinist Bartłomiej Nizioł, the first-prize winner of the 10^th edition.

The qualification process consists of two pre-selection stages. In stage one, the Jury performs judgement subject to submitted recordings. The deadline for submitting applications and recordings is 9 January 2026 at 23:59 CET. Results of stage one of the pre-selection shall be made public not later than on 13 February 2026.

The second stage of the pre-selection will take form of live auditions, held between 18 April and 24 May 2026. The list of players qualified for the Competition shall be made public on 1 June 2026.

The prizes of the 17^th edition are as follows:

First Prize – 60,000 Euro (gross)
Second Prize – 30,000 Euro (gross)
Third Prize – 15,000 Euro (gross)

Remaining Laureates – 5,000 Euro (gross)

The list of of extra-statutory prizes to be awarded at the Competition will be announced prior to the opening of the event. 

Schedule of the 17^th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition: 

8 October: Opening 

9-12 October: Stage 1 
13-15 October: Stage 2 
16 October: day off
17-18 October: Stage 3 
19 October: day off
20-21 October: Stage 4 – Finale A 
22 October: Stage 4 – Finale B 

23 October: Gala and Prize-Winner Concert
24 October: Prize-Winner Concert no. 2
25 October: Prize-Winner Concert no. 3 (Warsaw)

Detailed information, including the Competition Programme, Rules and Regulations, and the Application Form, is available at www.wieniawski.pl. 

For all inquiries, please contact: biurowieniawski.pl (biuro[at]wieniawski[dot]pl) or competitionwieniawski.pl (competition[at]wieniawski[dot]pl).