Bartók World Competition receives 144 musical compositions

The Bartók World Competition has received 144 musical compositions for its current round. The competition is open to composers under the age of 40, with a total prize pool of €10,000. The first prize is €5,000, the second is €3,000, and the third is €2,000.

Submissions originated from a diverse range of countries. China provided the highest number of entries, followed by South Korea and the United States. Hungary saw 10 entries, while other submissions came from Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Nigeria, and Armenia. The average age of participants is 27, with the youngest being 19.

A preliminary panel of professors from the Liszt Academy will review the works in September to select the top 15 pieces. These will then be evaluated by an international jury led by Swedish composer Anders Hillborg. The final winners will be announced during a gala concert on November 29, 2026, at the Liszt Academy's Solti Hall. One of the winning works will serve as a compulsory piece for the 2027 string quartet competition.