George Enescu Competition 2026 opens with gala concert in Bucharest

The 20th edition of the George Enescu International Competition will run from 23 August to 19 September 2026. The opening gala concert takes place at the Romanian Athenaeum on 23 August at 19:00, conducted by Cristian Măcelaru and featuring the National Radio Orchestra. Returning laureates from the 2024 edition – violinist Mayumi Kanagawa, cellist Yo Kitamura and pianist Roman Lopatynskyi – will perform alongside young competitors.

The program highlights a dialogue between tradition and contemporary creation, including Diego Santamaria’s award‑winning piece “The Stone and the Ivy”, Dan Dediu’s “Brahmsodia – Triple Concerto” and George Enescu’s Symphony No. 1 in E‑flat major. Six symphonic concerts are scheduled, covering the composition section gala, the conducting masterclass finale and the finals for the violin, cello and piano categories, showcasing both established artists and the next generation of classical musicians.