2026 Competition

26 February — 7 March

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Prizes

Woman playing grand piano in front of large historical painting in a dimly lit room.

All five competitors who reach the final will receive a prize, and there will be two special prizes which are available to other competitors as well as finalists. Semi-finalists who do not reach the final will be awarded £150 each.

    • The winner of First Prize will receive a package worth approximately £35,000, including: 

    • A cash prize of £20,000

    • The Hastings Fellowship, an artist development and professional coaching package that gives opportunities to start and sustain professional careers in the creative industries.  

    • Professional engagements including a concert at Cadogan Hall with the Royal Philharmonic and a solo recital at the Wigmore Hall in London. 

    • Professional Headshots taken in Hastings before or after the final 

    • A cash prize of £10,000 

    • Professional coaching session by an experienced artist mentor 

    • Professional engagement opportunities  

    • Professional Headshots taken in Hastings before or after the final 

    • A cash prize of £4,000 

    • Professional coaching session by an experienced artist mentor 

    • Professional engagement opportunities  

    • Professional Headshots taken in Hastings before or after the final 

    • A cash prize of £3,000 

    • Professional coaching session by an experienced artist mentor 

    • Professional engagement opportunities  

    • Professional Headshots taken in Hastings before or after the final 

    • A cash prize of £2,000

    • Professional coaching session by an experienced artist mentor 

    • Professional engagement opportunities  

    • Professional Headshots taken in Hastings before or after the final 

  • A cash prize of £1,000 donated by Alistair and Arran Keith 

  • £500 - a special prize awarded for the best performance of the new commission by Sir Stephen Hough. 

How to Apply

You must read the information below carefully before applying.

Once you have decided to apply, have all your information ready including your video audition, concerto choices and recital programme.

Then complete the application form, upload your video and photographs, and make your payment before submitting the form.

  • Competitors must be aged between 16 and 30 for the duration of the competition (26/02/2026 – 07/03/2026). 1st prize winners from previous competitions may not enter again. 

  • £145 (UK Sterling)  

    £130 (UK Sterling) Early Bird offer if you apply by 30 May 2025 

    Entry fees are not refundable. 

  • Monday 31 March 2025 - Applications open 

    30 September 2025 - Closing date for Entries 

    1 November 2025 – Invitations issued to 40 successful competitors 

    24 February 2026 – Competitors arrive in Hastings 

    26 – 28 February 2026 – Stage 1 

    01 – 02 March 2026 – Stage 2 

    04 - 05 March 2026 – Semi-finals 

    06 – 07 March 2026 – Finals 

  • Entry is by VIDEO AUDITION ONLY.  

    Application closing date: 30 September 2025.  

    Competitors offered a place in the competition will be notified by email by 1 November 2025 and will then be given 7 days to make any changes to programmes. 

  • Please read the information about Repertoire carefully and make your choices before completing your application form. 

  • The Jury retains the right to hear any part of the concertos chosen in Stage 1 and to stop a performance if any competitor exceeds their allocated time. 

    Current or former students (of the last three years) of the President of the Jury will not be permitted to take part in the competition. Any other juror who has a student participating in the competition must declare this at the jury briefing and will not be permitted to vote for their own current or former students (of the last three years).  All jury votes will be counted and quantified as the ratio between the total number of votes received per competitor, and the number of jurors eligible to vote for that competitor. A competitor is not considered to be a student of the jury member if they have participated in a masterclass/single lesson/online lesson with them. 

    All Jury decisions are final and no discussion or correspondence will be entered into. 

  • Competitors may bring their own orchestral accompanist or use an official HIPCC accompanist for Stage One of the competition, for a fee of £85. Competitors using an HIPCC accompanist will be given a rehearsal time on either Tuesday 24 or Wednesday 25 February 2026.  

  • Competitors will be allocated practice times whilst they are in the competition, these will not be able to be rescheduled and if not used no alternatives will be offered. 

  • A written English biography of no more than 200 words must be supplied with the application.  Links to existing biographies will not be accepted. 

    Applicants must supply a high-resolution jpeg photograph suitable for printing. 

    Any recording made of HIPCC of performances throughout the competition will be and will remain the property of HIPCC and may be used by HIPCC or its partners for the promotion of the competition. 

  • Following the auditions all successful competitors will receive a welcome pack giving details of accommodation, transport, accompanist, etc. Registration takes place from Tuesday 24 February 2026 and all competitors are expected to attend the group photo and welcome reception on Wednesday 25 February 2026.  

  • Travel 

    Travel to and from the competition is at your own expense. Some bursaries towards travel may be offered in cases of proven need or hardship – please email Ian Brignall to apply for support. 

  • Finalists may be invited to give a recital in Hastings or elsewhere in the UK as part of the prize and will be given travel expenses and a token fee. All finalists will be offered opportunities to further their professional development. 

    We expect all prizewinners to make reference to their award in their concert biographies for at least one year after winning the award. 

    All information is correct at time of publishing. 

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Enter the
2026
Competition

2026 Jury

2026 Competition Jury Rules

Competition Key Dates

Stage 1
26–28 February 2026

Stage 2
01–02 March 2026

Semi-finals 
04–05 March 2026

Finals
06–07 March 2026

Applications open: 
Monday 31 March 2025

Enter before 30 May 2025 for an Early Bird entry fee of £130 

£145 - Entries after 30 May

Closing date for Entries:
30 September 2025 

Invitations issued to 40 successful applicants:
1 November 2025

Competitors arrive
in Hastings:
24 February 2026

  • Person in white shirt playing the piano with a focused expression.

    Eligibility

    Competitors must be aged between 16 and 30 for the duration of the competition. (26 February 2026 - 7 March 2026). First-prize winners from previous competitions may not enter again. 

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