Artcial Music Foundation
2026 Bay PianoFest &
San Francisco International Piano Competition
Applications for the 2026 Bay PianoFest are now open.
Applications for the 2026 San Francisco International Piano Competition will open soon!
Stay tuned for updates.
2025 Bay PianoFest Booklet
2025 SFIPC Winners’ Performances
2026 Bay PianoFest & SFIPC
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, CA, USA
Applications for the 2026 Bay PianoFest is currently open
Applications for the 2026 San Francisco International Piano Competition will open soon
The 2026 San Francisco International Piano Competition welcomes the participation of piano students and professional pianists of different ages from all over the world!
We're delighted to announce the upcoming 6th Bay PianoFest and the 5th San Francisco International Piano Competition, scheduled from August 3 to 13, 2026, in San Francisco, USA. In 2026, our esteemed jury and faculty will feature renowned musicians, offering an unparalleled opportunity to engage with them.
We're thrilled to host our competition and festival at the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Additionally, we've raised our cash prize to over $10,000.
In the past five years, our winners have also garnered accolades at prestigious competitions such as Cleveland, Chopin, Cliburn, Leeds, and Busoni International Competitions. Our competition provides aspiring musicians with an exceptional and affordable platform to learn from world-class artists and thrive in an inspiring atmosphere. We eagerly anticipate discovering many talented artists at the 2025 San Francisco International Piano Competition and Bay PianoFest and extend our invitation to you to apply! 2025 SFIPC Live Final Round Performances, click here.
Welcome to the Bay PianoFest 2026!
Over the past five years, Bay PianoFest has grown into a vibrant hub of musical excellence and creativity. In 2026, we are excited to continue this journey with an inspiring lineup of performances, masterclasses, lessons and forum events, including the prestigious San Francisco International Piano Competition. Our festival remains dedicated to providing enriching experiences for pianists of all levels.
Join us as we celebrate another year of artistry and connection within our musical community. Applications for 2026 are now open! Visit our festival page for more details and to apply.
— Bay PianoFest Committee
2026 San Francisco International Piano Competition
The 2026 SFIPC welcomes talented pianists of all ages from around the world. Held at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the competition is recognized for its high artistic standards and its dedication to elevating exceptional young musicians on the international stage.
Renowned as a platform for artistic discovery, SFIPC offers participants the opportunity to share their artistry with a global audience, receive feedback from distinguished jurors, and build meaningful connections within the music community. Winners will receive over $10,000 in cash prizes, scholarships to the 2027 Bay PianoFest, and a recital tour in San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2027.
The 2026 edition will feature Artists (Age 18-35), Young Artists (Age 12-17), and Rising Talented (Age 4-18) categories from May to August. The preliminary round will be conducted through submitted performance videos, and finalists will be selected to perform live before the jury at Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall on August 6–7, 2026.
Applications will open in December, and all materials must be submitted by April 20th, 2026.
Rising Talented (Age 4-18)
Participants in the Rising Talent Division are assigned to categories according to their age, from Rising Star I (Age 5 & under) through Adult (Age 19+).
Preliminary Round (Video Recording/Live)
Free Choice of Repertoire-category time limit
Final Round (Live Performance in San Francisco)
Free Choice of Repertoire-category time limit
Category：
Rising Star I (Age 5 & under) — Max. 45mins
Rising Star II (Age 6–7) — Max. 5 mins
Youth I (Age 8–9) — Max. 6 mins
Youth II (Age 10–11) — Max. 7 mins
Junior I (Age 12–13) — Max. 8 mins
Junior II (Age 14–15) — Max. 8 mins
Senior (Age 16–18) — Max. 10 mins
Adult (Age 19+) — Max. 10 mins
NEW Young Artists (Age 12-17)
Applicants for this competition category must be at least 12 years old and no older than 17. Age is determined by your age on August 7th, 2026.
Preliminary Round
(Video Recording of 15-20 minutes)
One Virtuosic Etude
One Movement of a Classical Sonata (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert)
Free Choice of Repertoire
Final Round
(Live Performance of 25-30 minutes in San Francisco)
One movement of a classical sonata (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert)
Free Choice of Repertoire
Artists (Age 18-35)
Applicants for this competition category must be at least 18 years old and no older than 35. Age is determined by your age on August 7th, 2026
Preliminary Round
(Video Recording of 20-25 minutes)
One Virtuosic Etude
One Movement of a Classical Sonata (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert)
Free Choice of Repertoire
Final Round
(Live Performance of 35-40 minutes in San Francisco)
One movement of a classical sonata (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert)
Free Choice of Repertoire
In Memoriam: Prof. John Perry (1935-2025)
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our esteemed faculty member, John Perry, a true legend in the world of classical music.
John Perry enjoyed an illustrious career as a concert pianist, performing extensively throughout Europe and North America to critical acclaim. A gifted soloist and chamber musician, he collaborated with some of the world’s most distinguished instrumentalists, earning admiration for his artistry, insight, and musical integrity…..
