San Francisco International Piano Competition

Official Regulations & Rules

1. The San Francisco International Piano Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities.

2. The 2026 San Francisco International Piano Competition will be Preliminary round. All the finalists must performed LIVE in San Francisco.

3. The application form must be submitted via our website with all required materials by April 20, 2026. Applications will be considered complete only when all documents and fees have been received by the competition. Application fees must be paid in full and are NON-REFUNDABLE. Please note: submitting an incomplete application will not be considered.

4. The results of the competition for all contestants will be posted online on the competition website and official social media.

5. All contestants are responsible for their own travel expenses for performances.

Repertoire Rules

1. All works must be performed by memory.

2. The same repertoire may be performed for both Preliminary and Final rounds over the course of the competition.

3. The length of the program may not exceed the allotted time as stated in the repertoire requirements.

Jury and Voting Regulations

1. Any jury member (voting) who has taught a contestant within the last two years must abstain from voting on that category.

2. Prize winners ranking will be determined by a majority vote by the jury.

3. The Jury has the right to withhold awards if entrants fail to reach the required standards.

4. The deliberations of the Jury are confidential. Contacting Jury members before or during the competition is prohibited.

5. The decisions of the Jury are FINAL and not subject to review or appeal.

Other

1. Monetary prizes will be paid via check/Zelle within 30 days of the conclusion of the competition.

2. Prizes may be subject to U.S. income tax laws.

3. The competition reserves the right to broadcast/post any part of or the entire recording performance on our website/social media pages. All rights are reserved by the San Francisco International Piano Competition. Contestants are not entitled to any fees or royalties.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: All information on the competition website was accurate at the time of the publication. However, the San Francisco International Piano Competition reserves the right to make changes if circumstances dictate. Including: the schedule of the competition, jury members, venue, and winner recital performances, if needed at the discretion of the executive and artistic director.