Overview

The Rising Talented Category is designed to bring together young pianists of different ages and cultural backgrounds, fostering musical exchange, growth, and inspiration. Our mission is to provide a platform where developing musicians can perform, learn, and be recognized for their potential, while opening doors to future opportunities and artistic development.

General Information

The 2026 San Francisco International Piano Competition and Festival is thrilled to announce that it will take place from August 6-August 7, at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, CA, USA. 

All stages of the Competition will be open to the public. 

The competition is open to pianists of all nationalities and ages by the application deadline, May 1, 2025.

Age Categories & Repertoire Details

Contestants will be divided into 8 age groups and contestants will only compete with fellow competitors in their age group. Age groups will be determined by the contestants’ age on August 7, 2026.

• Rising Star I (Age 5 & under) — Max. 5 mins

• 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. 9 mins

• Senior (Age 16–18) — Max. 10 mins

• Adult (Age 19+) — Max. 10 mins

Eligibility

The SFIPC Rising Talented Category welcomes pianists of all ages. 

Current or previous students of judges MAY enter the competition. However, the judges will NOT be a part of voting the final decision of his/her students if the student has studied with a specific jury member in the past 2 years. 

International competitors may need visas in certain cases. Therefore, applicants are advised to seek guidance from the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this document, the SFIPC reserves the right to make changes if circumstances necessitate.