Launching the 2026 National Piano Talent Festival

Following the success of the previous two seasons, the 3rd National Piano Talent Festival will officially take place in early 2026.

Members of the organizing committee for the 2026 National Piano Talent Festival. Photo: Organizing Committee

On October 11th, the competition organizers announced several groundbreaking changes for the third season aimed at increasing its scale and international reach.

Accordingly, with the first two seasons (2024-2025) receiving nearly 2,000 applications per year, the 2026 season marks the first time the Department of Performing Arts - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has officially partnered with the competition, while also expanding the age range for participants to 5-25 years old, divided into 15 categories and three competition classes: Freestyle, Classical, and Artist. This change aims to increase the professionalism and diversity of the competition.

Contestants perform during the opening ceremony for the 3rd season of the Piano Talent Festival. Photo: Organizing Committee

Another notable innovation of the competition is international cooperation: outstanding contestants will be selected for the Vietnam Piano Talent Team to participate in the PIARA final round in Japan in July 2026. All contestants who reach the national final round will receive a PIARA certificate recognized by the Japan Association of Assessors, providing international recognition for their abilities.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, Head of the Organizing Committee and President of the Vietnam Institute for Educational and Cultural Development, affirmed that the competition's aspiration is to help more than 1 million students shine with the piano, not simply to be a competition for talent. "The Piano Talent Festival is not just a music competition, but also a journey to honor the talent, passion, and tireless efforts of those who love art," Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan added.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan – Head of the Organizing Committee, President of the Vietnam Institute for Educational and Cultural Development. Photo: Organizing Committee.

The season schedule has been announced as follows: The Talent Search round will be held online from January 1-31, 2026; the Shine round will take place in person in three regions (North, Central, and South) in March; the Final round and Gala night are scheduled to be held on March 28-29, 2026 at the Concert Hall of the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Hanoi. After the final round, the Vietnamese delegation will travel to compete internationally in July 2026.

This year's judging panel comprises highly qualified professors, doctors, and artists from both domestic and international backgrounds, ensuring fair and professional evaluation. The organizers emphasize that the goal of this season is to elevate professional standards, expand international exchange opportunities for young artists, and strengthen the competition's position on the map of music education.

According to VNA

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/khoi-dong-cuoc-thi-festival-piano-talent-toan-quoc-2026-523333.html