The Prague Spring International Music Competition, a distinguished member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) in Geneva, will celebrate its 77th edition from 6–14 May 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. This prestigious event will feature two categories: Flute and Piano, drawing exceptional young artists from around the globe to one of Europe’s most respected performance stages.

Reputation & Significance

The Prague Spring International Music Competition has a storied legacy of launching the careers of top classical musicians. Founded in 1946 as part of the Prague Spring International Music Festival, it has hosted luminaries such as James Galway, Sir András Schiff, and Maurice Bourgue. Being a laureate of this competition is recognized worldwide as a mark of exceptional artistry.

Eligibility & Age Limit

The competition is open to musicians of all nationalities who:

Were born on or after 6 May 1996 (age limit: 30 years)
Have not previously won 1st Prize in the relevant category at the Prague Spring International Music Competition

Application Process & Deadlines

Application deadline: 1 December 2025
Applications must be submitted online via the competition’s official website and include:

A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate or proof of identity
A high-resolution portrait photo (min. 1 MB, 300 dpi, copyright-free)
An unedited video recording of the required repertoire for the preliminary round
A signed statement from a professor or artistic authority verifying the authenticity of the recording (downloadable form available on the competition’s website)
Proof of payment of the registration fee (€50), payable by bank transfer or PayPal

Notification of acceptance: By 20 January 2026, selected candidates will be informed via email of their admission to the live rounds in Prague. Successful applicants must then pay the participation fee (€100) by 15 February 2026. Accepted candidates will receive complete organizational details and the sheet music for the commissioned competition piece.

Note: Both the registration and participation fees are non-refundable.

Preliminary Round – Video Recording Requirements

The preliminary selection will be based entirely on submitted video recordings, evaluated anonymously and in random order.
Recording guidelines:

Entire works must be recorded without cuts or editing
Movements may be recorded separately or indexed
Fixed camera angle showing both the performer’s face and hands at all times
Microphone placement should ensure clear, high-quality sound
Public performances are accepted if they meet the above criteria
Official recordings from other WFIMC competitions are accepted
Files must be uploaded to a cloud service (Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive, etc.) with public access enabled (YouTube links are not accepted)

Technical specifications:

Video resolution: 720p, 1080i, or 1080p
Audio quality: PCM, FLAC, MP3 (min. 256 kbps), or AAC (min. 192 kbps)
Formats accepted: mp4, mov, avi, mpg, mkv

Competition Dates & Structure

Dates: 6–14 May 2026
Categories: Flute and Piano
The competition consists of multiple live rounds in Prague, culminating in a final round before an international jury of renowned artists and educators.

Key Dates at a Glance

Application deadline: 1 December 2025
Notification of acceptance: 20 January 2026
Participation fee deadline: 15 February 2026
Competition dates in Prague: 6–14 May 2026

Course of the Competition

The 2026 competition will be held in three public rounds. Participation is limited to 45 candidates in the flute category and 40 candidates in the piano category.

Round I: Maximum of 12 flutists and 10 pianists will advance to Round II
Round II: Three candidates in each category will advance to the Finals

Flute Category Schedule

6 May: Acoustics rehearsals & opening/draw – Vzlet
7–8 May: Round I – Vzlet
9 May: Feedback sessions – Academy of Performing Arts
10 May: Round II – Academy of Performing Arts
13 May: Finals & prize-giving ceremony – Rudolfinum, Dvořák Hall (part of the Prague Spring Festival)

Feedback sessions are available for those who do not advance to Round II.

Jury – Flute Category

Philippe Bernold – France
Emily Beynon – Great Britain
Christina Fassbender – Germany
Barthold Kuijken – Belgium
Václav Kunt – Czech Republic
Jan Ostrý – Czech Republic
Karl-Heinz Schütz – Austria

Flute Category Repertoire

Preliminary Round

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier: Suite No. 5 in B minor, movements without repeats – Prélude: lentement, Rondeau: gracieusement, Fantaisie: vivement (Edition Schott FTR 15)
Benjamin Godard: Suite de trois morceaux, Op. 116 – III. Valse

Round I

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Flute Quartet in D major, K. 285 (version for flute and piano)
Guillaume Connesson: Sonata for Flute and Piano (2022/23) – I. Andante, rubato and IV. Molto vivace e giocoso (Edition Billaudot G 10442B)

Round II

Jean-Marie Leclair: One sonata for flute and basso continuo from the following:
- Sonata in C major – Second Livre de Sonates (1743) (Amadeus BP 970)
- Sonata in E minor – Second Livre de Sonates (1743) (Amadeus BP 970)
- Sonata in G major, Op. 4/7 – Quatrième Livre de Sonates (1743) (Amadeus BP 1574)
Petr Popelka: Commissioned composition (up to 8 minutes) for the IMC Prague Spring 2026
One of the following sonatas:
- Bohuslav Martinů: Sonata for Flute and Piano
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Serenade for Flute and Piano, Op. 41 (Henle Verlag)
- Carl Maria von Weber: Sonata for Flute and Piano in A flat major, Op. 58 (Edition Kunzelmann)