International Piano Competition City of Minerbio
International competition and Festival for young pianists at the Minerva Theatre
About Minerbio Piano Competition
A week of piano in Minerbio
The International Piano Competition City of Minerbio is an international musical event held in the Municipality of Minerbio, in the province of Bologna, in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna plain. Now in its tenth edition in 2026, the event takes place at the Minerva Theatre on Via Roma and combines the competition itself with an International Festival for Young Pianists, designed for younger children. All auditions and performances are open to the public, who can thus attend the competitors' performances free of charge.
The competition and its categories
The competition is divided into three categories, each with two live performances, strictly from memory:
- Category I — up to 17 years old
- Category II — up to 23 years old
- Category III — no age limit
The required repertoire ranges from Baroque to Romanticism, with bravura studies for the upper categories. Each category admits a maximum of ten finalists, judged by an international jury.
The Festival for young pianists
In parallel with the competition, the International Festival for Young Pianists takes place, with single-round auditions reserved for the younger age groups: Junior category (up to 7 years old), Category A (up to 10 years old), Category B (up to 13 years old), and Category C (up to 16 years old). It is an important opportunity to introduce children and young people to the stage and art music.
Masterclasses, jury, and prizes
Throughout the week, masterclasses and concerts by jury members are held, enriching the program with moments of high training and listening. The 2026 jury includes internationally renowned figures, such as president Riccardo Risaliti and pianist Oxana Yablonskaya. Winners receive diplomas of participation and merit, score-based prizes, and scholarships.
An international recognition
The City of Minerbio Competition is a member of EMCY (European Music Competitions for Youth) and adheres to the federation of the Alink-Argerich Foundation, two networks that attest to its prestige in the field of youth music competitions. For the Municipality of Minerbio and the entire province of Bologna, the event represents a cultural flagship, capable of bringing young performers from all over the world to the Emilian plain.
Minerbio Piano Competition — edition 2026
The tenth edition of the International Piano Competition City of Minerbio will be held from September 27th to October 2nd, 2026, at the Minerva Theatre in Minerbio (BO). The opening ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, September 27th, at 6:00 PM, hosted by Lorenzo Pitaro, the absolute winner of the 2025 edition. The preliminary rounds of the competition begin on Monday, September 28th, with Category III, no age limit.
The competition is divided into three categories (up to 17 years old, up to 23 years old, and no age limit), all with two rounds performed from memory. Alongside the competition, the International Festival for Young Pianists takes place, with Junior, A, B, and C categories for the younger participants. Throughout the week, masterclasses and performances by jury members alternate. The winners' concert concludes the event on October 2nd.
The 2026 jury: Riccardo Risaliti (President), Oxana Yablonskaya (USA), Giovanna Valente (Italy), Srdjan Caldarovic (Croatia), Youngmi Choi (South Korea).
Programme Minerbio Piano Competition 2026
Sunday, September 27th: start of the Festival for young pianists (initial categories) in the morning; 6:00 PM opening ceremony hosted by Lorenzo Pitaro (2025 winner).
Monday, September 28th: start of the competition's preliminary rounds with the first round of Category III (no age limit).
September 28th - October 2nd: continuation of the rounds for the three competition categories and auditions for the Festival, with masterclasses and jury concerts. Winners' concert at the conclusion on October 2nd.
The 2026 jury: Riccardo Risaliti (President), Oxana Yablonskaya (USA), Giovanna Valente (Italy), Srdjan Caldarovic (Croatia), Youngmi Choi (South Korea).
Highlights Minerbio Piano Competition 2026
- Opening ceremony on September 27th, 6:00 PM, with 2025 winner Lorenzo Pitaro
- Three-category competition with memorized performances, maximum 10 finalists per category
- Festival for young pianists with Junior, A, B, C categories
- Masterclasses and concerts by jury members throughout the week
- International jury presided over by Riccardo Risaliti
Prices Minerbio Piano Competition 2026
Practical information — Minerbio Piano Competition
Where it takes place
Teatro Minerva, Via Roma 2, Minerbio (BO), 40061. Minerbio is located about 20 km northeast of Bologna.
How to get there
By car from Bologna following SP5 towards Malalbergo; by train to Bologna Centrale and then an intercity bus to Minerbio.
Admission
All auditions and performances are open to the public. Registration for the competition is reserved for participating pianists (from May 1st to September 10th, 2026).
Contacts
[email protected] · +39 338 4900462 · www.minerbiopianocompetition.it
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Where does it take place — Minerbio Piano Competition
Teatro Minerva
Via Roma 2, 40061 Minerbio