Competition Details

The Fifth Globe International Piano Competition will be held in person in Hilversum, The Netherlands from 26 - 28 March 2027. It will consist of 3 rounds. The first round will be by video selection. Ten semi-finalists per age group (40 in total) will be invited to play live in the semi-finals on Friday and Saturday, 26 and 27 March 2027. The best 3 pianists from each age category will proceed to the final round on Sunday, 28 March 2027. All live rounds will be held at Heuvellaan Hilversum, The Netherlands, Heuvellaan 33. The competition is open to pianists of any nationality according to the age categories below.

All repertoire is free choice, and pieces may be repeated in several rounds.

A limited number of host families will be available for those who need support to attend the competition. Please let us know as soon as you apply.

There will be 15 pianos available for practice during the competition, with one piano shared by four competitors. A practice schedule will be given to you. Practice pianos are in the same venue as the competition hall.

Ten semi-finalists per age group will be announced by January 24th, 2027

Video preselection

• Category A maximum 6 minutes (9 years old and under)
• Category B maximum 9 minutes (10 - 13)
• Category C maximum 15 minutes (14 - 17)
• Category D maximum 20 minutes (18 - 21)

Video Recording Guidelines:

• Videos must be recorded with a single, stationary camera, ensuring the pianist's face and hands are clearly visible throughout the performance.
• Each piece submitted must be a continuous, unedited take. Editing or splicing of individual pieces is not permitted.
• Multiple pieces from different performances can be put together in one video.
• Audio quality should be as clear as possible to allow for accurate judging.
• Videos should be uploaded to a platform like YouTube or Vimeo, and submitted via the application form.

See the full timetable

Friday 26 March 2027 semi-final - Category D

12:30 – 19:30 · Category D semi-final

Category D, maximum playing time of 30 minutes

Masterclasses, running in parallel

Nicolas Bringuier · Bertrand Giraud

20:15 – 21:00 · Opening Concert by Denise Lutgens & Bertrand Giraud, and results Category D

Saturday 27 March 2027 semi-final - Categories A, B, C

09:00 – 18:50 · Semi-finals programme Categories A, B and C

Category A, maximum playing time of 9 minutes
Category B, maximum playing time of 12 minutes
Category C, maximum playing time of 20 minutes

Masterclasses, running in parallel

Nicolas Bringuier and Bertrand Giraud

19:15 – 19:45 · Concert by Denise Lutgens & Pier Carmine Garzillo, and results Categories A, B and C

Sunday 28 March 2027 final round - Categories A, B, C, D

11:00 – 18:30 · Finals Categories A, B, C and D

Category A, maximum playing time of 9 minutes
Category B, maximum playing time of 12 minutes
Category C, maximum playing time of 20 minutes
Category D, maximum playing time of 30 minutes

Maximum 3 contestants of each age group.

Masterclasses, running in parallel

Nicolas Bringuier and Bertrand Giraud

Award Ceremony for all categories (A, B, C, D), directly after the finals

Application fees

• Category A €50
• Category B €60
• Category C €70
• Category D €80

Terms and Conditions

The contestant's age must fall within the specified age group as of January 10, 2027.

Students of jury members who are sitting in the live rounds are not allowed to participate.

Performances in Categories B, C, and D for the semi-final and final rounds must be from memory. For Category A, the use of sheet music and a page-turner arranged by the contestant is permitted.

The decisions of the jury are final and not subject to appeal. Deliberations of the jury are confidential.

Contestants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and visa arrangements and expenses. While a limited number of host families may be available, placement is not guaranteed. The GIPC can provide a letter of invitation for visa purposes upon request after successful admission to the semi-finals.

To ensure fairness and impartiality, contestants must not communicate directly with any member of the jury regarding the competition during the competition period (from the start of the semi-finals until the announcement of final results), outside of official and scheduled masterclasses or designated feedback sessions.

All videos and pictures made during the competition are owned by GIPC and may be used for promotion on social media and the website. If a competitor wishes not to be included in the above-mentioned media, they should contact GIPC before the competition starts. However, this rule must apply to all finalists.

By signing up for this competition, you accept all terms and conditions of the competition.

Prizes

Diplomas will be available for every participant, including those who don't pass to the semi finals or finals. Jury comments will be available on request.

• Category A: First absolute prize (required 98/100 points) with HIGHEST POINTS €350
• Category B: First absolute prize with HIGHEST POINTS €700
• Category C: First absolute prize with HIGHEST POINTS €950
• Category D: First absolute prize with HIGHEST POINTS €1200

The monetary prize may be divided in the case of ex-aequo (exactly equal score).

Special Prizes

These are awarded in addition to the category prizes above.

• Audience Award — €750
• Beethoven Award — €250, for the best performance of a piece by Beethoven in the live rounds. Semi-finalists are eligible.
• Recital at the Orbetello Piano Festival, Italy — a 60-minute recital for one of the finalists, with concert fee, flight and hotel.
• Globe Piano Summer School 2027 — free participation for one participant from Category A or B.
• Concerts at Heuvellaan Hilversum and Museum Hilversum — for one of the participants, with concert fee, travel and a host family.

More special prizes to be announced.