[Pre-Selection Round]

다음의 두 곡을 포함한 12분 이상 자유 프로그램:

1. J. S. Bach - 무반주 소나타 또는 파르티타의 두 악장(빠른 악장 + 느린 악장)

2. N. Paganini - 카프리스 1곡 (예외: Nos. 13, 14, 16, 20)

- 20명 1 라운드 진출

[First Round]

1. J. S. Bach - 무반주 소나타 또는 파르티타의 두 악장(빠른 악장 + 느린 악장)

2. N. Paganini - 카프리스 1곡 (예외: Nos. 13, 14, 16, 20)

3. F. Kreisler - 작품 1곡 (오리지널 또는 편곡 작품 가능)

- 예선 곡과 중복 가능

- 10명 2 라운드 진출

​

[Second Round]

1. W. A. Mozart - 콘체르토 중 1악장(카덴자 포함) 선택: K. 207, K. 211, K. 216, K. 218, K. 219

2. 기교적 작품 - 자유곡 1곡 (Ysaÿe의 작품은 전체 곡 연주)

3. 다음 작곡가의 소나타 - 두 악장(빠른 악장 + 느린 악장):Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, or Bartók

- 5명 3 라운드 진출

- 3 라운드에 진출하지 못한자에게 '장려상'이 수여됨

​

[Third Round]

아래 콘체르토 중 1곡 선택, 전악장 협연:

1. Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

2. Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

3. Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

4. Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 6

5. Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

[Pre-Selection Round]

다음의 두 곡을 포함한 12분 이상 자유 프로그램:

1. Mozart의 현악 사중주 작품 K. 387 또는 K. 465의 두 악장(빠른악장 + 느린악장)

2. Bartók 또는 Schulhoff의 현악 사중주 작품 한 악장

- 20팀 1 라운드 진출

[First Round]

다음의 작품 중 1곡 선택, 전악장 연주:

1.W. A. Mozart - K. 387 이후의 작품 (K. 387 포함)

2. J. Haydn - Op. 74 이후의 작품 (Op. 74 포함)

- 예선 곡과 중복 가능

- 10팀 2 라운드 진출

​

[Second Round]

다음의 작품 중 1곡 선택, 전악장 연주:

1. Mendelssohn: String Quartet, Op. 13

2. Schubert: String Quartet, D. 810 “Death and the Maiden”

3. Debussy: String Quartet, Op. 10

4. Brahms: String Quartet Op. 51 No. 1, Op. 51 No. 2, or Op. 67

5. Smetana: String Quartet No. 1

- 5팀 3 라운드 진출

- 3 라운드에 진출하지 못한팀에게 '장려상'이 수여됨

​

[Third Round]

다음의 두 작품 전악장 연주:

1. Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 59 No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3

2. Schubert: String Quartet, D. 703 “Quartettsatz”

General Information

1. Open to Violinists under the age of 28.

2. Open to String Quartets with an average age of 36 or younger.

3. All applicants must participate in the online video Pre-Selection Round.

4. Online video Submission deadline: May 20, 2026.

5. The results will be announced on May 31, 2026.

6. Live Finals will be held July 22–25, 2026, in Incheon, South Korea.

7. Application Fees:

   • Online Video Pre-Selection: 75 USD

   • Finals Entry Fee: 340 USD

8. All fees are charged per person for violin applicants and per ensemble for string quartets.

9. The Finals entry fee for violin applicants includes piano and orchestral accompaniment costs.

10. Airfare and accommodation are not included in the Final entry fee. For assistance with travel arrangements, please contact the Competition Organizing Committee.

11. Applicants who pass the Pre-selection Round must submit the following materials:

    • Personal Resume: Including school and instructor (if applicable), achievements, and past competition awards.

    • Proof of Identity: A scanned copy of an ID card, passport, or birth certificate, including full name and date of birth.

    • Professional Portraits: Two high-resolution photos (each file must be at least 1.5MB).

12. Video Recording Requirements:

    • All pieces must be performed from memory.

    • Videos must be recorded using a single, fixed camera.

    • The camera should be positioned at a distance and angle that clearly displays the full body of the performer.

    • Each piece must be recorded in one continuous take - editing or splicing is not allowed.

    • Videos must be uploaded to YouTube.

    • Videos that do not meet the above criteria will result in disqualification.

Required Repertoire:  A1 – Violin

Pre-Selection Round
A self-selected program of no less than 12 minutes including the following two works:

• One unaccompanied Sonata or Partita by J. S. Bach, including one fast and one slow movement from the same work.

• Any one Caprice by N. Paganini (excluding Nos. 13, 14, 16, and 20)
   * 20 candidates will advance to the live rounds.

First Round (Live)

• One unaccompanied Sonata or Partita by J. S. Bach, including one fast and one slow movement
    from the same work.

• Any one Caprice by N. Paganini (excluding Nos. 13, 14, 16, and 20).

•  One work composed or arranged by F. Kreisler
   * Repertoire performed in the Pre-selection Round may be repeated. 10 candidates will advance to the next round.
  
  

  Second Round (Live)

• The first movement (with cadenza) from any of Mozart’s Violin Concertos: K. 207, K. 2011, K. 216, K. 218, K. 219

• One virtuosic work of the candidate’s choice. (For works by Ysaÿe, the complete work must be performed.)

• One sonata by Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, or Bartók, including two movements (one fast and one slow) from the same work.
   * The order of performance may be determined at the performer’s discretion. 5 candidates will advance to the next round. Those who do not advance to the Third Round will receive Honorable Mention Awards.

Third Round (Live)

 Perform one complete concerto from the list below with string orchestra accompaniment:

• Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

• Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

• Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

• Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 6

• Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

Violin Prizes

• 1st Prize: 4,000 USD
• 2nd Prize: 2,000 USD
• 3rd Prize: 1,000 USD
• 4th Prize: 500 USD
• 5th Prize: 500 USD

The 4th and 5th prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the jury.

Required Repertoire: A2 – String Quartet

Pre-Selection Round
  A self-selected program of no less than 12 minutes including the following two works:

• Two movements (one fast and one slow) from Mozart’s String Quartet K. 387 or K. 465.

• One movement from a string quartet by Bartók or Schulhoff.
   * 20 ensembles will advance to the live rounds.

First Round (Live)
  Perform one complete work from the following repertoire list:

• Any string quartet by Mozart composed after K. 387 (including K. 387)

• Any string quartet by Haydn composed after Op. 74 (including Op. 74)
   * Repertoire performed in the Pre-selection Round may be repeated. 10 ensembles will advance to the next round.

Second Round (Live)
  Perform one complete work from the following repertoire list:

• Mendelssohn: String Quartet, Op. 13

• Schubert: String Quartet, D. 810 “Death and the Maiden”

• Debussy: String Quartet, Op. 10

• Brahms: String Quartet Op. 51 No. 1, Op. 51 No. 2, or Op. 67

• Smetana: String Quartet No. 1
    * 5 candidates will advance to the next round. Those who do not advance to the Third Round will receive Honorable Mention Awards.

Third Round (Live)
  Perform two complete works:

• Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 59 No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3

• Schubert: String Quartet, D. 703 “Quartettsatz”

String Quartet Prizes

• 1st Prize: 8,000 USD
• 2nd Prize: 4,000 USD
• 3rd Prize: 2,000 USD
• 4th Prize: 500 USD
• 5th Prize: 500 USD

The 4th and 5th prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the jury.

General Information

1.       The competition is open to participants aged 28 or younger (born after January 1, 1998).

2.       For the Non-Professional category, there are no restrictions on musical style, and arrangements are permitted.

3.       Both Professional and Non-Professional participants must undergo preliminary rounds organized by regional committees. With scores above 85 points from each region will advance to the Finals in Incheon, South Korea, from July 22 to 25, 2026.

4.       Participants who do not advance to the Final Round in the Professional category will proceed to the Final Round in the Non-Professional category.

5.       In the Final Round, the instructor of the first prize winner will receive the Instructor Award and the Artistic Guidance Award, and the Conductor Award will be presented to chamber groups.

6.       Solo participants must provide their own instruments. For large instruments requiring special arrangements, please consult the Organizing Committee.

7.       Professional category participants must perform works with piano accompaniment when the piece requires accompaniment. Works originally written for solo performance may be performed without accompaniment.

8.       Piano accompaniment may be provided by the participant or arranged through the Organizing Committee (for a fee).

9.       Repertoire performed in the Preliminary Round may be repeated in the Final Round.

10.    Except for ensembles, all pieces must be performed from memory in the Finals

11.    Works should be performed in their entirety; however, the jury reserves the right to stop a performance if the maximum time limit is exceeded.

12.    The Incheon International Music Competition Organizing Committee reserves the right of final interpretation of these regulations.

Awards

1.       The Professional and Non-Professional Categories adopt an absolute scoring system:

• 1st Prize: 90 points and above (Trophy and Certificate)

• 2nd Prize: 85-89.9 points (Medal and Certificate)

• 3rd Prize: 80-84.9 points (Medal and Certificate)

• Honorable Mention: below 80 points (Certificate)

2.       Teachers of 1st Prize winner will be awarded the Best Teacher Award.

3.       All trophies, cash prizes, and certificates must be collected in person at the Awards Ceremony upon presentation of valid identification. Reissuance will not be permitted.

4.   The Competition Committee reserves the final right of interpretation.

Professional Category Required Repertoire

B1 – Junior Division  

Violin · Viola · Cello (Grade: 12 or below or Age: 16 or younger)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): May 27 - One self-selected piece (Max. 8 minutes)

Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - Two self-selected pieces, including one etude. (Max. 13 minutes)

 B2 – Chamber Junior Division  

Piano Trio · String Quartet (Grade: 12 or below)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): May 27 - One self-selected piece (Max. 8 minutes)
Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - One or more self-selected pieces (Max. 13 minutes)

 C1 – Youth Division  

Violin · Viola · Cello (Age: 28 or younger)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): May 27 - One self-selected piece (Max. 10 minutes)

Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - Two self-selected pieces, including one etude. (Max. 15 minutes)

 C2 – Chamber Youth Division  

Piano Trio · String Quartet (Age: 28 or younger)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): May 27 - One self-selected piece (Max. 10 minutes)

Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - One or more self-selected pieces (Max. 25 minutes)

Non-Professional Category Required Repertoire

D1 – Preschool Division  

Violin · Viola · Cello (Age 6 or younger)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): June 3 - One self-selected piece (Max. 4 minutes)

Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - One or more self-selected pieces (Max. 6 minutes)

 D2 – Primary School Division  

Violin · Viola · Cello (Grades 1-6)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): June 3 - One self-selected piece (Max. 6 minutes)

Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - One or more self-selected pieces (Max. 8 minutes)

 D3 – Middle School Division  

Violin · Viola · Cello (Grades 7-9)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): June 3 - One self-selected piece (Max. 7 minutes)

Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - One or more self-selected pieces (Max. 9 minutes)

 D4 – High School Division  

Violin · Viola · Cello (Grades 10-12)
Preliminary Round (Video submission): June 3 - One self-selected piece (Max. 8 minutes)

Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - One or more self-selected pieces (Max. 10 minutes)

 D5 – Young Adult Division  

Violin · Viola · Cello (Age: 28 or younger)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): June 3 - One self-selected piece (Max. 8 minutes)

Final Round (Live): July 22-25 - One or more self-selected pieces (Max. 10 minutes)

 D6 – Chamber Division  

Chamber · Mixed Ensemble · Orchestra (Age: 28 or younger)

Preliminary Round (Video submission): June 3 - One self-selected piece (Max. 10 minutes)

Final Round (Live):