https://www.chopinnw.org

2026 CHOPIN NW COMPETITION REGISTRATION BEGINS NOVEMBER 1, 2025.
PLEASE READ ALL THE RULES CAREFULLY. Some rules have changed from 2025.

• 📅 Key Dates:

• Chopin NW Competition:
  Saturday, February 14, 2026, 9 AM–6 PM. (You must be available all day. No requests for specific times.)
  Mercer Island Presbyterian Church
  3605 84th Ave. SE
  Mercer Island, WA 98040

• Gold Medalists' Concert:
  Sunday, February 15, 2026, 1:30 PM & 3:00 PM
  St. Lukes Church
  3030 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
  1:30 PM & 3:00 PM

• 🎹 Competition Categories:

• Solo Division (in person):
  Perform original works by Chopin only. No simplified, altered, or newly discovered pieces. All music must be memorized. You may play one or more works, but stay within your division’s time limit. A bell will signal when your time is up—no penalty for stopping.
  Once submitted, repertoire cannot be changed.

• Concerto Division (video only):
  Open to Washington State residents, ages 18 and under.
  Choose either: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd movement (or 2nd & 3rd as a set) from:
  Concerto No. 1 in E minor
  Concerto No. 2 in F minor
  Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise (must be performed in its entirety)
  Must be recorded with second piano accompaniment (accompanist’s face must not be visible).
  Recording period: November 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026
  Upload deadline: January 15, 2026 (Dropbox link will be provided)
  No YouTube links. Format: MP4 or .MOV only
  No speaking or introduction in video
  One continuous, unedited video
  Must show pianist’s hands and face
  Must be memorized
  Must be recorded on acoustic piano
  Winning piece may not be repeated in future years
  One Gold winner and alternate chosen; Silver and Bronze may also be awarded
  Winner will perform with Bellevue Symphony in March 2026

• Mazurka Division (video only):
  Open to ages 8 to 18, Pacific Northwest residents only. Cash prizes and medals will be awarded and winners will be invited to perform live at the Gold Medalists Concert. Pianists may submit a recording of one or more mazurkas, as long as the total performance stays within their age-based time limit. If submitting more than one mazurka, all must be recorded in a single take - no cuts or edits between mazurkas are allowed. Important: Pianists do not have to participate in the IN-PERSON competition to be eligible in this online only version. If you are also participating in the in-person competition and choose to perform a mazurka(s) there, it must be different from the one(s) submitted for this video division and will not be eligible for this prize. Videos must be recorded between November 1, 2025, and January 15, 2026, and uploaded by January 15 via a provided Dropbox link (no YouTube links), in MP4 or MOV format, as one continuous, unedited take with no speaking or introduction, showing the pianist’s hands and face, performed from memory on an acoustic piano.

• 📝 Repertoire Guidelines:

• Repertoire Guidelines: Only original Chopin works are allowed—no arrangements or simplified versions. Books must have measures numbered. Bring to adjudicator before performing. You may use public domain sheet music, but it must be neatly presented in a binder or folder (no loose sheets). Students who are unable to reach an octave may play a single note from the interval instead.

• 📋 Registration Info:

• Registration period begins November 1st, 2025 and ends when 250 participants have registered.

• Max participants: 250 total. No waitlist.

• Solo, Concerto and Mazurka Special Prize are separate registrations. Pianist may choose to do one, two or three divisions, but must registered (change to *REGISTER*) and pay for each category separately.

• 🎶 Age Divisions (as of Feb 14, 2026):

• Age, Time Limit, Fee:

• Solo Division 
  8 & under 5 min $70
  9–10, up to 6 min $75
  11–12, up to 7 min $80
  13–14, up to 8 min $85
  15–16, up to 10 min $90
  17–18, up to 11 min $95
  19 & up 12 min $100
  Concerto, ages 18 & under, must be WA resident, Video format) $100. Video file deadline: January 15, 2026. 
  Mazurka (Video format) ages 7-10, up to 6 min $75. Video file deadline: January 15, 2026.
  Mazurka (Video format) ages 11-13, up to 8 min $85. Video file deadline: January 15, 2026.
  Mazurka (Video format) ages 14-18, up to 11 min $95. Video file deadline: January 15, 2026.

• 🏆 Awards & Prizes:

• Solo Division: Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals
  Gold winners perform at the Medalists Concert
  Gold winners must perform to remain eligible for the Helen Belvin Award
  
  Helen Belvin Award:
  Honors the top performers in the solo division. Mazurka division/Concerto division winners are excluded from receiving the Helen Belvin prize. Up to 9 winners will be awarded by the adjudicators. 
  Prize: $300 each + Grand Prix Gold Medal

• Mazurka Division – Founder’s Award (Mazurka Video Category)
  Sponsored by Sharon and Dr. Steven Lagerberg
  Ages 7–10: $200 + Gold Medal
  Ages 11–13: $300 + Gold Medal
  Ages 14–18: $400 + Gold Medal

• Concerto Division:
  Gold Medalist performs with Bellevue Symphony in March 2026
  Silver and Bronze medals may also be awarded