The 4th American International Paderewski Piano Competition in Los Angeles will be held from Feb. 8th- 14th, 2026 at Loyola Marymount University.

We are pleased to present the jury for the 2026 American International Paderewski Piano Competition.

GLORIA CHENG

Grammy winning pianist

JED DISTLER

Gramophone magazine critic, pianist and composer

WOJCIECH KOCYAN

Internationally recognized pianist, pedagogue and scholar

ADAM WILBROWSKI

Former professor of Paris Conservatoire and founder of several international piano festivals

WOJCIECH SWITALA

Renowned pedagogue, Professor at the Katowice Academy of Music, Jury member of the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw

The 4th American International Paderewski Piano Competition in Los Angeles will be held from Feb. 8th- 14th, 2026 at Loyola Marymount University.

Rules:
The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities between the age of 16 to 31.
25 semi-finalists will be admitted to the competition after preliminary stage via video recording.

6 pianists will be admitted to the final stage.

Preliminary stage: 20-25 minutes of video recording must be submitted by Nov. 15th, 2025.

Free choice of repertoire. Links to your recordings must be submitted with the application.

Recordings must be unedited. You may submit one continuous video, or multiple videos.

Semi-final stage repertoire: 25-30 minutes.
Mandatory one or more pieces by I. J. Paderewski, chosen from the following: 

Krakowiak Op.9 No.1

Polonaise in B Major Op.9 No.6

Intermezzo Pollaca Op.14 No. 5

Cracovienne Fantastique Op.14 No.6

Legend in A-flat Major Op.16 No.1

Nocturne in B-flat Major Op.16 No.4

And a free choice of repertoire up to the time limit.

Final stage repertoire:  50-55 minutes.
Free choice of repertoire.  Program from the semi-final stage must not be repeated.

Prizes:

First Prize $10,000

Second Prize $5,000

Third Prize $2,500

Special Prize for the best performance of contemporary work (written after 1970) $2,000

Special Prize for the best performance of Paderewski piece $2,000

Concerts in 2026/2027 in United States and Poland for the 1st Prize Winner

Accommodations will be provided for the contestants for the duration of the competition.

Application portal will be open from now to Nov. 15, 2025.

A non-refundable application fee of $150 will be charged at the time of application.

The international jury will consist of eminent pianists.

The Jury has the option to refrain from awarding all prizes and has the right to divide the prizes between performers. However, the first prize, if awarded, will go to only one contestant. The decisions of the Jury are final.

Foreign contestants are responsible for obtaining their travel documents and visas.

Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Competitors must not have any other professional commitments during the AIPPC-LA.  No contestant may have any member of the jury or the Artistic Director as a principal teacher during the year preceding the AIPPC-LA (Feb. 2025 - Feb. 2026).  Once the 25 semi-finalists are announced in Jan. 2026, the competitors must not participate in master classes or take private lessons with the jury members. No relative of any juror or the Artistic Director may participate in the AIPPC-LA.

It is the responsibility of the contestants to provide the Competition with a Social Security Number (SSN) or International Tax Identification Number (ITIN) in order to receive any prize money. Taxes will be deducted from the prizes according to U.S. tax laws in effect at the time of the Piano Competition.