Applications are now open for the sixth edition of the Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition (HKIYMC). The competition is chaired and directed by violinist Kirill Troussov, and the live rounds are set to take place in Hong Kong from April 6 to 12, 2026.

The competition comprises one pre-selection round, in which competitors submit recordings that will be judged blind. There will then be between one and two live rounds that will take place in Hong Kong, at the Hong Kong City Hall and Tsuen Wan Town Hall.

The competition is divided into five different age categories: 0-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17, and 18-23. There are also two chamber music categories, for ages 0-12 and 13-23. Cash prizes are available for all categories, and the senior individual category offers $3000 to its winner, as well as a PIRASTRO Violin Perpetual Set Mittel and rosin, and an App-Voucher from G. Henle Verlag etc. The full list of prizes is available here.

Repertoire requirements for the pre-selection round differ by category, and you can read the full requirements here. Recordings for the pre-selection round must be received on or before February 9, 2026. The results of the pre-selection will be announced on February 16, 2026.

In 2026, the jury will comprise Kirill Troussov (Chair), Feng Jia, Florian Leonhard, Huang Yi,Kara Nam, Qian Zhou, Robin Wilson, Savva Fatkulin, Sergei Dogadin, Sha Xiaocai, Sunny Lee and Takashu Shumizu.

You can find out more about the HKIYMC on the competition website.