Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, major changes had to be made regarding the realization of the 16th International Beethoven Piano Competition Vienna, which was planned to take place in May of 2020.

After selecting 34 candidates out of 231 applicants from 40 nations in world-wide auditions at the beginning of 2020, the health crisis made it simply not feasible to organize a major international live event such as the Beethoven competition in 2020.

Therefore, the International Beethoven Competition Vienna has decided to develop a new approach for the format of its 16th edition:

The first round will take place in May 2021 in an online format only.

By now, all previously chosen candidates sent in recordings, to be judged online by the Jury and the general public (all recordings were done without audiences, in one take, and with the usual repertoire requirements).

Links to the performances will follow shortly. We are preparing an online audience voting – stay tuned!

The decision of the Jury regarding 12 chosen Semi Finalists will be announced on May 26th. These candidates will then be invited to perform live in Vienna in October 2021.

October 18/19: Semi Finale in the Brahms-Saal of Musikverein Vienna
October 21: Final Round with orchestra in the Golden Hall of Musikverein Vienna

To learn more about our new approach, please read here!

Jan Jiracek von Arnim (Artistic Director)
and the team of the International Beethoven Piano Competition Vienna