The Chopin Centre in Szafarnia Becomes the Capital of Young Pianists
From 27 to 31 May, young pianists from around the world will showcase their talents during the 33rd International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Szafarnia (Golub-Dobrzyń County). For more than three decades, the competition has attracted music lovers from across the globe and is traditionally held in the place where Frédéric Chopin spent two summer holidays. The event is financially supported by the regional government of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region.
The competition will feature 55 young pianists up to the age of 16, representing 19 countries from four continents. The participants will come from Australia, Belgium, Belarus, China, the Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
The competition will open on 27 May with a concert by Italian pianist Leonardo Colafelice at St. Catherine’s Church in Golub-Dobrzyń, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
In the following days, contestants will compete in three age categories. Their performances will be evaluated by an international jury composed of:
- Prof. Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń (jury chair, Music Academy in Poznań),
- Prof. Beata Bilińska (Music Academy in Katowice),
- Prof. Paweł Wakarecy (Music Academy in Bydgoszcz),
- Prof. Xin Wang (China, Artistic Director of the Euregio Piano Award),
- Prof. Ingolf Wunder (Austria/Switzerland, The Art Of The Piano).
All competition auditions will be streamed live on the YouTube channel of the Chopin Centre.
The results of the competition will be announced during the open-air Laureates’ Concert, which will take place on 31 May at 12:00 noon in front of the Chopin Centre building in Szafarnia.
In addition to financial awards, the winners will receive invitations to perform recitals in Germany and the Netherlands.
Szafarnia is regarded as a forge of young piano talent. Many winners of the children’s and youth piano competition later go on to perform at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and on concert stages around the world.
Marshal’s Office of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Press Office
25 March 2026