The 13th International Ignacy Jan Paderewski Piano Competition will take place in Bydgoszcz from the 9th to the 23rd of November, 2025. The event is organized by the Paderewski Music Association in Bydgoszcz, with the collaboration of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music and the Pomeranian Philharmonic Hall. The competition is open to pianists of all nationalities who are 16-32 years of age.

The Music Association was established shortly after regaining independence by Poland and in May 2022 celebrated its centenary anniversary. Rarely does it happen that an Association founded during an outburst of optimism that strives to disseminate cultural values and ascertain national identity survives so long and successfully carries on with its mission. The Music Association in Bydgoszcz, operating for almost an entire century, (it suspended its operation only during the Second World War) has been transforming the city and the region. It propagates music culture, establishes professional institutions and supports artists, at the same time sustains highest standards. All these endeavors have turned Bydgoszcz into the city of music and launched it on the European and subsequently international arena. The renowned achievements of the Pomeranian Philharmonic and the Opera Nova, co-created by the Association, were magnified by the International Ignacy Jan Paderewski Piano Competitions under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland as well as a prestigious and unique the Paderewski Piano Academy. The Music Association has become a permanent element of Bydgoszcz identity, the city which is perceived as a significant European center for music education. This would not happen without the arduous commitment of Professor Felicja Krysiewicz, Professor Barbara Gogol-Drożniakiewicz, Professor Katarzyna Rymarczyk, Felicja Gwincińska and Professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, long-standing presidents of the Association. From December 2022 the President of the Association is prof. jerzy Kaszuba.

The Competitions is held to commemorate Ignacy Jan Paderewski, an outstanding pianist, composer and politician, and to promote young pianists and Polish culture worldwide. The first edition of the event was organized in 1961 and since 1998 the Competition has been held every three years.

Preliminary auditions for the 13th Paderewski Competition will be organized in May and June 2025 in the following cities:

Warsaw – KAWAI Polska Showroom

Seoul – Spielenhaus and Spielen Art Hall

Tokyo – Yamaha Artist Service Tokyo

Shanghai – Yamaha Music & Electronics (China) Co., Ltd.

New York – Yamaha Artist Services, Inc.

Vienna – Yamaha Music Central Europe GmbH Branch

Sacile – Fazioli Concert Hall w Sacile

LIVE BROADCAST: YouTube channel # Paderewski International Piano Competition and the website www.paderewskicompetition.pl.

The total value of prizes is over 62 000 Euro. Moreover, the prizes also take the form of concerts and recitals in some prestigious music institutions. The closing ceremony will take place on the 23rd of November, 2025 in the Paderewski Philharmonic Hall.

SCHEDULE:

April 22nd, 2025 – the final deadline of sending the written applications

April 22nd,, 2025 – the deadline for pianists of send the entrance fee

April 30th, 2025 – the candidates are informed about the acceptance of their application or about the invitation to the preliminary audition

May – June 2025 – the preliminary auditions

June 15th, 2025 – the deadline of sending the recordings of the preliminary repertoire (accepted only in particularly important cases)

July 30th, 2025 –  the announcement of the final list of the candidates, invited to take part in the Competition

September 10th, 2025 – after this day, any changes of the repertoire will not be accepted

The 13th International Paderewski Piano Competition:

November 8th, 2025 – the Competition participants’ arrival to Bydgoszcz

November 9th, 2025 – the Orientation Meeting and the drawing of the  performances order

November 9th, 2025 – the Inaugural Concert

November 10th, 2025 – the beginning of the I stage audition

November 13th, 2025 – the announcement of the I stage results

November 14th, 2025 – the beginning of the II stage audition

November 16th, 2025 – the announcement of the II stage results

November 17th, 2025 – day off – rehearsals with the chamber orchestra (Semi-finalists)

November 18th, 2025 – the beginning of the Semi-final audition

November 19th, 2025 – the announcement of the Semi-final results

November 20h, 2025 – day off – rehearsals with the orchestra (Finalists)

November 21^st – 22^nd, 2025 – the Final of the Competition

November 22^nd, 2025 – the announcement of the Prize winners

November 23^rd, 2025 – the Awards Ceremony (17.00)

November 23^rd, 2025 – the Prize Winners’ Concert

November 23^rd,, 2025 –  presentation of the Additional Prizes

TBA – the Prize Winners’ Concert in the National Philharmonic Hall

13th International Paderewski Piano Competition

Paderewski Music Association in Bydgoszcz

PARTNERS:

The Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz

The Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz

THE 13rd INTERNATIONAL PADEREWSKI PIANO COMPETITION IS CO-FINANCED BY:

the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Republic of Poland from the Fund of the Promotion of Culture – a State purpose–specific Fund, as part of the “Music” program, implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance

City of Bydgoszcz

MAIN PARTNER:

Sponsors:

The competition is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Fund for the Promotion of Culture – a state special purpose fund, as part of the „Music” program implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance, and by the City of Bydgoszcz.

Partner of the International Paderewski Piano Competition  – Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region.