Terms & Conditions for the 2026 Competition

The Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition was founded in 1979 as the "Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition". The inspiration for the competition came from Hans Romney, the then chairman of the Tunbridge Wells Green Room Music Club, under whose auspices the competition was established.

Then as now, the Competition aims to help and encourage advanced students and young professional musicians on the threshold of their careers and to support its winners in the early period of their careers. To this end, cash prizes, recital opportunities and performance subsidies are awarded.

2026 Competition Overview

The Competition will be held at Mayfield School, High Street, The Old Palace, Mayfield TN20 6PH between Friday 1 May and Monday 4 May 2026.

The Competition will be open to advanced students and young professional musicians aged 16 years or over and not more than 27 years old on Monday 4 May 2026.

The Competition will be made up of an initial video submission which will be followed by three live rounds in front of the judges and audience.

  • Video screening
  • Round One (live)
  • Semi Finals (live)
  • Finals (live)

There will be three instrumental sections:

  • Piano (which will be tuned to A=440Hz)
  • Strings (excluding plucked strings such as harps and guitars or similar)
  • Wind (both wood and brass)

Cash prizes totalling £11,000 and recital opportunities will be shared by the winners.

Key Competition Dates

Please see the detailed terms and conditions below for more detail on each of these stages.

  • Monday 15 December 2025: The Entry form opens at 12 noon. Entrants must complete the form, pay their fee and provide a video submission.
  • Saturday 31 January 2026: The Entry form closes at 12 noon.
  • Wednesday 4 March 2026: Target date for Notification of Acceptance to be sent to all successful entrants, with reserve notifications also sent to any entrants on the reserve list.
  • Wednesday 18 March 2026: Target date for Schedule Notification to be sent, informing competitors of their schedule and accompanist, where applicable.
  • Wednesday 25 March 2026: Within 1 week of the Schedule Notification, competitors who have been offered a place in the competition must confirm by email that (a) they accept the place in the Competition and (b) they will be available for all sessions in all three rounds. Last date for any adjustments to repertoire.
  • Friday 27 March 2026: Last date for reserve list entrants to be accepted into the Competition, if spaces become available.
  • Wednesday 2 April 2026: Competitors must contact their allocated Official Accompanist (if any) by this date to confirm arrangements and provide copies of music for the Official Accompanist. Target date for Notification of Hosting to be sent to successful entrants that have requested hosted accommodation with local families.
  • Friday 17 April 2026: Competitors must contact their allocated host (if any) by this date to confirm arrangements.
  • Friday 1 and Saturday 2 May 2026: Competition Round One.
  • Sunday 3 May 2026: Semi Finals.
  • Monday 4 May 2026: Finals. Please note that, unlike in previous years, the Finals will be held on the Bank Holiday Monday, not the Sunday.

The Prizes

The Overall Winner will be selected from one of the top two competitors from each section selected by the Judges to compete at the Finals. They will receive:

  • The Hans and Mary Romney Overall Winner's prize of £2,000.
  • The TWIMC crystal trophy.
  • A performance opportunity at the Mayfield Festival in 2028.

The First Prize winner in each section will receive a cash prize of £1,500 and a recital opportunity at St James’s Piccadilly in London. The dates for these recitals are to be finalised but they are expected to be in the autumn of 2026. The section winners must be available to play on one of the dates offered.

The Second Prize winner in each section will receive a cash prize of £1,000.

The Third Prize winner in each section will receive £500.

  • The First Prize winner of the Wind/Brass section will also receive a recital opportunity with the Tonbridge Philharmonic Orchestra.
  • The First Prize winner of the Piano section will also receive a recital opportunity with the Haywards Heath Music Society.
  • The First Prize winner of the Strings section will also receive a recital opportunity in Tunbridge Wells.

There will also be an Audience Prize, awarded at the Finals.

One of the Finalists will be invited to give a Master Class presentation at Mayfield School.

The First, Second and Third Prize section winners will be given the opportunity to perform together at a Winners Recital in Mayfield in autumn 2026. Winners will be advised of the date in May and will be encouraged to attend.

Other performance opportunities will be offered in the two years after the Competition.

The Tunbridge Wells Grant Scheme

The three First Prize section winners will receive support from the Tunbridge Wells Competition Grant Scheme to assist them in getting performance opportunities in the two years following their win. Subject to certain conditions, the Grant Scheme will pay half of the performer’s fees to concert promoters for up to four concerts per winner in each subsidised year. The Tunbridge Wells Competition Grant Scheme is generously sponsored by The Friends of Music in Mayfield.

Details of the 2026 Competition

1. Competition Stages

Preliminary video screening

  • Preliminary video screening will take place between 29 January and end February 2026.
  • Entrants must submit a 10-minute video file of two contrasting pieces with their entry form. The entrant will certify that the recordings were made no longer than 12 weeks beforehand.
  • Following adjudication of the submissions, up to 30 competitors from each section will be offered a place in Round One of the Competition in early March. The adjudicators for each section may provide a reserve list of potential competitors for that section, in order of priority.

Round One

  • Round One will be held from Friday 1 May to Saturday 2 May 2026 in three venues at the School between the hours of 09:00 and 18:30.
  • Up to 30 competitors in each section will perform a recital programme of up to 15 minutes in a 25-minute slot.
  • Competitors will be adjudicated by the two Judges of their instrumental section.
  • Up to eight competitors from each section will be selected to go forward to Round Two – the Semi-Finals.
  • The names of the Semi-Finalists will be announced after the end of the last Round One session on Saturday afternoon at the Competition venue for those present and by email to all competitors.

Round Two - The Semi-Finals

  • The Semi-Finals will be held on Sunday 3 May 2026 in three venues at the School between the hours of 09:00 and 18:30. (Competitors will be advised of any changes to these proposed hours).
  • Up to 8 competitors in each section will perform a recital programme of up to 20 minutes in a 30-minute slot.
  • Competitors will be adjudicated by the two Judges of their instrumental section.
  • The 3rd prize in each section will be awarded at the end of the Semi Finals.
  • The two competitors in each section judged to be eligible for the 1st and 2nd prizes will go forward to play in Round Three, the Finals, on Monday 4 May 2026.

Round Three - The Finals

  • The two competitors in each section judged to be eligible for the 1st and 2nd prizes will compete in the Finals which will be held on Monday 4 May 2026 at the School Concert Hall between the hours of 11:00 and 17:00.
  • Each of the 6 Finalists will perform a 20-minute recital in a 25–30 minute slot.
  • Competitors will perform before all six Judges.
  • At the end of the Finals:
  • One Finalist will be awarded the Overall Prize Winner’s Prize.
  • The 1st and 2nd prize winners in each section will be selected and awarded their individual prizes.
  • One Finalist will be awarded the Audience Prize.

The Competition reserves the right to cancel, postpone or otherwise reschedule any part or all of the Competition.

2. Repertoires

Choice of repertoire

  • In the video round and each live round, competitors must include at least two contrasting pieces, in terms of date of composition, and in terms of presenting one piece that demonstrates their technical mastery and another that demonstrates their emotional interpretation of the music.
  • There is a limit of 2 movements from the same composer or work throughout the whole programme, over the three live rounds.
  • Music already performed in a previous live round must not be repeated in subsequent rounds.
  • The music may be for solo instrument or (in the case of strings and wind/brass) for the instrument accompanied by piano. Entries involving the human voice or other groupings of instruments will not be accepted.
  • The music must be made available in written form so that the Judges can assess its performance. With the exception of cadenzas indicated by classical composers, improvised entries will not be accepted.

Change of repertoire

  • Applications for repertoire changes will not be accepted after 25 March.
  • Applications for repertoire changes where Official Accompanists are assigned will be permitted at the discretion of the Official Accompanist concerned and the Competition Management.

3. Judging

Expert adjudicators for video screening

Screening of videos for each section will be undertaken by expert adjudicators appointed by the Competition. There will be two expert adjudicators for each section (piano, strings and wind/brass). The expert adjudicators will be different from the Judges for Rounds 1–3. The expert adjudicators for the 2026 Competition will be:

  • Piano: Martin Roscoe, Sam Haywood
  • Wind/brass: Jim Wallace CBE, Melinda Maxwell
  • Strings: Louise Williams, Raphael Pidoux

Judges for Rounds 1–3

There will be an international panel of six Judges who will take into account choice, variety and balance of programme items across all the live rounds. A very high standard of performance will be expected.

The Judges for the 2026 Competition will be:

  • Piano: Kathryn Stott, Philippe Dinkel
  • Wind/brass: Rachel Gough, Michael Thompson
  • Strings: Alasdair Tate, Jennifer Pike

The Competition Management reserves the right to appoint other Judges and expert adjudicators if this is found to be necessary.

Judging process

  • Competitors will be judged on displaying an understanding of a range of different musical languages, periods and styles and should present a varied and balanced programme in all stages of the Competition.
  • Competitors are not required to play from memory but if they do so, in the live rounds, it will be noted in their favour.
  • Page turners for competitors will not be provided (see below for page turning arrangements for accompanists).
  • Competitors should bring their own electronic page-turning equipment, for the live rounds, or should be prepared to turn pages themselves.
  • The decision of the Judges and expert adjudicators will be final and not open to discussion or correspondence.
  • Certificates of participation will be issued for those Semi-Finalists not proceeding to the Finals.
  • Certificates will be issued to all section winners, the Overall Winner, and the Audience Prize Winner.
  • The Judges might exceptionally award additional certificates for highly commended competitors.
  • Current students of the 2026 Judges for Rounds 1–3 are not allowed to enter the Competition. This restriction does not apply to current students of the expert adjudicators who will undertake video screening. If one of the expert adjudicators is a current teacher for an entrant, they will recuse themselves from the decision as to whether that entrant is offered a place in the live Competition.

4. Sheet music

  1. Competitors will be responsible for providing music for judges; this should either be printed or digital music on an iPad (which they would hand to the judges).
  2. When an item in copyright is selected from a publication containing several different works, and is not published separately, competitors may scan the relevant pages to create an electronic copy (in pdf form) for the use of the Judges, on an iPad provided by the competitor.
  3. No facilities for photocopying or printing will be available at the Competition.
  4. The Competition Management will destroy all copies of copyright material after the event.

5. Practice time, Accompanists, Page turners and Hosts

Practice time

  • All competitors will be given a scheduled practice slot; more practice time will be allowed if extra practice rooms are available.

Accompanists

  • At all stages of the Competition, Strings and Wind & Brass competitors may perform unaccompanied or with piano accompaniment at the competitor's choice.
  • Strings and Wind & Brass entrants are strongly advised to travel to the Competition with their regular accompanist to ensure the best performance conditions.
  • Competitors without their own accompanists can request an Official Accompanist as part of the entry process. They will be allocated to one of the Official Accompanists by the Competition.
  • A fee of £30.00 (£ sterling) will be charged for Strings and Wind competitors wishing to use an Official Accompanist during Round One. This fee will be refunded if the Official Accompanist’s services are not actually used.
  • Competitors are responsible for agreeing and paying the fee with their Official Accompanist for any practice and rehearsal sessions prior to their registration for Round One of the Competition at Mayfield.
  • Performance and rehearsal fees for Official Accompanists for the Semi-Finals and the Finals will be covered by the Competition.
  • Competitors resident in the Greater London area using an Official Accompanist must make their own rehearsal arrangements with their Official Accompanist before the start of Competition at their own expense.
  • Competitors from overseas and from outside the London area using an Official Accompanist must make their own rehearsal arrangements with their Official Accompanist in Mayfield between Friday 1 May and Saturday 2 May.
  • Competitors must contact their allocated Official Accompanist by 2 April to confirm arrangements and provide copies of music. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of the official accompanist’s services.

Page turners

Subject to availability, page turners will be provided for all accompanists in all Rounds of the Competition. However, priority will be given to the Official Accompanists in the first instance.

Hosts

The Competition aims to provide volunteer host families offering accommodation to competitors and their own accompanists. The number of places is limited and will be provided on a first come, first served basis to those who have requested a host on the Entry Form and are unable to travel to and from Mayfield in one day.

The target date for confirming hosting arrangements is 2 April 2026.

Competitors must contact their allocated host by 17 April (i.e. within two weeks of receiving their Hosting Notification) to confirm arrangements. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of the offer of hosting.

6. Application process for all entrants

Eligibility and availability

  1. The Competition is open to professional musicians and advanced students aged 16 years or over and not more than 27 years old on Monday 4 May 2026.
  2. Competitors must be of concert performance standard and already in or ready to make a professional career.
  3. Current students of the 2026 Judges may not enter the Competition.
  4. Past Section First Prize and Overall Winners may not enter the Competition.
  5. Up to thirty entries will be accepted in each section, following video screening by expert adjudicators.
  6. Current students of the expert adjudicators undertaking video screening may enter the Competition. If one of the expert adjudicators is a current teacher for an entrant, they will recuse themselves from the decision as to whether that entrant is offered a place in the live Competition.
  7. The expert adjudicators for each section may provide a reserve list of potential competitors for that section, in order of priority.
  8. Entrants must be available for all sessions of the Competition.

Please note that we will require video submissions as part of the entry process.

Entry Form

The Entry Form for the 2026 Competition will open on 15 December 2025.

Click here to register your interest in the 2026 Competition.

Referees

  1. Referees must not be one of the Competition Judges or expert adjudicators.
  2. All competitors must provide the names and email addresses of two referees who may be contacted by the Competition.
  3. The names of the referees and their email addresses must be inserted into the appropriate boxes in the application form. Should any problems arise, please mention this in the comments box.
  4. If there any queries about referees, please contact info@twimc.org.uk.

Entry Fee

An entry fee of £110.00 (£ sterling) is required from each competitor. This is not refundable.

As stated above an additional fee of £30.00 (£ sterling) will be charged for Strings and Wind competitors wishing to use an Official Accompanist during Round One. The Official Accompanist fee will be refunded if Official Accompanist services are not in fact used.

Payment is to be made by bank transfer to the following account:

  • Account Name - Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition Ltd.
  • Account number - 70496928 - Bank Sort Code - 20-88-13.
  • Bank Name - Barclays Bank.
  • Bank Address - 8 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells. Kent, TN1 2TB, England.
  • IBAN GB09 BUKB 2088 1370 4969 28
  • SWIFTBlC BUKBGB22

The entry fee must be paid at the same time as the entry form is submitted and must include the competitor’s name in the Reference field.

Remittances from outside the United Kingdom must be payable in £ sterling, with the fee net of any banking or other expenses.

7. Administration, Reserve List, Photography and Video

Notification of Acceptance

Competitors will be sent a Notification of Acceptance by email in early March 2026 confirming their status either as a competitor or on the reserve list.

Schedule Notification

As soon as the schedule has been constructed, a Schedule Notification will be sent to competitors (target date – 18 March 2026) giving:

  • The date and time of their Round One registration, practice session and recitals.
  • Contact details for their Official Accompanist, if applicable.

It is the responsibility of each competitor to contact their Official Accompanist, if allocated, and provide them with copies of music for the accompanist by 2 April (within 2 weeks of the Schedule Notification). Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of the Official Accompanists’ services.

Accepting the offer of a place

Competitors who have been offered a place in the Competition must confirm in writing by 25 March (or within 1 week of the Schedule Notification) that:

  • they accept the place in the Competition; and
  • they will be available for all sessions in all three live rounds.

Any places made available by withdrawals will be offered to the next entrant on the reserve list (see further conditions below).

Hosting Notification

When hosts have been allocated, a Hosting Notification will be sent to those competitors who have been allocated hosts (target date – 2 April), giving contact details for their volunteer hosts.

It is the responsibility of each competitor to contact their host, where applicable. Failure to contact hosts by 17 April may result in the withdrawal of the offer of hosting.

The reserve list and opportunities to compete

  • Competitors on the reserve list may be offered the opportunity to enter Round One of the Competition to replace withdrawals up to and including 25 March.
  • Competitors from the reserve list can only be slotted into the vacancy in the schedule, if feasible, at the time and date and place caused by the withdrawal.
  • Reserve list competitors will only be offered an Official Accompanist if one is available for their slot.
  • Reserve list competitors (and their own accompanists) will only be offered a host if a suitable host is available.
  • If the vacant slot is unacceptable for any reason, then it will be offered to the next competitor on the reserve list.

Photographic, audio or video recordings or livestreaming

  • Any recordings photographic, audio, video or livestreaming made during the Competition final will remain the copyright of the Competition Management.
  • No fees will be payable to, or consent required from, competitors either for making recordings or for any subsequent use of them.

8. Enquiries and website

The closing date for entries is 12 noon on Saturday 31 January 2026.