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The 17th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition takes place in Poznań, Poland, from 8 to 25 October 2026.

Poznań, 8–25 October 2026

Organised since 1935, the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition is the oldest existing violin competition in the world and one of the most prestigious events in the classical music world. For over ninety years, this undertaking has cultivated the memory of the legacy of the outstanding Polish violinist and composer, bringing together successive generations of the brightest young talents from around the globe.

The Wieniawski Competition, deeply rooted in the tradition of Poznań, serves as the cultural showcase of the city and the Wielkopolska region, as well as one of the most important events in the country’s musical life. In the era of global digital communication, it reaches a multi-million audience on all continents, remaining a universal symbol of performing excellence, rich tradition, and uncompromising artistic passion.

The Competition is a founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) based in Geneva, and its organisation is overseen by the Wieniawski Society in Poznań.

Over the decades, the Wieniawski Competition has established its position as a prestigious gateway to an international career for the world’s most outstanding violinists. Its chronicles are adorned with the names of renowned artists: Ginette Neveu (1st Prize, 1935), David Oistrakh (2nd Prize, 1935), Igor Oistrakh (1st Prize, 1952), Wanda Wiłkomirska (2nd Prize, 1952), Roza Fajn (1st Prize, 1957), Charles Treger (1st Prize, 1962), Piotr Janowski (1st Prize, 1967), Tatiana Grindenko (1st Prize, 1972), Vadim Brodsky (1st Prize, 1977), Keiko Urushihara (1st Prize, 1981), Yevgeny Bushkov (1st Prize, 1986), Bartłomiej Nizioł and Piotr Pławner (1st Prize ex aequo, 1991), Alena Baeva (1st Prize, 2001), Agata Szymczewska (1st Prize, 2006), Soyoung Yoon (1st Prize, 2011), Veriko Tchumburidze (1st Prize, 2016), Bomsori Kim (2nd Prize, 2016), Hina Maeda (1st Prize, 2022), and many others. The achievements of the Competition’s Laureates best reflect the event’s unchanging role in shaping the artistic paths of talented young instrumentalists.