We’re coming to you LIVE from Osaka, Japan, for the 12th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. Held every three years, the 2026 competition will take place from May 16–22 at the Sumitomolife Izumi Hall.
Prizes for both sections include ¥2,500,000 for the first-prize winner; ¥1,200,000 for second place; ¥800,000 for third place; and a number of special prizes, including the Klangerlebnis Award, Britten Pears Arts, Music in PyeongChang, Bordeaux String Quartet Festival, String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam, “Ambassador Ensemble of the 12th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition,” and the MK Memorial Special Support Award.
Additionally, the first-prize winners of each section will be invited to perform in the Grand-Prix Concerts tour, where they will give around 10 concerts across Japan.
Chaired by Monika Henschel, the 2026 jury will comprise Weigang Li, Kazuki Sawa, Oliver Wille, Mai Motobuchi, Alasdair Tait, Sung-Won Yang, Rieko Aizawa, and Ichiro Nodaira.
You can find a list of participating chamber ensembles here.
Competition Program:
May 17 | Section 1 Round 1 | 10 AM Local Time, 9 PM (ET)
May 18 | Section 2 Round 1 | 10 AM Local Time, 9 PM (ET)
May 19 | Section 1 Round 2 | 10 AM Local Time, 9 PM (ET)
May 20 | Section 2 Round 2 | 10 AM Local Time, 9 PM (ET)
May 21 | Section 1 Round 3 | 10:10 AM Local Time, 9:10 PM (ET)
May 22 | Section 1 & 2, Final Rounds | 10 AM Local Time, 9 PM (ET)
AloJapan.com