News & events

2026 International Open Piano Competition (Oxford, UK) — Global Final successfully concluded

Organizer: Wefeng Music Culture Company (China) · Co-organizer: Sunshine365 Limited (UK)

Event recap

The 2026 International Open Piano Competition (Oxford, UK) Global Final was successfully held from 4 to 14 August 2026 in Oxford. The competition brought together young piano enthusiasts and professional performers from around the world, building a high-standard international platform for piano competition and artistic exchange.

Hosted by Wefeng Music Culture Company and co-organized by Sunshine365 (UK), the event integrated professional competitions, elite university study tours, masterclasses, UK cultural tours and classical concerts, bringing players an immersive artistic journey in the UK.

RCM Concerto Festival — highlights

The Concerto Festival took place at the Royal College of Music during the final week, where selected finalists performed full piano concertos with the RCM Symphony Orchestra — a centrepiece of this year's edition.

Event highlights

• All competitions held on the campus of the University of Oxford at the historic Divinity School.
• Three exclusive international pianist masterclasses arranged during the event.
• One-on-one tutoring by professors from the Royal College of Music (UK) for every participant, with an autographed certificate awarded.
• Open lecture by the Head of Piano Department of the Royal College of Music, sharing key points for admission application.
• In-class learning experience at the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge; participants over 12 years old stayed in century-old student dormitories of Oxford.
• Premium accommodation at international brand hotels (Hilton, Marriott or equivalent) for all participants and parents.
• Rich arranged tours, university visits, classical concerts and shopping experiences after the competition.

Dates

• Final competition: 4 – 14 August 2026 (successfully concluded)
• Award ceremony: University of Oxford / Royal College of Music

Competition venue

All competitions took place in the Divinity School at the University of Oxford — the university's first lecture hall and the historic venue for matriculation and degree ceremonies.

Group photo

All participants and lead teachers gathered for a group photo on the steps of the Royal Albert Hall, marking an unforgettable UK artistic journey.

Competition categories

Solo group — Group A: under 6 (within 4 mins, 1–2 pieces) · Group B: 7–9 (6 mins) · Group C: 10–12 (8 mins) · Group D: 13–17 (9 mins) · Youth: 18–29 (10 mins).

Etude group (13–29) — one etude from Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Scriabin, Alkan, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Ligeti etc., within 6 mins.

Sonata group (13–29) — one fast movement from a Classical sonata (no repeat), within 5 mins.

Professional group — Group A: 13–15, 2 pieces within 15 mins · Group B: 16–18, within 20 mins · Group C: 19+, within 25 mins.

Piano duet group — Group A: both under 13, within 4 mins · Group B: both under 18, within 7 mins · Teacher & student group: no age limit, within 7 mins.

Tour & exclusive experience

• Travel & accommodation: departure from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong; flight booking service available; private airport transfer in London; international brand hotels throughout.
• Academic & art activities: official competition at Oxford campus, award ceremony & outstanding players performance at the Royal College of Music, one-on-one professor coaching, admission sharing lecture.
• University tour: visit the University of Cambridge and enjoy punting on the River Cam.
• UK sightseeing: Warner Bros. Studio Tour (Harry Potter), Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard, Big Ben, Hyde Park, Windsor Castle, London Eye, Thames river cruise; guided tours of the British Museum and Natural History Museum.
• Premium experience: traditional British horse racing, British gala dinner, classical concert at the Royal Albert Hall, BBC Proms.
• Shopping: Bicester Village Outlet and Harrods.
• Return service: private airport transfer in London for departure back to China.

Award ceremony

The award ceremony was held at the Royal College of Music. Every awardee took a photo with the international jury and presenting guests, and received an autographed certificate.