YORK INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION 2026
The York International Young Artists Competition is delighted to announce that applications for next year's competition are now open. This prestigious long-standing competition, which has launched the careers of many young early music ensembles, will take place from 8 to 11 July at the National Early Music Centre in York, UK, as part of the 2026 York Early Music Festival.
Shortlisted ensembles will spend three days in York during the York Early Music Festival, where they will meet music professionals, industry experts and members of the public. The final will take place on Saturday 11 July, with a day of performances at the National Centre for Early Music's home venue, St Margaret's Church. The event will be streamed live on the NCEM's YouTube channel and recorded by BBC Radio 3. The generous first prize includes a recording contract with Linn Records, a £1,000 cash prize and a paid concert at the 2027 York Early Music Festival.
Other prizes on offer include the Friends of the York Early Music Festival Prize, the Cambridge Early Music Prize and a prize for the most promising young artist(s), offered by the EUBO Development Trust.
The competition is open to:
- Early music ensembles with a minimum of three members.
- Ensembles must have an average age of 35 or under, with a maximum age of 36 for individuals.
- Ensembles must demonstrate historically informed performance practice and play a period repertoire, ranging from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, on period instruments.
The international jury, chaired by master of ceremonies, harpsichordist and pianist Steven Devine, is composed of international artists and music professionals: Paul Agnew (British tenor, conductor and co-director of Les Arts Florissants); Anna Danilevskaia (violinist and Renaissance violinist, director of the Sollazzo Ensemble, winner of the 2015 competition); Veerle Declerck (artistic coordinator at Concertgebouw Brugge and former president of REMA); Kati Debretzeni (violinist and one of the conductors of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment); and Philip Hobbs (producer, Linn Records).
Application deadline: 8 December 2025
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