Entrants

The competition is open to all pianists aged between six and thirteen. Age is defined as the entering pianist’s age on the day of submitting the application. Henle reserves the right to ask for written proof of age from the participant’s parent or guardian.

Exclusion

This competition is not open to employees, owners, editors and authors of G. Henle Publishers or their relatives. Relatives and students of the jurors are also barred from participating. There is no right of appeal.

Four age groups

• Age group 1: 6 to 7 years
• Age group 2: 8 to 9 years
• Age group 3: 10 to 11 years
• Age group 3: 12 to 13 years

Compulsory piece

The compulsory piece differs by age group.

Age 6–9: One movement from Clementi, Six Piano Sonatinas op. 36 (HN 848)

Age 10–13: A first movement of a sonata from Mozart, Piano Sonatas Vol. I or Vol. 2 (HN 1 or HN 2) Please note, only the first movement counts. Following movements will not be considered.

Music editions

Clementi, Six Piano Sonatinas op. 36  HN 848
Mozart, Piano Sonatas, Volume I HN 1
Mozart, Piano Sonatas, Volume II HN 2

You may either play from memory, from a Henle Urtext edition, or on your tablet from the » Henle Library App. 

You may not play from print-outs, photocopies, or music books that are not Henle editions.

Disqualification

Music books from other publishers are not allowed and result in disqualification. Also, photocopies – even photocopies out of Henle editions – or print-outs from the Henle Library App are not allowed. You are not allowed to play from loose pages. Any breach of these rules and guidelines leads to disqualification.

Recording

The piano player (boy or girl) can be recorded on video in sound and vision while performing the selected piece. Entry is limited to one per person. Should the same pianist submit more than one recording, all of his/her entries will be disqualified.

Publication

The video is to be posted at www.youtube.com by the participant’s parent or teacher. Following this, the pianist and a parent or guardian are to fill out and submit the online entry form that can be found further down on this page.
The Henle piano competition solely takes place in the form of video entries that are posted in an accessible YouTube channel by the participant, and are then added to the Henle Playlist at www.youtube.com/henleverlag by Henle.

Other entries or entries on other media are not permitted.

Cost

Entry to the Henle Piano Competition is free-of-charge.

Prizes

Age group 1 (6 to 7 years)
1st prize: 170 € and a Henle Urtext edition
2nd prize: 120 € and a Henle Urtext edition
3rd prize: 70 € and a Henle Urtext edition
4th to 10th prize: each person will receive a Henle Urtext edition
 

Age group 2 (8 to 9 years)
1st prize: 200 € and a Henle Urtext edition
2nd prize: 140 € and a Henle Urtext edition
3rd prize: 80 € and a Henle Urtext edition
4th to 10th prize: each person will receive a Henle Urtext edition
 

Age group 3 (10 to 11 years)
1st prize: 220 € and a Henle Urtext edition
2nd prize: 150 € and a Henle Urtext edition
3rd prize: 90 € and a Henle Urtext edition
4th to 10th prize: each person will receive a Henle Urtext edition
 

Age group 4 (12 to 13 years)
1st prize: 260 € and a Henle Urtext edition
2nd prize: 170 € and a Henle Urtext edition
3rd prize: 120 € and a Henle Urtext edition
4th to 10th prize: each person will receive a Henle Urtext edition

The Henle Urtext editions are each worth about 25 €. If wished, the prizes can also be awarded as credit vouchers to be redeemed in the Henle Library App (250 credit points). Each participant will receive a certificate.

Jury

• Prof. Melanie Spanswick, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, and educational piano author
• Prof. Frank Huang, Miami University, Oxford Ohio, USA
• Prof. Claudius Tanski, Salzburg, Austria

The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Closing date

The completed online entry form must be received by 23:59 Central European Summer Time (CEST) on May 5, 2026.

Publication of the winners

The names of the winners will be posted on our website www.henle.com approximately three weeks after the closing date.

I m p o r t a n t    i n f o r m a t i o n !
What every participant needs to know about his/her YouTube video:

• Uploading the video: Information about uploading your video can be found in the “Help” section on the YouTube homepage.
  
  
• Video quality: We do not expect a professional video. However, we urge you to create the best audio and video quality possible. Inadequate audio and/or video quality can lead to an entry being disqualified.
  
  
• Video editing forbidden: The video must not be edited in any way and must run continuously from beginning to end.
• Picture detail: The pianist’s head, arms and hands must be clearly visible on the video. Best of all is a fixed camera position showing them at all times.
  
  
• Sound recording: The performance recorded for the video entry must be acoustic and not amplified or altered electronically in any way. The only microphone(s) used should be for recording. General tips can be found in the “Help” section on the YouTube website.
  
  
• Performance as if in front of an audience: The pianist should behave in the video as if they are performing in front of an audience. The video can either be shot at home, at (music) school, in a recital hall or any other place where there is a suitable piano.
  
  
• Announcement. No spoken announcement is required. 
  
  
• Title of the video: The video for the Henle Piano Competition must be titled as follows on YouTube: “Henle Piano Competition 2026 [First and last name of the pianist]”; all words should be separated by a space, e.g. “Henle Piano Competition 2026 Lora Stern”.
  
  
• Privacy settings: When you upload the video to YouTube, you must select “Public” in the “Privacy” settings. If “Unlisted” or “Private” is selected, your submission will be invalid. Please make sure to choose the option “No, it's not made for Kids”.
  
  
• Online entry form: Once the video has been uploaded to YouTube as described above, the official Henle online entry form (see link below) must be filled out and submitted. It must contain the video link. Only then is the entry complete and the pianist entered for the competition. G. Henle Publishers will also add the video to its channel on YouTube.
  
  
• Parental consent: The Henle online entry form must be filled out and submitted with the parents’ or guardian’s consent.

We have endeavoured to address all of the important issues in these official rules and guidelines. Should you still have any pressing questions regarding the competition, please send an email to klavierwettbewerb@henle.de

» Entry form

G. Henle Verlag
Forstenrieder Allee 122
81476 München
Germany

Phone: +49(0)89-75982-42
E-mail: klavierwettbewerb@henle.de 
Website: www.henle.com 

G. Henle Verlag e.K., München
Amtsgericht München, Handelsregister A Nr. 08 808
USt-IdNr. DE 129521149