First Round

The elimination rounds of the 72nd Maria Canals International Piano Competition of Barcelona will take place from March 7 to 14, 2026 , at the Petit Palau hall of the Palau de la Música Catalana. The best young pianists from around the world will compete for a place in the Final Round and the opportunity to perform in the Concert Hall of the Palau de la Música Catalana, accompanied by the National Youth Orchestra of Catalonia under the baton of Manel Valdivieso. In the 1st elimination round (March 7 to 9), the accepted contestants must perform a 20-minute program that includes a prelude and fugue by J.S. Bach, a sonata by L.V. Beethoven, and an étude by F. Chopin, F. Liszt, C. Debussy, S. Rachmaninoff, or A. Skriabin.