Second 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. The 18 contestants who advance to the second elimination round (March 11 and 12) will face a highly demanding repertoire with a duration of 40 minutes . They must perform a modern work written after 1995, a romantic piece, and a modern work by a composer born after 1860.