The 23^st PETR EBEN
INTERNATIONAL
ORGAN COMPETITION
Opava 2026

The competition is open to candidates from all countries whose age does not exceed 30 years on the first day of the competition (i.e. those born on or after 26^th of October 1996).

The competition is a three-round. Competition will be held: 

1^st Round - 26-27 October 2026, Petr Bezruč Library in Opava,

2^nd Round - 29 October 2026, Church of St. John the Baptist in Hlučín,

3^rd Round - 31 October 2026, Church of St. Vojtěch in Opava.

Competition Conditions - Interpretation

is a part of the competition that is independent of the performance section. The improvisation competition is open to candidates from all countries whose age does not exceed 30 years on the first day of the competition (i.e. those born on or after 26 October 1996). The competition will take place on 28 October 2026 at the  Co-cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Opava.

Competition Conditions - Improvisation

• 1^st prize: CZK 50.000
• 2^nd prize: CZK 25.000
• 3^rd prize: CZK 10.000
• Improvisation: CZK 5.000

Special Prize awarded by the Czech Music Foundation (CMF) for the best performance of a composition by Petr Eben interpreted in the 3^rd Round. The Jury may (with the exception of the 1^st Prize, the Improvisation prizes, and the CMF Prize) divided the prize monies.

Concert for the winner

• Remunerated performance within the  XXIV. Petr Eben International Organ Competition Opava 2028 Laureate's opening concert
• Remunerated performance at  Leoš Janáček International Music Festival 2028
• Remunerated concert of one of the winners; a solo recital at the International Organ Festival Audite Organum 2027 in St. Jacob's Basilica in Prague
• Remunerated performance at the international music festival Slovak Historic Organs, summer 2027
• Concert at the "Chorzowski Festiwal Muzyki Organowej i Kameralnej ORGANY PLUS" – Musica Polonia Fundation Award, October 2027

• Pavel Svoboda, Czech Republic (chair)
• Petr Kolař, Czech Republic
• Krzysztof Lukas, Poland
• Balázs Szabó, Hungary/Austria
• Marek Štrbák, Slovakia

17 July 2026 (78 days left)

Application Form

The competition will take place from 26 October to 31 October 2026 (registration for the 1^st Round starts on 22 October 2026) at  Petr Bezruč Library in Opava (1^st Round), at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Hlučín (2^nd Round), and at the Church of St. Vojtěch in Opava (3^rd Round). The Improvisation competition will take place on 28 October 2026 at the Co-cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Opava. The candidates’ performances will be evaluated by a jury of experts appointed by the competition organizers. All rounds of the competition and the competitors’ names are public. The competition will end with a concert in the Church of St. Vojtěch in Opava. The winners will receive prizes and perform compositions chosen by the Jury without any remuneration for their performance. The competition proceedings and the jurors’ duties are specified in the “Rules of Procedure and Organisation of the 23^st Petr Eben International Organ Competition 2026.”

Interpretation: CZK 2.000 / EUR 80

Improvisation: CZK 800 / EUR 32

There is no entry fee in the category Improvisation. Fill in the electronic application form on the competition website www.ebencompetition.cz by  17 July 2026 (attach a proof of payment and ID photo in JPG format, minimum resolution 800x1020px). The entry fee is non-refundable. The competition participants are expected to cover their accommodation and travel costs.
Accommodation