The competition, which offers a prize of 6,000 euros, is named after the pianist Artur Schnabel (1882–1951), who taught at the Berlin College of Music—now the Berlin University of the Arts — from 1925 to 1931.

A native of Galicia, he moved to Berlin as early as 1898 and made his internationally acclaimed debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1911. As a pianist, his repertoire focused on Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms; he is also regarded as the discoverer of Schubert’s sonatas, which were underappreciated at the time. Of particular significance is his work as a music educator: his students included Dinu Lipatti, Leon Fleisher, Wladyslaw Szpilman, and Konrad Wolff, among others.

In 1933, Schnabel left Berlin and went into exile in the United States, traveling via Great Britain and Italy, where he taught 50 master students at the Schnabel School until 1939.

The competition is funded by the investment income from the bequest, which is held by the UdK Berlin Foundation. The Foundation thanks its supporters for their generous commitment, especially those who have donated their estates.

Deadline for 2026: November 22, 2026

Registration for the competition takes place in two steps:

Fill out the online registration form
In addition, the following documents must be sent (via email) to the Artistic Administration Office by the deadline:

• Copy of your student ID
• Confirmation from your major instructor

Competition Rounds

Registration Deadline: November 22, 2026

Monday, December 7, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m. (1st Round)
Tuesday, December 8, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m. (2nd Round)
Thursday, December 10, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m. (Finals)
Joseph-Joachim Concert Hall, Bundesallee 1-12

The exact performance times will be announced via email after the draw.

Prize Winners’ Concert
Friday, December 11, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Joseph-Joachim Concert Hall, Bundesallee 1-12

The jury consists of professors from the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK).

Eligible to participate are students majoring in piano at the UdK Berlin and the HfM Hanns Eisler whose major instructor has given consent for their participation in the competition and for whom the summer semester of 2025 will be at least their second semester of study at their respective institution. All prize winners are required to participate in the prize winners’ concert.

The total prize money for 2026 is 6,000 euros.

• 3 preludes and fugues or a larger work by J.S. Bach
• A classical sonata by Haydn, Clementi, W.A. Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert (up to and including D 784), or other composers of this era
• A Romantic-era work (for Schubert, all works following the Sonata D 784, but including the Moments Musicaux D 780, are considered Romantic)
• Two works must be selected from the following three groups:
  - A freely tonal work from 1900 to the present
  - Freely atonal music or serial compositions from 1900 to the present
  - Experimental music featuring new playing techniques from 1900 to the present

One piece must have been composed after 2000; the other selected piece must belong to a DIFFERENT category than the piece composed after 2000

• One etude by Chopin and one etude of the candidate’s choice
• Approximately 20 minutes from a piano concerto of the candidate’s choice (minimum 15, maximum 25 minutes)

Berlin University of the Arts
Faculty of Music, Office of Artistic Affairs
Laura Biederstedt

Bundesallee 1-12, Raum 112
10719 Berlin

E-Mail: laura.biederstedt@intra.udk-berlin.de
Tel: 030 3185 2090