Thursday, 25 June, 6:30pm
Premio Paganini 2026
After the great success of the London initiatives in October 2024—culminating in the extraordinary concert with the London Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Pappano, and Paganini’s famous “Cannone” violin, in the presence of King Charles III—the Premio Paganini returns to London with two concerts at the Italian Cultural Institute in London (ICI London) and at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
ICI London will host the launch events for the 59th edition of the Prize, featuring a concert by Japanese violinist Rino Yoshimoto, second-place winner of the 58th edition of the Competition, performing in duo with pianist Sergei Redkin.
The musical programme weaves together Italy and the United Kingdom, virtuosity and lyricism, folk tradition and the great European violin repertoire. Opening the concert will be Paganini’s Variations on “God Save the King” M.S. 56, a symbolic tribute to the host country. This will be followed by William Walton’s Sonata in A minor, Edward Elgar’s La Capricieuse op. 17, Paganini’s Caprices Nos. 1 and 24, and Londonderry Air in the arrangement by Fritz Kreisler.
The Yoshimoto–Redkin Duo will give a second concert on Friday, 26 June 2026 at 7:30 PM at the Auditorium of Pembroke College, Cambridge. We have a limited number of tickets available for the Cambridge concert; those interested are kindly asked to write to rsvp.icilondon@esteri.it.
The London and UK initiatives—presented by the Director of IIC London Francesco Bongarrà, the President of the Prize Giovanni Panebianco, the Artistic Director Nicola Bruzzo, and the President of the International Jury of the next edition—are part of the “Paganini Abroad” programme, aimed at strengthening the international presence of the Prize through collaborations with Embassies, Italian Cultural Institutes, and prestigious international musical institutions, consolidating the role of the Paganini Prize as a cultural infrastructure of Italian excellence.
More information on the Paganini Prize HERE: Paganini Prize Info
Programme
Niccolò Paganini: Variations on “God Save the King” M.S. 56 William Walton: Sonata in A minor for violin and piano
- Allegro tranquillo
- Variations. Andante Edward Elgar: La Capricieuse op. 17 Niccolò Paganini: Caprices for solo violin Nos. 1 & 24 Fritz Kreisler / Irish folk song: Londonderry Air
To reserve tickets for the concert at IIC London click HERE
The call for applications for the Paganini Prize will be available from 25 June 2026 on the Prize’s website, while registrations will be open from 1 September to 1 December 2026.
The 59th edition will feature a jury of the highest prestige. Live pre-selections will take place between April and May 2027 in Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin, Genoa, and New York, while the final stages of the Competition will be held in Genoa from 11 to 24 October 2027 in a “diffused” format involving Palazzo Tursi, the Teatro Gustavo Modena, and the Teatro Carlo Felice. The repertoire for the 59th edition, characterised by great stylistic variety, will once again give ample space to chamber music and will introduce important artistic innovations, including the performance in the semifinals of a piece for violin and live electronics commissioned by the competition.