Entries open for York International Young Artists Competition

The 2026 York International Young Artists Competition, taking place biennially since 1985, is accepting entries.

Hosted by the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) and recognised as a major international platform for emerging talent, period instrument ensembles whose members have an average age of under 35 years will compete for a range of prestigious prizes: a professional CD recording produced by Linn Records, a paid concert as part of the 2026 York Early Music Festival, a £1,000 prize, and prizes offered by Cambridge Early Music and the EUBO Development Trust.

Former winners of the competition include Ayres Extemporae (Belgium, First Prize 2024), ApotropaïK (France, Cambridge Early Music Prize 2022), The Butter Quartet (Netherlands, Eeemerging+ Prize 2019), and
grantee ensembles Apollo’s Cabinet (UK, YEMF Friends Prize 2024) and the Consone Quartet (UK, EUBO Development Trust Prize 2015).

On 11 July, finalists will perform for an internationally-renowned judging panel in the main competition, which will also be open to the public and live-streamed around the globe, with highlights recorded for the BBC Radio 3 Early Music Show. The 2026 judges are Veerle Declerk (Concertgebouw Bruges), Paul Agnew (Les Arts Florissants), Kati Debretzeni (Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment), Anna Danilevskaia (Solazzo) and Philip Hobbs (Linn Records).

Applications are open to ensembles of all nationalities and will close on Monday 8 December 2025. Visit the NCEM website for full rules, eligibility criteria and prize information.