Ysaye International Music Competition 2026 Announces Winners in South Korea

On July 11 2026, the Icheon Art Hall in South Korea hosted the eighth edition of the Ysaÿe International Music Competition (YIMC), where a glittering gala and award ceremony crowned a new cohort of violin virtuosos.

Organized annually by La Vraie Note, the YIMC honors Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe and draws competitors from Asia, Europe and North America. The 2026 finals unfolded over two days of performances, showcasing the technical mastery and musical maturity of finalists from across the globe.

In the Junior division, first prize was awarded to Yalan Jin of China, who received a €1,000 award and a fine violin bow. Second place went to Sena Lee of the Republic of Korea, earning €500 and a violin case. Third prize was shared ex aequo between Yuexuan Shen of China and Jacob Sun of the United States; each finalist received €300 and a professional string set.

Senior‑division winners included first prize for Christina Nam of the United States, who earned a €5,000 award, a one‑year loan of a fine violin from Florian Leonhard Fine Violins, and a solo‑concerto engagement with the Gunpo Prime Philharmonic Orchestra. Second prize went to Tetsutaro Nakatan of Japan, with a €2,000 award. Third prize and the Ysaÿe Prize were awarded to Vilmos Csikos of Belgium; he received €1,000 for third place and an additional €500 for the Ysaÿe Prize.

The jury for the 2026 competition comprised eight international members: Ashot Khachatourian (co‑founder of YIMC), Joel Smirnoff, Kara Nam, Stefan Jackiw, Kirill Troussov, Ensik Choi, Alexandre Feye, and Erez Ofer.

In a statement released after the ceremony, YIMC said:

"We are proud to announce the winners of the Ysaÿe International Music Competition 2026, following two remarkable days of outstanding performances in the Final Round held at Icheon Art Hall, Republic of Korea. This year’s finalists demonstrated exceptional artistry, technical excellence, and musical maturity, making the jury’s task particularly challenging. We warmly congratulate all prize winners for their extraordinary achievements and extend our sincere admiration to every finalist for reaching this prestigious stage of the competition." The statement also thanked the jury, partners, staff and supporters.

According to the competition’s organizers, plans for the ninth edition of the YIMC are currently underway. No further details have been released.

The 2026 edition of the Ysaÿe International Music Competition has therefore added a new cohort of award‑winning violinists to the global classical music community, while reaffirming the competition’s role as a platform for emerging talent and a tribute to the legacy of Eugène Ysaÿe.