PRIZES
- Preliminary Round & Final Round Prizes
- Preliminary Round
- All applicants will receive a digital certificate from Piano League. Certificates are distributed based on the Preliminary Round PL Star Score as follows”
- High Distinction Certificate: PL Star Score of 9.5 or higher
- Distinction Certificate: PL Star Score of 9.0 to 9.4
- Merit Certificate: PL Star Score of 8.0 to 8.9
- All other contestants receive a participant certificate.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Final Round
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All finalists will receive a digital certificate from Piano League. Certificates are distributed based on the Final Round PL Star Score as follows:
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First Prize Certificate: PL Star Score of 9.5 or higher
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Second Prize Certificate: PL Star Score of 9.0 to 9.4
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Third Prize Certificate: PL Star Score of 8.5 to 8.9
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All other contestants receive a finalist certificate.
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The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Grand Final Prizes
- All grand finalists will receive a digital certificate from Piano League. Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention winners will receive a trophy shipped to their address. Specific prizes are as follows:
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Group A (Ages 4 to 7)
- Gold Medalist (1st place winner): $200 USD cash prize, Free Carnegie Hall Winners Concert Performance, certificate, trophy.
- Silver Medalist (2nd place winner): $150 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Bronze Medalist (3rd place winner): $100 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Honorable Mention (4th place winner): certificate, trophy.
- Other grand finalists receive a grand finalist certificate.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Group B (Ages 8 to 9)
- Gold Medalist (1st place winner): $300 USD cash prize, Free Carnegie Hall Winners Concert Performance, certificate, trophy.
- Silver Medalist (2nd place winner): $150 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Bronze Medalist (3rd place winner): $100 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Honorable Mention (4th place winner): certificate, trophy.
- Other grand finalists receive a grand finalist certificate.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Group C (Ages 10 to 12)
- Gold Medalist (1st place winner): $400 USD cash prize, Free Carnegie Hall Performance, two-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, certificate, trophy.
- Silver Medalist (2nd place winner): $200 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Bronze Medalist (3rd place winner): $100 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Honorable Mention (4th place winner): certificate, trophy.
- Other grand finalists receive a grand finalist certificate.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Group D (Ages 13 to 15)
- Gold Medalist (1st place winner): $500 USD cash prize, Free Carnegie Hall Performance, two-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, certificate, trophy.
- Silver Medalist (2nd place winner): $250 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Bronze Medalist (3rd place winner): $100 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Honorable Mention (4th place winner): certificate, trophy.
- Other grand finalists receive a grand finalist certificate.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Group E (Ages 16 to 18)
- Gold Medalist (1st place winner): $1000 USD cash prize, Free Carnegie Hall Performance, Gulf Coast Symphony Award, four-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, certificate, trophy.
- Silver Medalist (2nd place winner): $500 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Bronze Medalist (3rd place winner): $250 USD cash prize, certificate, trophy.
- Honorable Mention (4th place winner): certificate, trophy.
- Other grand finalists receive a grand finalist certificate.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Special Prizes
- Carnegie Hall Winners Concert Award
- Winners Concert takes place at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York, NY, on Sunday, June 6, 2026, at 1:00 pm ET.
- Awarded to Gold Medalists of each group in the grand final round.
- Silver Medalists will automatically be invited, and may pay a discounted fee to participate in the Winners Concert.
- Subject to availability and without guarantee, Bronze Medalists, Honorable Mention Winners, and other high-ranking contestants may be invited to perform at the concert, including those who did not advance to the grand final round.
- Additional performers may be selected to perform based on the judges’ and competition directors’ discretion.
- Invitations will be sent out on a rolling basis.
- Performers must reply to either confirm or withdraw their participation within one week of receiving the invitation.
- Performers are responsible for all of his/her own expenses such as travel, visa, hotel, etc.
- Participation in the Winners’ Concert is optional. If you choose to participate, you must submit the following Concert Fees, which include two complimentary tickets.
- Gold Medalists: free.
- Silver Medalists: $200 concert fee.
- All Other Prize Winners: $400 concert fee.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- PL Teacher of the Year Award
- Awarded to the teacher(s) with the highest number of students who won a first prize in the Final Round.
- If there are ties after counting the first prizes, the second prizes will be counted to determine the tiebreaker.
- If there are ties after counting the second prizes, the third prizes will be counted to determine the tiebreaker.
- Multiple awards will be given in the rare instance that ties still exist after counting the first, second, and third prizes.
- Grand Final prizes are not counted.
- Winner(s) will receive a digital certificate and an optional exclusive interview with Piano League.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- PL Excellence in Teaching Award
- Awarded to teachers whose student(s) receive a Star Score of 9.0 or above.
- Featured and listed on all Piano League social media, as well as website.
- Digital Certificate.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp Scholarship Award
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1 four-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, awarded to the Gold Prize Winner of Group E (Ages 16 – 18).
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1 two-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, awarded to the Gold Prize Winner of Group D (Ages 13 – 15).
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1 two-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, awarded to the Gold Prize Winner of Group C (Ages 10 – 12).
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.
- Gulf Coast Symphony Award
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Awarded to the Gold Medalist of Group E (Ages 16–18) in the Grand Final Round.
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The winner will be invited to:
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Perform one solo recital at the Music and Arts Community Center in Fort Myers, Florida, and
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Perform one concerto with the Gulf Coast Symphony (Florida) during a future concert season.
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Dates, venues, and repertoire for both performances will be arranged in coordination with the Gulf Coast Symphony and the winner.
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Housing will be provided by the Gulf Coast Symphony. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the winner.
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This award honors outstanding artistry and provides a prestigious platform for the winner to share their talent with new audiences.
The number of grand finalists have been expanded to 12 in Groups A, B, and C, 10 in Group D, and 8 in Group E. The minimum time limit has been removed for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round. The number of Final Round Locations has been increased. There will be a total of four locations this year: Online, New York, Shenzhen, Bangkok. New Partnership with Skillman Music to provide recording discounts to 2024 Piano Star applicants in the New York area.