The 17th edition of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition opens tomorrow, May 21, in Fort Worth, Texas, and will run until June 7. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in classical music, the Cliburn returns with a new generation of pianists ready to share their artistry with a global audience—both in person and online.
This year’s competition brings together 28 pianists from 16 countries, selected from an initial pool of 340 applicants representing 45 nations. The competitors, aged between 18 and 30, will perform across four rounds, culminating in the finals, where each artist will present more than four hours of music. The full list of participants includes pianists from China, the United States, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Italy, and several other countries.
All rounds will be streamed live on the Cliburn’s YouTube channel
Beyond a generous package of cash prizes, the Cliburn offers its winners a launchpad for an international career. The gold, silver, and bronze medalists receive three years of career management, concert bookings, publicity, and artistic support. The total value of the prize package exceeds $2 million.
The competition’s impact was powerfully demonstrated in 2022, when South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim became the youngest ever Cliburn winner. His victory triggered a meteoric rise: sold-out performances with the New York Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, and Tokyo Philharmonic, and appearances at venues like Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Concertgebouw. His performance videos—including Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Liszt’s 12 Transcendental Etudes—have since become some of the most viewed classical piano recordings online.
Founded in 1962 and named after American pianist Van Cliburn, the competition has a long tradition of identifying and supporting major pianistic talent. Past winners include Radu Lupu, Olga Kern, and Vadym Kholodenko, all of whom built significant careers following their Cliburn successes.
More information about the competition and each of the 2025 competitors is available on the official Cliburn website.
Explore the Cliburn data
Pianist Álvaro Varela de Marco has conducted a detailed analysis of the 2025 Cliburn Competition competitors. Explore the interactive graphics below to see the breakdown of participants by age, gender, countries of origin, and their chosen concertos for the semifinals and finals.
Note: You can navigate through multiple pages of interactive charts by hovering over the embedded graphic and using the navigation arrows or tabs.Tip: For the best experience on mobile, rotate your phone to landscape mode.*****
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