The Early Music Young Ensemble Competition is presented every two years by the London International Festival of Early Music. Selected finalists have the opportunity to perform to a panel and live audience during the festival, and we were delighted to receive a wide range of applications for the 2026 competition from early music ensembles averaging age 35 and under.
The preliminary round will be judged via audio/video recordings, and three ensembles will be selected to perform live in the final. The final will be held on Friday 13 November 2026 at Blackheath Halls, as part of LIFEM 2026.
The preliminary round adjudication is currently underway, and the finalists will be announced in September 2026 – check back or sign up to our mailing list for updates!
Prizes
First Prize £1500 and a recital at LIFEM 2027
Second Prize £1000
Third Prize £500
The 2026 competition will be adjudicated by Erik Bosgraaf, Tomoe Badiarova & Jane Chapman.
Previous winners
2024 Polychroma
2022 Ensemble Pampinea
2020 Ensemble Hesperi / Ensemble Pro Victoria (joint winners)
2018 Palisander / Tinker Pypker & Anders Muskens (joint winners)
The 2026 Early Music Young Ensemble Competition is generously supported by The Early Music Shop
2024 competition winners, Polychroma, performing at LIFEM 2025 as part of their winners’ recital at St Michael & All Angels Church. Photo: Anna McCarthy
Application form
The deadline for applications has now passed. Thank you to all the ensembles who took the time to apply and we will be in touch in due course.
If you have any questions about the competition or your application, please contact our festival administrator, Finn, by clicking here.
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