Romania’s Enescu International Competition attracts record 819 entries from 55 countries for 2026 edition

20 July 2026 The 20th edition of the George Enescu International Competition in Romania attracted a record 819 entries from 55 countries, marking the highest level of participation in the event's history. Organizers said the anniversary edition also set a new record for international representation. The total includes 756 applications for the competition's four categories - violin, cello, piano, and composition - and 63 for the international masterclass program, which is being held in an expanded format for the first time. Overall participation is nearly 23% higher than at the previous edition. The largest number of applications came from China (152), followed by South Korea (134), Romania (65), the United States (64), Japan (50), Italy (39), Germany (36), France (24), Russia (23), Spain (