Final date for entry will be 31 July 2026 or earlier if we reach our capacity before then. 

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Early entry is therefore advised to be sure of gaining a place in your chosen classes.

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All classes at Birmingham Music Festival are for pianoforte solo.

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• Each entrant can enter any number of classes for which they are eligible.
   

• PARENTS and/or TEACHERS ENTERING CHILDREN should bear in mind that it can be a stressful experience for a child to enter multiple classes in a high quality competitive festival. Your attention is drawn to our Child Protection Policy
   

• Transcriptions: There are no restrictions on playing arrangements or transcriptions in the majority of classes, except Class 14 Baroque Masters and Class 16 Sonata. Any transcriptions entered must not be a simplification of the original music.
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• Video recording: Recording performances is a serious breach of the Festival Rules and our Child Protection Policy. Should anyone be spotted making a recording, the performer will be disqualified, and those in the performer’s family will be asked to leave immediately for the rest of the Festival weekend. No compensation will be paid for missed performances.
   

Grade Classes (Classes 6 - 9):

• Grade limits refer both to the music performed and the skills of the performer. An entrant may not perform in more than one grade class during the Festival.
   

• Players should not play repeats in the Grade classes, except for DC and DS indications. 
   

• These classes must have music from the relevant current grade syllabuses for the Associated Board, Trinity College London or London College of Music.

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Repeats:

• Repeats may be played in classes (other than grade classes - see above) provided that the time limit is not exceeded.
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In 2026 we made the following changes to previous year's syllabus:
 

• Class 17 Romantic Connections now accepts music by Grieg, Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, and Clara and Robert Schumann, in addition to the previously accepted Brahms, Chopin and Liszt. Note that Fanny Mendelssohn used her married name for most of her compositions, so please enter with pieces by Fanny Hensel - you can also find some of these in the ABRSM syllabus for grades 6, 7 and 8 - all of these are eligible in Class 17.
   

• Class 18 has now become Eastern European - Open. In this class, we welcome any piano piece (of at least Grade 5 standard) by an Eastern European composer. These include composers from Poland, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia or any other Eastern European country. We encourage you to explore composers who originate or represent these countries, and alongside familiar names like Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Bartók, you might also consider also Sergei Bortkiewicz, George Enescu, Viktor Kosenko, Mykola Lysenko, Valentin Silvestrov, Karol Szymanowski or Pancho Vladigerov, among many others. Note that Chopin's music is not eligible for this class - you can enter his music in open classes 13, 15, 17, 19, as well as appropriate grade and age classes.
   

• We have introduced categories of Individual and Business Supporter of the Birmingham Music Festival. Please support us, and we will thank you in the Programme and will post to you one complimentary entry ticket to both days and a copy of the BMF Programme.

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PLEASE NOTE:

• Classes will take place on Saturday and on Sunday, between 9am and 8pm (see the dates at the top of the page). 

• Players must be prepared to come on either day, or possibly on both days if playing in more than one class.

• We will confirm by email a personal schedule of your performance day and start times once all entries have been received and the Festival schedule drafted.

• We appreciate the understanding of entrants, their parents, and/or teachers if classes are scheduled at the beginning or at the end of the day. While we strive to be as accommodating as possible, we cannot guarantee class times in advance.