The Philharmonie de Paris presents the third edition of the International Lutherie Competition, organised together with the Talents & Violon’celles fund and hosted during the 12th String Quartet Biennale. The 2026 edition, scheduled from 14 to 18 January, is dedicated to the viola, following the Parisian tradition of major violin-making competitions.
The competition features two categories:
- Talents of Today, for professional luthiers,
- Talents of Tomorrow, for students enrolled in violin-making schools and training centres.
The jury is composed of six members — three professional musicians and three luthiers or industry experts — led by a chair. The event is organised by a joint committee of the Philharmonie de Paris and Talents & Violon’celles, which verifies instrument eligibility and oversees all stages of the process.
Prizes include awards for the top three instruments in each category, any Coup de Coeur distinctions granted by the juries and by the public, and — for the Talents of Tomorrow category — the acquisition of the winning instrument by the Musée de la musique for its educational department.
