Dallas International Piano Competition 2026
When the final notes of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto faded into Moody Performance Hall on June 23, the 2026 Dallas International Piano Competition had its champion. Across a week of quarterfinals, semifinals, and a concerto final with full orchestra, fifteen of the world's most promising young pianists shared one stage — and, on it, one concert grand: the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX.
Here's a full recap of the results, the finalists, and the instrument that carried their music to the back row.
Prize | Pianist | Country | Final-round concerto |
|---|---|---|---|
1st Prize | Jialin Yao | China | Tchaikovsky — Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor |
2nd Prize | Kamil Pacholec | Poland | Chopin — Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor |
3rd Prize | Miao Gao | China | Prokofiev — Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major |
Audience Award | Jialin Yao | China | — |
Jialin Yao swept both the jury's top prize and the audience vote, decided by a live smartphone poll after the final performances.
Meet the 2026 finalists
Jialin Yao (1st Prize, China) closed the competition with one of the most beloved warhorses in the repertoire, Tchaikovsky's First. No stranger to the Shigeru Kawai sound, Yao previously chose the SK-EX at the 12th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition.
Kamil Pacholec (2nd Prize, Poland) arrived in Dallas as one of the most decorated young pianists in the field, having reached the finals of the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Fittingly, he chose Chopin's First Concerto for the Dallas final — and, for the first time at a competition of this scale, performed it on the SK-EX.
Miao Gao (3rd Prize, China) brought the fireworks of Prokofiev's Third. Gao is a past 2nd-prize winner of the Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition, and his familiarity with the instrument showed in the precision of his playing.
The instrument they all played: the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX
At a competition where the smallest difference in touch can separate two extraordinary musicians, the choice of instrument matters enormously. Every competitor in Dallas performed on the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX — the flagship 9'1" concert grand.
What makes it a competition instrument?
- Millennium III Action with ABS-Carbon components for faster repetition and finer control under pressure.
- Hand-wound Temaki bass strings, each individually crafted for depth and character.
- Kigarashi-aged soundboard, naturally seasoned in the traditional Japanese way for a richer tone.
- Shiko Seion hammers, hand-pressed without heat for an exceptionally wide dynamic response.
- Concert agraffes machined from solid brass for precision and stability.
The result is an instrument built for exactly the demand a competition places on it: enormous dynamic range, consistent response over long days of playing, and a palette of tonal colors that carries to the back of the hall.
In the finalists' own words
The most credible review of any piano comes from the artists who stake a result on it.
Jialin Yao, on his winning performance:
"I was especially impressed by how beautifully the piano projected through the orchestra. It allowed me to create both a powerful, expansive sound and the most delicate, warm whispers, giving me an enormous dynamic range. At the same time, it is an incredibly sensitive instrument that responds to the smallest nuances of touch and offers a rich palette of colors that carries naturally throughout the entire concert hall."
Kamil Pacholec:
"It was a very easy piano to play throughout the competition. I particularly appreciated its warm, rich resonance and its wide variety of tonal expression. Shigeru Kawai allowed me to express my music freely and honestly on stage."
Miao Gao:
"Everything about the piano was special. Its tone, tonal colors, and responsiveness allowed me to realize almost exactly what I wanted to express musically." He added that he hopes to own an SK-EX of his own one day.
Why so many competitions choose the SK-EX
Dallas is one stop on a long itinerary. In recent seasons the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX has been the instrument of choice for prize winners at the International Chopin Piano Competition, the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition, the Takamatsu International Piano Competition, the Paderewski Competition, and the Sendai International Piano Competition, among others.
The reasons pianists give are remarkably consistent: a wide dynamic range from whisper to roar, touch sensitivity that translates every nuance, tonal warmth and color, and the kind of reliability an instrument needs to perform at its best from the first quarterfinal to the last concerto. For a serious pianist choosing a concert grand, there is no better proving ground than a competition stage — and few instruments have been tested on more of them.
Experience the Shigeru Kawai
You don't have to reach a competition final to play the instrument the winners chose. To hear the SK-EX — or to explore the full range of Shigeru Kawai concert, professional, and home pianos — find your local authorized Kawai dealer or learn more about Shigeru Kawai.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Dallas International Piano Competition? Jialin Yao of China won 1st Prize and the Audience Award. Kamil Pacholec (Poland) took 2nd Prize and Miao Gao (China) took 3rd Prize.
Where is the Dallas International Piano Competition held? The 2026 quarterfinal and semifinal rounds were held at Winspear Performance Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center at the University of North Texas, with the concerto final at Moody Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District.
What piano did the competitors play? All competitors performed on the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX, the brand's flagship 9'1" concert grand piano.
How often is the competition held? The Dallas International Piano Competition is held biennially and is organized by the Dallas Chamber Symphony.
