Leonardo 4 Music 2026 Awards:
Young composers up to 30 years
Young composers are invited to invent an original music composition, interpreting one or more of the topics “Climate”, “Equality”, “Peace”.
This Award has two age sub-categories: Under 18 years; 18-30 years
Timetable
- Open from 15 September 2025 until 30 April 2026
- Announcement of winners: 1 June 2026
- Workshop, Concert & Award ceremony: 9 October 2026 in Brussels
Winners Music 2026
Top 1 Winner: “Som llavors vives”
Topic: Climate & Peace
Author: Laia De La Torre
Country: Spain
Testimonial: “Receiving the 1st Prize and the Best Female Composer Award has been both an honour and a great source of encouragement. What I value most about this recognition is its commitment to promoting environmental awareness, peace, and equity. Initiatives like this remind composers that our work can engage with important social and global issues, and that music can be a meaningful way of fostering reflection, dialogue, and connection.
I am grateful to be supported by an organisation that not only celebrates artistic achievement but also encourages artists to contribute to a more conscious, inclusive, and sustainable future. This experience has motivated me to continue developing my work with a greater sense of purpose and responsibility.”
Talent Development Budget: purchase of high-quality plugins for mixing and mastering to further improve the production quality of her music.
Top 2 Winner: “Beschädigungen”
Special Awards Leonardo 4 Music 2026
Ermanno Testi & Augustin Dumay masterclass
“Dum pacem”
Topic: Peace
Author: Matteo Libralato
Country: Italy
Talent Development Budget:Attendance of composition courses and workshops at Conservatory
Prizes
The announcement of winners will be made by 1 June 2026, and the award ceremony will take place on 9 October 2026 in Brussels.
The highest-scoring works will receive:
- talent development programme, with a budget of € 750 for the 1st winner, € 500 for the 2nd winner, which can be used to develop the music skills of winners, subject to approval of the foundation, for:
- travel to the Leonardo 4 Children Award Ceremony in Brussels in October;
- workshops or courses on music, possibly with reference to climate, equality or peace;
- costs of publication of the music score, and performance of the music at an event;
- meeting with a personality or an expert in music;
- music instruments/material.
- The 1st winner will have the opportunity to liaise with famous musicians such as the members of the jury and explore the possibility that their composition will be performed in important concerts.
- The music of the 1st and 2nd winners will be used for a campaign or promotional videos of Leonardo 4 Children non-profit initiative.
- live performance of the winning music works at the award ceremony and concerts/events; promotion on website, social media and promotional material, at public events, institutions or public places;
- publication of the scores of the music composition online via the music editing company
JK Merz; - Leonardo 4 Children award certificate;
- Special Awards for specific related winners.
Special Awards
Special Awards include challenges on specific topics and the winners will receive Special Awards and specific “Talent Development” opportunities offered by partners.
- Lunigiana International Music Festival Award
- ArtLink Belgrade Festival Award
- Music Academy FORTE Award
- Erika Zoi Award
- Choir composition Ermanno Testi Award
