Queen Elisabeth Competition

75 & 150 years

In 2026, the Queen Elisabeth Competition will experience a truly special edition devoted to the cello, marking three major anniversaries: the 150th anniversary of the birth of Queen Elisabeth, the 75th anniversary of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Pablo Casals, one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century. This year will highlight the artistic and humanistic legacy of the Queen, as well as the bonds she shared with the renowned Catalan cellist.

A series of concerts, festivals, exhibitions, and participatory projects throughout Belgium will celebrate this triple anniversary, with the Cello Competition session as the highlight of the spring season. Several cultural partners have joined forces with the Competition to bring this ambitious programme to life, including the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra/Queen Elisabeth Hall, Flagey, Bozar and the Pablo Casals Foundation. One of the exceptional moments of this edition will be the extraordinary loan of Pablo Casals’s Goffriller “Casals” cello (1733) to the First Prize winner of the 2026 Competition for a period of four years.

The loan of the “Casals” Goffriller cello, in memory of a friendship

Following Pablo Casals' commitment to young musicians and his long friendship with Queen Elisabeth, the Pau Casals Foundation decided to loan his cello, the famous Goffriller ‘Casals’ (1733), to the First Laureate of the Cello Competition for a period of 4 years.

Pablo Casals and his instrument

Bernard Meillat, Musical Advisor to the Pau Casals Foundation and former director of Musiq3, discusses the illustrious Catalan cellist and humanist, as well as the qualities of his instrument.

Read the interview

Pablo Casals (1876 - 1973) and Matteo Goffriller (ca. 1659–1742)

Pablo Casals' cello will be on display during the final rounds of the 2026 Cello Competition, from Monday 25 to Saturday 30 May. Drawing on the brochure prepared for the exhibition by Tarisio and Maison Bernard, we have gathered in this article a series of fascinating facts about Matteo Goffriller and the bond between Pablo Casals and his instrument.

The history of the Goffriller 'Casals'

Discover in this article the second part of the brochure prepared by Tarisio and Maison Bernard for the exhibition of the 'Casals' Goffriller cello, focusing in particular on the history and provenance of this magnificent instrument.

150 years of Queen Elisabeth (1876 - 1965)

Three organisations jointly honor her name and cultural heritage

By choosing to mark this 150th anniversary jointly, the three cultural organisations bearing the name of Queen Elisabeth highlight the complementarity of their missions. Throughout this festive year, they will present events under the label ‘150 Years of Queen Elisabeth’, highlighting the sovereign’s legacy.

Bpost joins the celebration

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Queen Elisabeth Competition and the 150th anniversary of the birth of its founder, the Belgian post will issue a unique stamp depicting Queen Elisabeth with her violin. The stamp will be available from Monday 13 April at bpost and in our webshop. It will also be sold at Flagey during the first round and the semi-final.

www.bpost.be

A Queen's dream

“Everything about music captures my interest and touches me deeply. I hope that the International Music Competition will help young artists and foster a love of music. With all my heart, I wish much success to all the competitors.”- Elisabeth

2026 Cello Competition

From Monday 4 May to Wednesday 10 June (Flagey & Bozar)

In 2026, the Queen Elisabeth Competition will be dedicated to the cello for the third time. Throughout the month of May, the best young cellists from the four corners of the world will compete in Brussels at this festive edition. Subscriptions will be available as from Tuesday 3 February and tickets as from Tuesday 17 February 2026.

Agenda & ticket information

Bozar All over the P(a)lace

Nocturne - Thursday 21 May (Bozar)

Leading up to the final of the 2026 Cello Competition, Bozar All over the P(a)lace will be dedicated to the cello and to Pablo Casals, with Victor Julien-Laferrière as one of the central guests. Good to know: a ticket for Victor's recital gives you access to the Nocturne as well.

VIVA Elisabeth!

A joyful day organised by BRYGGEN and JOWest for young string players of all levels – workshops, rehearsals and performing together, closed by a free concert at night.