The International Harp Duo Competition is held every two years under the honorary patronage of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Marta Cienkowska.
The 11th edition of the competition is organized by the Centre for Artistic Education and the Polish Harp Society and takes place at the historic Castle Hill complex in Cieszyn. On a global scale, this is a unique competition for young chamber musicians performing with the harp and for composers writing works for harp duos.
The organizers pursue the educational mission of the competition through a discussion meeting devoted to the creative performance of harp duos and the development of new harp improvisation skills. The discussion and harp jam session serve as a prelude to the European Harp Symposium “Improvisation in Music and in Life,” to be held in the Polish Capital of Culture, Bielsko-Biała, in September 2026.
The competition laureates are promoted through two public concerts: one in Cieszyn (12 April 2026) and another at the headquarters of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice. A special prize for the winning duo is provided by the Rector of the Academy of Music in Katowice.