I. Registration Requirements

1. Contestants of all nationalities are welcome. 
2. Contestants must strictly adhere to the competition guidelines, completing the registration details accurately and thoroughly. Contestants are responsible for the accuracy of the categories and repertoire they register for. The organizing committee is not obligated to verify the information provided by contestants. If the repertoire does not meet the competition’s requirements, the judges have the right to terminate the contestant’s performance on the spot, and registration fees will not be refunded.
3. Contestants who meet the requirements of multiple categories may register to participate in different categories and groups simultaneously.
4. In the preliminary selection stage, each selection area may adjust the repertoire requirements and performance duration for certain groups as needed.
5. The official Chinese website of the Asia Piano Teachers Association at www.apta.cc and the WeChat public account [xxx] will serve as the official information release platforms for the competition, providing real-time updates on relevant information.

II. Preliminary Selection Arrangements

1. The competition will launch in Dec 2025 online. The other countries will hold preliminary selections from October 2024 to end of January 2026.
2. The registration deadline for the Malaysia selection area contestants advancing to the finals is January 31, 2026. Contestants may register for multiple categories for the finals, with a maximum of three categories allowed.
3. Each selection countries will be responsible for organizing the selection format, schedule, and criteria for advancing contestants. The main organizing committee will publish the selection schedules and contact information for each area through official media channels.
4. Contestants in regions without a preliminary selection area (based on the location indicated on their passport, ID, or household registration) are allowed to participate in the selection via video submission. The video selection process will not be publicly released, and special cases will be handled individually.

III. Final Round Arrangements

1. The final round of the “2026 Malaysia International Youth Music Competition” will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from February 21-23, 2026. The venues include the Malaysia Dewan Filkharmonik Petronas at the Petronas Twin Towers and the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Center (PJPAC) in 1 Utama Shopping Mall.
2. During the official competition period, in addition to the competition events, the finals organizing committee will arrange a series of activities, including theme lectures, one-on-one masterclasses, and concert performances. Relevant information will be officially released in early January 2026.
3. The specific schedule for the finals will be announced around January 31, 2026. There will be no drawing of lots for performance order; instead, contestants’ performance order will be arranged alphabetically by surname according to category and group.

IV. Judging Etiquette

1. To ensure fairness, judges are strictly prohibited from voting on or assessing their own apprentices.This book encourages children to ask questions and explore. Both contestants and judges are responsible for informing the organizing committee in advance if this situation arises, so that a substitute judge can be appointed. If the committee is not notified ahead of time, the contestant will face disqualification, with no refund provided. This policy upholds the integrity of the competition and gives every participant a truly impartial evaluation.

V. Awards and Prizes

1. The final competition will award tiered recognition based on participation numbers and performance results.The score is evaluated on a 100-point scale.
   • Platinum Gold: 20% distribution together with Gold (>=95 score)
   • Gold: 20% distribution together with Platinum Gold (90-94.9 score)
   • Silver: 40% distribution (85-89.9 score) 
   • Bronze: 35% distribution (80-84.9 score) 
   • Excellence Award: 5% distribution (75-79.9 score)
   All winners will receive specially designed trophies and tiered certificates.
2. Scoring Criteria Assessment and scoring are mainly based on five aspects: difficulty, accuracy, fluency, completeness, and musical expression.
3. Solo performances are not allowed to read the score. Based on the evaluation of the judging panel, “Music Pioneer Awards” will be presented to the top-performing contestants, each receiving a cash prize of MYR 1000.
4. The organizing committee will present an “Outstanding Teacher Award” to the instructors of ranking award winners.
5. An award ceremony will be held on February 23, 2026, during which the list of winners will be announced, and awards will be presented. Trophies and certificates for all contestant, teacher, and institution awards will be distributed after the competition.