For competitors

Many previous prizewinners, such as Olaf Bär, Elīna Garanča, Andrea Rost and Julia Lezhneva have later become prominent figures in the world of singing. 

The Helin Competition offers, among other things:

• the largest prizes of any major classical singing competition worldwide
• feedback from a panel of top judges
• performance opportunities and career mentoring.

Through the Mirjam Helin Competition, we aim to support young singers in building their international careers. That is why participants in the competition are offered, among other things, the opportunity to take part in master classes and repertoire coaching. For those who do not advance in the competition, there will be performance opportunities during the event.

The main prize in the competition is €60,000 — the largest of any major classical singing competition worldwide.  The second prize is €40,000, and the third prize €30,000. The other finalists will each receive €10,000 and all competitors who advance to the semifinals will also receive awards. A jury of leading figures from the international world of singing will also award special prizes. The singers will also be offered opportunities to perform in lied recitals, appear as soloists with orchestras, and receive career mentoring.

The competition is open to singers born in or after 1995.

The application period for the competition begins on Monday 2 November 2026 at 9 am Finnish time (UTC+2) and closes on Monday 30 November 2026 at 4 pm Finnish time (UTC+2).

When submitting their application, singers are required to provide a high-quality audiovisual recording for preselection (no links). The application should include the singer’s competition repertoire. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

The preselection jury will select the competitors to be invited to Turku based on their audiovisual recording. Singers accepted into the competition will receive written confirmation by 15 January 2027. 

If a competitor wants to make changes to the repertoire they have submitted, these will be considered until 12 February 2027.

Competitors are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel to the competition venue in Turku. 

However, the competition may, at its discretion, grant a travel subsidy to competitors arriving from outside Europe or for other particularly compelling reasons. The subsidy may cover up to 50% of the ticket price, up to a maximum of €500. A free-form application must be submitted by 28 February 2027 to info@mirjamhelin.fi. 

Competitors requiring a visa for Finland must obtain it well in advance from the relevant Finnish embassy or consulate. 

All competitors must register for the competition in person on Sunday 6 June between 10:00 and 13:00 and participate in the draw for the performance order at 14:00 on the same day. 

The competition provides accommodation for all competitors for the entire duration of the event, 5–18 June 2026, regardless of whether a singer advances to the next rounds. Accommodation includes breakfast, and competitors are additionally offered lunch daily. 

Accommodation is provided only for the singers participating in the competition. The competition does not cover accommodation for a singer’s own pianist. 

Competitors who are not selected for the semifinals or finals will be offeredmasterclasses, repertoire coaching, and performance opportunities in Turku and the surrounding area. 

We will provide more information about the side programme closer to the competition.