PARK YounJae – Prix de Lausanne 2025, 1st Scholarship – photo by Gregory Batardon
The 54th edition of the Prix de Lausanne runs from 2 to 8 February 2026 and will be presided over by Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet. All the links to view the competition can be found below and can be viewed through GRAMILANO.
There will be live streaming of the daily classes and coaching sessions, the Selection rounds and Finals will be broadcast in full with commentary from Jason Beechey, Cynthia Harvey, Emma Sandall, and Deborah Bull.
The full programme is reproduced below and can be viewed on the Prix de Lausanne website (prixdelausanne.org) and Arte TV (arte.tv/arte-concert).
Created in 1973, the Prix de Lausanne is an international ballet competition for young dancers aged 15-18 years old. It is one of the biggest dance competitions in the world.
With a mission to “support the most promising dance talent among international youth,” the competition provides a platform for young dancers to be seen by renowned professionals and compete for places at some of the world’s leading dance schools.
Previous winners include Jean-Christophe Maillot (1977), current President of the Royal Academy of Dance, Dame Darcey Bussell (1986) and Carlos Acosta (1990).
Prix de Lausanne
In total, 81 dancers from 18 countries were selected to participate in this year’s edition of the Prix de Lausanne. A total of 444 applicants from 43 countries sent in audition videos.
Twenty candidates will reach the Finals and between 6 to 8 will receive a scholarship for training in the best dance schools and companies. They will be assessed by a jury composed of nine members, each of them either affiliated with one of the Prix’s partner schools and companies, a former Prize Winner, or a renowned figure in the world of dance.
Kevin O’Hare – President of the Jury – Director, The Royal Ballet
Gigi Hyatt – Vice President of the Jury – Director, Hamburg Ballet, John Neumeier School, and Finalist, Prix de Lausanne 1980
Lourdes Lopez – Artistic and cultural leader – Former Artistic Director, Miami City Ballet, and Former Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet
Thomas Lund – Teacher and Bournonville Ballet Master – Former Principal Dancer, Royal Danish Ballet and Former Director, Royal Danish Ballet School
Steven McRae – Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet, Artistic Director, Verdensballetten, and Prize Winner, Prix de Lausanne 2003
Ayako Nakano – Former Principal Dancer, Theatre Basel, Freelance coach & choreographer, and Prize Winner, Prix de Lausanne 1992
Yuan Yuan Tan – International Guest Ballet Artist, Artistic Director, Suzhou Ballet Theatre, and Former Principal Dancer, San Francisco Ballet
Christian Tàtchev – Director, Queensland Ballet Academy, Former Principal Dancer, Queensland Ballet Company
Eric Underwood – Guest Artist, Former Soloist, The Royal Ballet, Former Principal Dancer, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Kathryn Bradney – Artistic and Executive Director, Prix de Lausanne
The panel’s composition also considers criteria such as geographical diversity, a balanced representation of generations and experience levels, and a plurality of dance styles.
The third edition of Rising Stars will take place on Sunday 8 February, following the Finals, featuring guest artists Inès McIntosh and Shale Wagman. The programme will include the winning variations of the Young Creation Award, as well as an original choreography by Edwaard Liang, choreographer and Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet, created as part of the Partner School Choreographic Project. In addition, classical and contemporary variations will be performed by the 2026 Prize Winners and Finalists.
Full programme
Classes and coaching #1
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-001-A/classes-and-coaching-1/
Available from 02/02/2026
The Prix de Lausanne has begun! Discover all the competitors in the year’s international ballet competition for young dancers in the first day of classes and coaching.
The first four days of the 54th Prix de Lausanne are devoted to classes, lessons and rehearsals. This is an opportunity for these young dancers to perfect their skills with leading figures of classical and contemporary dance and to shine in front of a jury of experts – these work sessions count towards their final grade.
Programme:
09:00-09:45 – Classical warm-up class, Girls A and B
09:45-10:15 – Rehearsal – classical variations, Girls A
10:15-10:30 – Candidates video portraits
10.30-11.30 – Classical dance class, Boys A
11.30-11.45 – Candidates’ video portraits
Classes and Coaching #2
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-002-A/classes-and-coaching-2/
Available from 02/02/2026
The first afternoon at the 54th Prix de Lausanne focuses on the 17-18-year-old candidates and the ballet classes.
Classes and Coaching #3
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-003-A/classes-and-coaching-3/
Available from 03/02/2026
An early start for the participants in the Prix de Lausanne 2026. The programme includes lessons in classical dance for the girls in Group A (15-16 years) and coaching in contemporary variations for the boys in Group B (17-18 years).
Programme:
09:30-10:30 – Classical dance, girls A
10:30-10:45 – Candidates’ video portraits
10:45-12:45 – Coaching contemporary variations, boys B
Recorded on 03 February 2026 at the Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland
Classes and Coaching #4
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-004-A/classes-and-coaching-4/
Available from 03/02/2026
An afternoon with the girls of group B (17-18 years) and their classical and contemporary dance classes. This is followed by the boys of group A (15-16 years) in rehearsals for their contemporary variations.
Programme:
13:45-15:15 – Classical dance, girls B
15:15-15:30 – Candidates’ video portraits
15:30-16:30 -Contemporary dance, girls B
16:30-16:45 – Candidates’ video portraits
16:45-17:45 – Coaching contemporary variations, boys A
Classes and Coaching #5
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-005-A/classes-and-coaching-5/
Available from 04/02/2026
This third morning is all about classical dance: classical lessons for all girl groups and coaching of classical variations for girls A (15-16 years) and boys B (17-18 years).
Programme:
08:30-09:45 – Classical dance, girls A and B
09:45-10:30 – Coaching: classical variations, girls A
10:30-10:45 – Candidates’ video portraits
10:45-11:45 – Coaching: classical variations, boys B
Recorded on 04 February 2026 at the Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland
Classes and Coaching #6
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-006-A/classes-and-coaching-6/
Available from 04/02/2026
Classes and coaching sessions, classical and contemporary, girls and boys: This third afternoon session from the Théâtre de Beaulieu brings together all the diversity and excitement of the Prix de Lausanne 2026.
Classes and Coaching #7
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-007-A/classes-and-coaching-7/
Available from 05/02/202
On this last morning before the selections, the focus is on classical ballet lessons for all the boys and contemporary dance lessons for the girls in Group A (15-16 years). A last opportunity to work on details before things get serious.
Programme:
08:30-10:00 – Classical dance, boys A and B
10:00-10:15 – Candidates’ video portraits
10:15-11:15 – Contemporary dance, girls A
Filmed on 05 February 2026 at the Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-008-A/classes-and-coaching-8/
Available from 05/02/2026
The selections for the 54th Prix de Lausanne are right around the corner. Follow the girls in Groups A and B (aged 15-18) and the boys in Group B (aged 17-18) in their final classes and coaching sessions.
Programme:
12:15-13:30 – Coaching classic variations, girls A
13:30-13:45 – Candidates’ video portraits
13:45-14:45 – Contemporary dance, girls B
14:45-15:00 – Break
15:00-16:00 – Coaching classical variations, boys B
16:00-16:15 – Candidates’ video portraits
16:15-17:35 – Coaching contemporary variations, girls A and B
Filmed on 05 February 2026 at the Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland
Junior Selection
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-009-A/junior-selection/
Available from 06/02/2026
After four days of classes and coaching, it’s time for the younger candidates in the 54th Prix de Lausanne to take part in the selection rounds. Who among them will impress the jury?
Senior Selection
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-010-A/senior-selections/
Available from 06/02/2026
After four days of classes and coaching, it’s time for the older candidates (17-18) to face selection. Who will impress the jury and make it into the final?
Finals
Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/130501-011-A/finals/
Available from 07/02/2026
After five intensive days of classes, coaching and selection, the last day of the 54th Prix de Lausanne means one thing: the final. Who will win the prestigious prizes on offer?
Related
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.