This year, 67 works by 43 composers were submitted for the award. From these, the jury selected 10 nominees whose works stood out for their high artistic level, freshness, and impact.
The nominees are:
Arash Yazdani – With, Within, Without
Elis Hallik – Oriri
Evelin Seppar – …..viimase siiluni tagasi
Gregor Kulla – is a flatterer of the colour of twilight
Liisa Hirsch – Liiv’s “code”
Liisa Hõbepappel – The Dustborn
Malle Maltis – Noise Cancellation Failure
Marianna Liik – Unfolding
Riho Esko Maimets – All Angels in the Light of Heaven
Tatjana Kozlova-Johannes – Light Enters Through a Crack
The jury consists of Helena Tulve (artistic director of the Estonian Music Days, composer), Miina Pärn (editor-in-chief of Klassikaraadio, music journalist), Kärt Ruubel (performer), Rasmus Puur (composer), and Ülo Krigul (composer).
The nominees will be introduced by Johanna Mängel on the Klassikaraadio programme Nyyd-Muusika on 31 March, 7 April, and 14 April at 21:00. The winning work will be broadcast on the evening of 21 April.
The laureate of the “LHV New Composition Award” 2026 and the recipient of the special “LHV Innovation Prize” will be announced at the Estonian Music Days ERSO concert on 17 April at 19:00 at the Estonia Concert Hall.
The prize fund for the LHV New Composition Award is €8,000, and the LHV Innovation Prize carries €2,000, funded by LHV.
Previous recipients of the award include Liisa Hirsch, Toivo Tulev, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Helena Tulve, Märt-Matis Lill, Rasmus Puur, Jüri Reinvere, Ülo Krigul, and Madli Marje Gildemann.
The collaboration between the Estonian Composers’ Union and the award sponsor LHV began in 2016. In addition, LHV supports the “LHV Young Composer 2026” competition, whose final concert will take place on 18 April at 15:00 in the Tubin Hall of the Heino Eller Music School in Tartu.
The Estonian Music Days festival begins on 11 April and runs until 19 April in Tallinn and Tartu. The festival programme can be found at eestimuusikapaevad.ee.