The prize winners of the Prix de Lausanne 2026 were announced overnight following the Finals at the Théâtre de Beaulieu in Lausanne, bringing the 54th edition of the competition to a close. Watched by thousands of spectators in the theatre and via live stream, the Finals saw 21 dancers return to the stage after an intense week of classes, coaching and selections.
From an initial field of 81 selected candidates, 78 dancers took part in the 2026 competition week, with 21 progressing through to the Finals. At the conclusion of the evening, the jury, chaired by Kevin O’Hare, named 14 prize winners. Through these awards, dancers aged 15 and 16 will receive a year of study at one of the Prix de Lausanne’s partner schools, while prize winners aged 17 and 18 have been offered one-year apprenticeships with partner companies, providing a direct pathway into professional training environments.
The 14 prize winners of the Prix de Lausanne 2026 are:
- 424 William Gyves (United States) – Fondation Caris
- 302 Dayeon Yeom (South Korea) – Bourse Jeune Étoile
- 301 Jingxinyu Huang (P.R. China) – Bourse Astarte
- 314 Yihan Qin (P.R. China) – Fondation Maurice Béjart
- 201 Yusei Sai (Japan) – Curél
- 213 Yufei Cao (P.R. China) – Bourse Jeune Espoir
- 309 Ara Shin (South Korea) – Fondation Anita et Werner Damm-Étienne
- 203 Jetro Thijs (Belgium) – Fondation Hélène et Victor Barbour
- 413 Dragos Gramada (Romania) – Bourse Aud Jebsen
- 306 Tae Eun Kim (South Korea) – Oak Foundation
- 417 Suhyeok Bang (South Korea) – Bourse Roland Petit Zizi Jeanmaire
- 418 Mingyun Son (South Korea) – Fondation Coromandel
- 415 Milo Demeulenaere (United States) – Rudolf Nureyev Foundation
- 310 Jiyul Jeon (South Korea) – Fondation Françoise Champoud
A number of additional awards were also presented during the Finals. Dragos Gramada received both the Beaulieu Award and the Contemporary Dance Award, while William Gyves was named Best Swiss Candidate. Audience awards were shared between Dayeon Yeom, who received the Audience Favourite Award, and Pietra Rego de Souza, who was named Web Audience Favourite.
Beyond the prizes awarded on stage, the Prix de Lausanne experience continues through the Networking Forum, held the following day. The Forum offers candidates who did not progress to the Finals the opportunity to meet directors from partner schools and companies, often leading to further training or professional offers. Over time, this forum has become a vital component of the Prix, reinforcing its role as a development-focused platform rather than a single outcome event.
The 2026 edition attracted more than 552,000 online viewers across ARTE Concert, YouTube and the Prix de Lausanne website, reflecting the competition’s continued global reach. Founded in 1973, the Prix de Lausanne remains one of the most influential international competitions for pre-professional dancers aged 15 to 18, with its network of partner institutions shaping the next generation of artists through sustained education, training and support.
Dance Australia’s 2026 Prix de Lausanne coverage is generously supported by Bloch Australia.
