| Sixth International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition | |
| Venue: | National Philharmonic, Warsaw |
| Holder Label: | Winner |
| Holder: | Maurizio Pollini (Italy) |
| Previous: | 5th |
| Main: | Chopin Competition |
| Next: | 7th |
The VI International Chopin Piano Competition (Polish: VI Międzynarodowy Konkurs Pianistyczny im. Fryderyka Chopina|link=no|italic=no) was held from 22 February to 13 March 1960 in Warsaw. The competition was won by Maurizio Pollini of Italy, becoming the first winner not from Poland or the Soviet Union.
The competition consisted of two elimination stages and a final with twelve pianists. Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini won first prize, with Arthur Rubinstein, honorary chairman of the jury, declaring "that boy can play the piano better than any of us".[1]
Audience favorite Michel Block failed to win a prize and only received an honorable mention. Outraged, Rubinstein created a special prize bearing his name on the spot, and awarded it to Block.[2]
The following prizes were awarded:[3]
| Prize | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Maurizio Pollini | Italy | |
| 2nd | Irina Zaritskaya | Soviet Union | |
| 3rd | Iran | ||
| 4th | Ming-Qiang Li | China | |
| 5th | Zinaida Ignatyeva | Soviet Union | |
| 6th | Soviet Union | ||
| Michel Block | Mexico | ||
| Poland | |||
| Japan | |||
| Reiya Silvonen | Finland | ||
| Aleksander Słobodianik | Soviet Union | ||
| Poland | |||
Two special prizes were awarded:
| Special prize | Winner | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Performance of Mazurkas | Irina Zaritskaya | Soviet Union | ||
| Best Performance of a Polonaise | Irina Zaritskaya | Soviet Union | ||
The jury consisted of:[3]