The International Violin Competition "Premio Paganini" was established in 1953 with the aim of creating an international event to celebrate the great violinist, give prestige to the city of Genoa and at the same time discover new and young talents.

Since its first edition in 1954, the "Paganini" has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most important violin competitions in the world, graduating throughout its history artists such as Salvatore Accardo, Giovanni Angeleri, Ilya Gringolts, Ilya Grubert, Leonidas Kavakos, Gidon Kremer, György Pauk, Gérard Poulet, Massimo Quarta, Sayaka Shoji.

Today, the International Violin Competition "Premio Paganini" is renewed but kept faithful to tradition. Its presidency was entrusted by Mayor Marco Bucci to Giovanni Panebianco, former secretary general of the Ministry of Culture.

The strategic and programmatic lines were illustrated during a public press conference on 22 February, in the Salone di rappresentanza of Palazzo Tursi, in the presence of local and regional Administrators, of the Carlo Felice Theatre, of the Conservatory "Niccolò Paganini" of Genoa and of the Association GOG - Giovine Genovese Orchestra. President Panebianco said that "the idea of relaunching is inspired by the principle of renewing while preserving. On the one hand, maintaining intact the primacy of the artistic excellence typical of the Competition, and on the other hand innovating ways and tools to involve a wider audience and in particular youth, and promote internationally the image of Genoa, working side by side with the excellence of the territory".

The "Premio Paganini" will become biennial instead that triennial (next edition in October 2023) and in the year of break will be organized initiatives and side events, in Italy and abroad, Properly supported by communication tools to reach the wider public, especially young people.