IMSTA — IMSTA Song Competition Miami 2026 (Regional)

IMSTA runs a songwriting competition through the year, with a separate regional round attached to each IMSTA FESTA event. This is the Miami round, tied to the FESTA taking place there on 22 August 2026, and entry is restricted to people attending that event. Songs in any genre are accepted, from writers at any stage of their career.

Entry costs $20 per song. The song must be entirely your own original work, no longer than five minutes, uploaded as an MP3. Co-writes are allowed, but one name is designated per entry and any prize goes to that person to divide as they see fit. Entrants must be at least 16. One condition catches people out: finalists are required to be present at IMSTA FESTA for the judging.

Judging is on melody, composition, originality and lyrics where they apply. The regional winner goes forward to the Global IMSTA Songwriting Competition at the end of the year, against the winners of the other city rounds and the online round; finalists submit an additional song for that final stage. The global grand prize is a bundle of music software valued at over $5,000. The regional prizes themselves are not itemised on the entry page.

One quirk worth knowing, given what IMSTA campaigns about: prize winners may be asked to prove the track was made with legally purchased software.