John Lennon Songwriting Contest — 2026 Session II
Offered by John Lennon Songwriting Contest (JLSC)
See all 66 open music competitions →
About this opportunity
Running since 1997 and made possible by Yoko Ono Lennon, this contest takes entries from anywhere in the world and judges them across twelve categories: rock, pop, hip-hop, country, jazz, R&B, children's, folk, world, Latin, electronic and gospel/inspirational.
Be clear about what winning actually gets you, because most of it is gear rather than money. Each session's twelve grand prize winners receive a package of studio monitors, a synth, a Taylor GS Mini guitar, a studio mic and headphones, plus one-year subscriptions to Pro Tools, SSL plugins and Reason+. The 36 finalists per session get a smaller kit: a Roland GoMixer Studio, an AT2020 microphone, Pro Tools Artist, the SSL Band Bundle and Reason+. Cash enters once a year, when one of the 24 grand prize winners is named Song of the Year and takes $20,000 on top of their package.
Entry costs $30 per song and there is no free route in. You upload one song of five minutes or less as an MP3 or AAC file of 12MB or under, with a lyric sheet — instrumentals excepted. A polished recording is not required: the organisers say so plainly, and judging is on originality, melody, composition and lyrics where they apply. The judging committee includes George Clinton, Prince Royce, Flea and members of 311.
The contest runs in two sessions a year. Session II is open now and closes 31 December 2026 at 11:59pm PT, with winners announced on 1 March 2027. Proceeds support the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a non-profit mobile recording studio that works with young people.
Gatekeepers · Past editions
Know who's reviewing — and what has won before.
For opportunities approaching their deadline, Pro members get a researched briefing: who sits on the jury, what they care about, and what past winning projects looked like. Briefings are prepared roughly 5 to 10 weeks before each deadline, while there's still time to shape your application.
Sign in to go ProIncluded with Pro, alongside apply links for every upcoming date, unlimited saves, calendar sync and reminders from a month out.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the deadline for John Lennon Songwriting Contest — 2026 Session II?
- The current deadline is December 31, 2026.
- Who offers John Lennon Songwriting Contest — 2026 Session II?
- John Lennon Songwriting Contest (JLSC) runs it, from International.
- What funding or support does John Lennon Songwriting Contest — 2026 Session II offer?
- Cash and prize packages; category winners + Song of the Year (see official prizes)
- Who can apply for John Lennon Songwriting Contest — 2026 Session II?
- From the funder's description, it's aimed at songwriters and composers.
- How do I apply for John Lennon Songwriting Contest — 2026 Session II?
- You apply on the funder's own site. The link is on this page: with a free GrantGigs account for deadlines in the next 30 days, or with Pro for later ones. If applications are new to you, our guide on how to apply for music grants walks through the whole process. Read the guide →
Similar opportunities
Closing soon
John Lennon Songwriting Contest — 2026 Session II