With the chimes of Auld Lang Syne still ringing in our ears, the start of a new year marks the chance to make a fresh start for the 12 months that lie ahead.
As a songwriter, why not throw yourself into a new opportunity in 2026? From applying for funding initiatives to signing up to freestyle challenges, there are a host of openings for songwriters to explore in January as the music industry clicks back into gear following the festive break.
We’ve pulled together five opportunities for songwriters to check out in January 2026 — read on to find out more.
Get involved in the ‘Give to Gain’ freestyle challenge — * DEADLINE: 4 January *
As we look ahead to International Women’s Day 2026 in March, women’s music champions Girls of Grime have partnered with the female-led freestyle platform Talkin Da Hardest TV to launch the ‘Give to Gain’ freestyle challenge.
To enter, female music creators must write a freestyle — which can be recorded over any music genre — that features the words ‘give to gain’ within the first eight bars. A video of the freestyle then needs to be uploaded and shared on either TikTok or Instagram. From there, tag @GirlsOfGrime and @TDH.TV and include the hashtags #GiveToGain and #IWD2026 in order to formally enter the contest.
The winner of the challenge will receive £500 and a performance slot at one of Girls of Grime’s live finals. Make sure you submit your freestyle by 4 January, and head to Girls of Grime’s site for more information.
Take part in the next UD songwriting camp
After the success of recent iterations, the team at UD are once again inviting songwriters, producers and vocalists from all backgrounds and levels of experience to apply to join their next one-day songwriting camp in London.
UD, whose mission is to bring communities together around Black music and Black music culture, promise that the camp will allow music creators aged between 18 and 25 to find and connect with new collaborators, make music and explore what UD has to offer. The camp will be supported on the day by their in-house engineer Likkle Jay.
Taking place on 28 January in east London, applications to join the next UD songwriting camp are open now until 14 January.
Submit your work for The Ivors 2026
The prestigious Ivors, where songwriters are honoured with Ivor Novello Awards, will return for its 2026 edition at London’s Grosvenor House on 21 May. Think this could be your year? Well, submissions are now open to all Ivors Academy members.
The following six categories are currently accepting submissions:
- Best Album, celebrating long-form albums that demonstrate exceptional songwriting and creative consistency.
- Best Contemporary Song, recognising songs demonstrating outstanding originality and exploration of contemporary music boundaries.
- Best Song Musically and Lyrically, celebrating songs demonstrating excellence in melody, lyrics, harmony and structure.
- Rising Star Award with Amazon Music, celebrating exceptional songwriting talent and creativity, recognising songwriters at the tipping point of greatness.
- Best Original Film Score, recognising outstanding music written specifically for a feature film that enhances the visual content.
- Best Television Soundtrack, recognising outstanding music written specifically for a televised broadcast that enhances the visual content.
Entries are open until 16 January — read the full eligibility criteria and enter your music for consideration at The Ivors 2026.
Be sure, too, to check out all the information about The Ivors Summit in May, which will ‘bring together songwriters and global music industry leaders to focus on the future of music-making, creative rights, technology, the business of songwriting and more’.
Looking to perform on the Canadian festival circuit?
If that’s you, then there are two upcoming deadlines from our Festival Application Guide that you need to act on this month.
First up is the new artist showcase at the Toronto music festival and conference Departure, which will take place between 4-10 May. Successful applicants will perform at a top venue in the city, secure access to the conference and benefit from career-boosting artist-only events (including media training sessions, focused networking mixers and more). Applications to play at Departure close on 23 January.
In September, Highlands Music Festival will return to Palmer Rapids, Ontario for its 2026 edition. Artist submissions remain open until 31 January, with the festival asking for a brief written bio about your act and up to three audio/video examples of your work alongside other essential contact information.
Study songwriting at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance
Offering part-time courses in Liverpool, London and Leeds, the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance will once again be running its Introduction to Songwriting classes in 2026.
While the name of this 12-week course might imply that it is only suited to beginners, ICMP say that its teachings will also appeal to ‘songwriters who have written before and want to know what to do next’. In addition to lessons, students will receive weekly songwriting briefs and writing tasks, get the chance to present their original material and receive feedback and guidance from the class.
A place on this course starts at £399, but there is currently a 25% discount on this price until 5 January using the code NEWYEAREVE. The next London class begins on 6 January, while the Liverpool and Leeds classes each begin on 12 January.
