John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Enter the Contest

2026 Contest Schedule

2026 Session I - NOW CLOSED
Open - February 17, 2026
Deadline - June 30, 2026 - 11:59pm PT
Winner Announcement -
September 1, 2026
12 Grand Prize Winners (one in each category) and 36 Finalists (three in each category)

2026 Session II - NOW OPEN
Open - July 1, 2026
Deadline - December 31, 2026 - 11:59pm PT
Winner Announcement -
March 1, 2027
12 Grand Prize Winners (one in each category) and 36 Finalists (three in each category)

2026 Song of the Year
Winner Announcement -
July, 2026
One of the 2026 Grand Prize winners will win Song of the Year and $20,000

2026 Rules & Regulations

Each song submitted must be contestant's original work. Songs may not exceed five (5) minutes in length. Songs may have multiple co-writers, but please designate one name only on the application. Contestant may submit as many songs in as many categories as he/she wishes, but each entry requires a separate audio file uploaded in MP3 or AAC format. (Entrance fee is non-refundable. The JLSC is not responsible for faulty file uploads accompanying online entries.)

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is conducting 2 contest sessions during 2026: Session I and Session II. Twelve (12) Grand Prize winning songs from each Session (1 from each category) will receive a prize package consisting of musical instruments and home studio gear from the industry’s top manufacturers. Thirty-six (36) runners-up Finalists (3 in each of the 12 categories) in each Session will also receive prizes. One (1) Grand Prize winning song will be selected by judges to be named "Song of the Year" and will receive a check for $20,000.
The Grand Prize winners and runners-up Finalists will be announced simultaneously on September 1 (Session I) and March 1 (Session II). Song of the Year will be announced in July.

Contest is open to amateur and professional songwriters. Employees of JLSC, their families, subsidiaries, and affiliates are not eligible.

Winners will be chosen by a select panel of judges comprised of noted songwriters, producers, and music industry professionals. Songs will be judged based on melody, composition, originality and lyrics (when applicable). The quality of performance and production will not be considered. Prizes will be awarded jointly to all authors of any song; division of prizes is responsibility of winners. Void where prohibited. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. The JLSC reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value.

Winners will be notified by email and must sign and return an affidavit of eligibility/recording rights/publicity release within 14 days of notification date. The affidavit will state that winner's song is original work and he/she holds all rights to song. Failure to sign and return such affidavit within 14 days or provision of false/inaccurate information therein will result in immediate disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Affidavits for winners under 18 years of age at time of award must be countersigned by parent or legal guardian. Affidavits subject to verification by JLSC and its agents. Entry constitutes permission to use winner's names, likenesses, and voices for future advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation.

Winner Announcements: Session I announced on or prior to September 1, 2026. Session II announced on or prior to March 1, 2027. Announcements will be sent to the email address provided by each entrant and will also be posted on jlsc.com, no other notification will be given. The $20,000 "Song of the Year" will be announced in July 2026. For more information contact info@jlsc.com.

Each entry requires the following elements:
	One song, five (5) minutes or less, uploaded in MP3 or AAC format (12MB or less)
	A lyric sheet -- no lyrics necessary for instrumental compositions
	A payment -- $30.00 per song