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

Imagine Peace

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest and GRAMMY Music Education Coalition present GRAMMY WEEK!

1/21/20 - The High Loves have been selected as the winner of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest special GRAMMY Week contest!

The High Loves are a Toronto based indie rock four piece. Inspired by the likes of eternal greats The Beatles, and more recent indie darlings such as The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, this band is on a mission -- to bring good, sensible, pop music to everyone you know.

The band will perform live during AFA Night @ Hex Brand DTLA on January 23rd and take home a prize pack valued at over $3K with featured gear and prizing from Ace Hotel, Audio-Technica, Copperpeace, Focusrite, Genelec, Hex Brand, The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, K&M, Neutrik, OWC, Reason Studios, Sonicbids and Yamaha

Each entry requires the following elements:

	One Song five (5) minutes or less (mp3, CD or cassette)
	A lyric sheet -- no lyrics necessary for instrumental compositions
	A payment -- $30.00 per entry
	A completed application

Read the Rules & Regulations carefully before entering.