2026 YOUNG COMPOSER COMPETITION GUIDELINES

New Partnership Announcement!

EXPANDING PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH ACM
TNM is pleased to announce a bold new chapter for the 2026 Young Composer Competition (YCC), now presented in partnership with Access Contemporary Music (ACM). The purpose of the competition is twofold: to encourage exceptional young composers across the U.S. and to provide a prominent forum for their recognition.

New Performances

Beginning this year, both Division 1 and Division 2 First Place scores will receive professional performances in two cities—at the Tribeca New Music 2026 Festival in New York City and at Access Contemporary Music’s new venue, The CheckOut, in Chicago. This expanded bi-city platform marks an important milestone in our mission to elevate young composers, broaden their reach, and create meaningful real-world opportunities.

Honors Circle
Also new this year, all Honorable Mention scores—along with the First Place works—will be admitted into the YCC Honors Circle, a curated online library of selected compositions. This resource will be accessible to performers, ensembles, educators, curators, and producers seeking compelling new repertoire, providing increased visibility and discovery for emerging voices in contemporary music.



DEADLINE: The 2026 Competition deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026 at 11pm EST.  The guidelines are below.  
All applications must be submitted online.

DIVISION 1: Ages 22-35
Composers born from Jan. 1, 1990 through Dec. 31, 2003.

DIVISION 2: Ages 21 & under
Composers born after Dec. 31, 2003

1) Award and Performance
The First Prize-winning composer in each division will receive
•  a $1,000 cash award

•  one audio/video recording of the performance

•  a professional performance of the winning score on the Tribeca New Music 2026 Festival in New York City and at Access Contemporary Music’s venue, The CheckOut, in Chicago

• Honors Circle: New this year, Honorable Mention composers in each division will be included in the YCC Honors Circle, a curated online listing of selected works from the competition. The Honors Circle is intended as a resource for performers, ensembles, educators, and presenters seeking new repertoire.

These awards are presented at the sole discretion of the TNM Board of Directors.

2) Eligibility
•  All composers who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and meet the age requirements are eligible.
•  Note: Former Division winners of the Young Composer Competition are not eligible for the same Division. 

3) Submission Guidelines
•  Works may be written for solo, duo, trio, quartet, or quintet.
•  Instruments may include any combination of the following: flute (piccolo, alto flute), clarinet (bass clarinet), oboe (English horn), bassoon (contra bassoon), saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone), French horn, trumpet, trombone (bass trombone), tuba, percussion, guitar (acoustic, electric), accordion, harp, piano, violin, viola, cello, bass. 
•  Acoustic works that utilize electronic/computer accompaniment are also acceptable.      
•  Any combination of the above instruments is acceptable.  Note: The use of two or more of the same instruments is allowed, i.e., string quartet (two violins), brass quintet (two trumpets), flute quartet (four flutes), etc. Traditional doublings are allowed: flute/piccolo/alto flute; clarinet/bass clarinet; etc.
• All music must be no more than fifteen minutes in duration.
•  Works that have been professionally published by an established, reputable publisher are ineligible.  Self-published works by the composer are acceptable.
•  Composers are allowed a maximum of four entries for the competition.

4) Submission Items 
•  Legible full score in PDF format (do not submit parts)
•  An audio recording of the piece as an MP3 upload or URL web link -- A live performance or studio recording is best. (An audio recording of a computer realization is acceptable if no live performance or studio recording is available. Do not upload MIDI files.) 
•  Composer biography of no more than 250 words with current address, e-mail address, and phone number in PDF format
•  Program notes about each piece you submit, consisting of no more than 250 words

5) Application Fee and Deadline
•  The application fee is $35.00 per work.  Application fees are non-refundable.  (maximum of 4 applications)
•  Payable via PayPal or Credit Card
•  All entries must be submitted online by 11PM EST, Friday, January 9, 2026. 

The winning composition will be announced on www.TribecaNewMusic.org website on February 20, 2026.
You may e-mail questions to: TribecaNewMusic@gmail.com
Registration opens October 1, 2025.