Registration for the Dutch Jazz Competition 2026 opens this week. Talented Dutch jazz and crossover bands (with an average age of 35 or younger) can apply until November 15 by clicking here.
For over 25 years, the biennial Dutch Jazz Competition has served as the national platform for emerging talent. Its goal is to offer talented musicians—Dutch or based in the Netherlands—the opportunity to showcase their work to a wider audience, the press and the music industry.
Finals Night at the BIMHUIS
This year features a streamlined, festive format. As always, music that has been submitted will be judged “blind” by a professional jury, who will then select five bands from all the entries. Every application therefore counts directly towards a potential spot in the final. The finalists will perform on Saturday, December 19, at the BIMHUIS in Amsterdam—a single evening where all the professional prizes are awarded and the live audience determines the winner of the Audience Award.
In addition to a paid performance, participating in the Dutch Jazz Competition offers the chance to win a comprehensive package of practical prizes:
- Best Band: €7,500 for studio recordings and a festival tour (including North Sea Jazz)
- Audience Award: €3,000 for studio recordings and a performance at the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam
- Best Composition (across all registered bands): €3,000, with the winning composition performed during the final at the BIMHUIS
The Dutch Jazz Competition is made possible with the support of Sena, the Cultuurfonds, the Van Bijleveltstichting, the JCP Stichting, Buma Cultuur and the Hendrik Muller Fonds.
