Enter the New Music Competition
Entries to the New Music Competition for 2026 are now open!
The New Music Competition has been a celebrated part of St Kilda Festival since 2007 and has hosted acts that have become some of the country’s most notable artists including Baker Boy, Missy Higgins, Client Liaison, and more.
New Music Competition entrants will get the chance to play the New Music Stage at St Kilda Festival in 2026, and to be in the running for cold hard cash and musical glory.
This year, we're scouring the country to find up to 10 talented emerging artists/groups.
The selected acts will perform a 30-minute set of original material at the forthcoming St Kilda Festival on Sunday, 15 February 2026, with the crowd favourite taking home:
- A $5,000 cash prize
- An invitation to perform on one of our key stages at St Kilda Festival in 2027
Applicants will be assessed on creative flair, quality, originality, and must be an unsigned act. Additionally, the panel will look to ensure that our finalist group speaks to a diverse representation of the musical spectrum, and that the finalists are the right fit for a festival setting.
Entries to the New Music Competition will close at 5 pm Wednesday 3 September 2025.
MUDRAT playing at St Kilda Festival 2025. Image by Josh Forsyth.
To be eligible, all members of the act/group must reside in Australia. Please read the full Terms & Conditions before completing your application.