As autumn sets in, all kinds of opportunities for musicians are starting to appear again. Here are the key application deadlines to keep in mind right now.

We'd of course recommend signing up for Iceland Music's newsletter to get opportunities like these straight to your inbox. We also encourage event organizers and others to drop us a line at hello@icelandmusic.is if you'd like our help spreading the word about exciting opportunities!

Leiðir

LEIÐIR is a course run by INNI Music aimed at emerging composers and music producers in Iceland, with the goal of strengthening and supporting voices that have had limited space in the music world.

The course will run from October 2026 to February 2027 and includes four half-day workshops, regular sessions with mentors, collaborative projects, a mid-point progress review, and a final event in spring where the results will be showcased.

LEIÐIR gives participants the chance to learn directly from professionals working at the highest level of the music industry. The sessions will be held at INNI in Reykjavík.

Applications are due by October 2nd.

More information available here >>>

Classical:NEXT

The music festival and conference Classical:NEXT 2027 has opened applications for participation in the festival, taking place May 11–14 in Katowice, Poland.

Classical:NEXT is one of the most important international gatherings for those working in classical and contemporary music, offering a unique platform for musicians from around the world to present themselves and their projects and connect with industry professionals.

Applications can be submitted in four categories:

Showcase concerts – Soloists and smaller ensembles can apply to present new work through concerts at the festival.

Club showcases – DJs, soloists and smaller ensembles can apply to be part of the evening club programme, which opens the door to a wider range of musical genres.

Conference sessions – The conference is looking for talks that offer fresh perspectives and practical knowledge in the field of classical and contemporary music.

Project pitches – Larger projects, bigger ensembles and performing arts projects can apply to present their project. Each project gets 9 minutes to present with video and answer questions.

Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, October 9th. Further information is available on the festival's website: https://classicalnext.org/

Tallinn Music Week

The industry festival Tallinn Music Week takes place April 8–11, 2027, with the deadline to apply to perform at the festival on October 26th.

Tallinn Music Week (TMW) calls itself "a festival of tomorrow's music, art and ideas" and is a key event for professionals in the European music and culture industry. The festival has been held annually in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, since 2009.

Apply here

SPOT Festival

SPOT is one of the biggest and oldest industry festivals in Scandinavia, held annually in Aarhus. The next festival takes place May 7–8, 2027, and opens for applications on October 1st.

The festival's key focus is discovery. It mainly books young, up-and-coming musicians, creating a platform for the voices that will go on to shape the music of the future.

Apply here

The Great Escape

The Great Escape is calling for applications from artists interested in performing at next year's festival, taking place May 12–15. TGE is an annual industry festival in the seaside city of Brighton, UK, and the largest of its kind in the country.

Application deadline: February 15, 2027

Apply here

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