Call for Entries: Leiria International Music Composition Competition 2025
Composers across Belfast are invited to apply for the third edition of the Leiria International Music Composition Competition.
Held annually in Leiria, Portugal – a UNESCO Creative City of Music, like Belfast – the competition is designed to promote contemporary music creation and build connections between local musicians and emerging composers worldwide.
The 2025 edition is open in two categories, jazz and classical musical, each with specific requirements:
- Works must be 6–8 minutes long and respond to the theme.
- Jazz entries should be written for Jazz Orchestra.
- Classical entries should be written for Wind Ensemble.
There are monetary prizes of €2,000 (first place) and €1,000 (second place) in each category. Winning works will be performed as part of the UNESCO Leiria Creative City of Music Festival in 2026.
Applicants must be composers born after 1st January 1983 and the deadline for applications is 3rd November 2025.
Full guidelines and regulations are available
