Sparks And Wiry Cries: 10th annual songSLAM competition

sparksLIVE 2026
February 21 - 10th annual songSLAM competition
The Sparks & Wiry Cries songSLAM is a unique and energizing community event for composer/performer teams to premiere new art songs and compete for cash prizes. Fashioned after poetry slams and storytelling events, teams of composers and performers compete for $2,000 in audience-awarded cash prizes with new art song premieres.
With the success of the last four years’ added virtual component, we will once again incorporate both recorded and live elements into the 2026 NYC songSLAM. For this hybrid format, all teams will have their entry professionally recorded on February 15 & 16 and all teams will perform in the live songSLAM event.
On February 21st, each team will present a new song of no more than 5 minutes for voice and piano, in any language, for the live voting audience, who—in the poetry slam tradition—will then vote on their favorite and award $2,000 in prize money as follows:
$1,000 for first place
$600 for second place
$400 for third place
Registration opens on Monday, November 17, at 6pm ET on a first-come, first-served basis.