NATIONWIDE – High school students across the country are invited to submit original compositions to the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, a major opportunity to develop and showcase new works for the stage.
The competition is a partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) and seeks to celebrate the nation’s artistic heritage by spotlighting musical theater.
The 2025-2026 Songwriting Challenge will honor the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the United States of America. It invites young songwriters to create songs that celebrate the rich tapestry of American stories, highlighting unique voices, imaginations, and musical sensibilities that will help shape the future of this uniquely American art form.
The challenge is an opportunity for students to develop and showcase musical compositions that could eventually become part of a full-scale musical theater production.
The submission window for Draft One is open now. Interested high school students must submit their work by February 2, 2026.
To learn more about the program, submission guidelines, and how to get involved, students and educators are encouraged to visit NAMT’s website.
