BBC Young Composer 2025-26

BBC Young Composer, the BBC’s biennial competition for aspiring composers aged 12 to 18, has officially opened its 6-month application window

Launched in 1998, BBC Young Composer seeks to discover, nurture, and showcase young musical talent from across the UK, and since its inception has provided a platform for hundreds of young creators to pursue their musical and professional ambitions.

The BBC welcomes passionate musicmakers from all backgrounds, genres, and levels of technical ability, and applicants can use any instruments or compositional methods they prefer.

Entries will be judged in three categories: Lower Junior (ages 12-14), Upper Junior (ages 15-16), and Senior (ages 17-18), and compositions will be evaluated on their originality, creativity, and compositional ideas. 6 winners will receive a place in a tailored development programme where they will be mentored by a professional composer and work on a composing project, which will culminate in a live performance or broadcast opportunity with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Recent alumni have gone on to secure major commissions with the BBC Proms, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The deadline to submit entries online is 4pm on Thursday 25th September 2025. The winners will be announced on the BBC Young Composer website by 8th December 2025.

For more information on how to enter, and extra composition resources for both teachers and young people, please visit bbc.co.uk/youngcomposer.