To prevent financial circumstances stopping composers from having their work recognised, we've introduced The Ivors Academy Composer Awards Bursary.
It will help composers who face financial barriers to enter their work for consideration for The Ivors Composer Awards.
Who can apply
You may be eligible if you are:
- A composer working in any genre or discipline
- A member of The Ivors Academy, including free Discovery membership
- Facing financial circumstances that would otherwise prevent you from entering
The bursary covers the awards entry fee for eligible Core and Discovery members. It is free to join as a Discovery member.
Bursary applications close at 5pm Friday 3 July. Award entries close a week later at 5pm Friday 10 July.
For 2026, Professional members can enter work for free, Core members receive a 50% discount, and Discovery members receive a 10% discount on the £100 per work entry fee. To be eligible for this reduction, entries must be submitted by a member of The Ivors Academy and not by a third party.
Entry fees partially cover the operating costs of running an independent awards programme including the entry site, adjudication and overheads.
Introducing two new awards
We have introduced two new awards in the gift of The Ivors Academy at The Ivors Composer Awards recognising composers across all genres and disciplines:
Breakthrough, recognising an emerging composer or composing partnership at a pivotal moment in their career.
Composer of the Year, celebrating an outstanding body of music premiered during the eligibility period.
They join Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, Outstanding Contribution to Music and Innovation as awards presented in the gift of The Ivors Academy.
If you know a composer who qualifies within the rules, you can submit a nomination for free.
