Open Programme Submissions 2026

The Lancaster Jazz Festival open programme is open to all artists without restriction.

At Lancaster Jazz Festival we want to promote brilliant musicians from the breadth of contemporary jazz. We are interested in promoting a diverse programme of events from around the UK, which includes new works, genre pushing acts, emerging artists and projects, and cross art form collaborations.

Lancaster Jazz Festival has a commitment to equity and inclusion which includes offering a platform for under represented groups in our industry. We would like to represent more black, asian and global majority artists within our programme, and we encourage applications from artists from these backgrounds.

We work to proactively address accessibility in our venues and festival delivery, working collaboratively with our community and artists with additional access requirements. Review our accessibility and safe spaces statement.

Please read these guidance notes before filling out our short form:

We will listen to 2 tracks from every submission. Please send us direct links to where we can listen to whole tracks online. Please make sure the tracks are representative of the act you are applying for, especially if you are applying for a new project.

We will ask you to tell us about your music. We want to hear what excites you about this music and why you are playing it, why you think it is great – a couple of sentences will do.

Please note – we have limited venues with access to an acoustic piano. If you are applying for a project for which a acoustic piano is essential, please make that clear within your application.

Deadline for applications is the midnight Sunday 15th February 2026. We aim to be in touch with everyone who has applied by the middle of April.

If you have any questions, have any difficulties using the form, or require this form in another format, then please email shout@lancasterjazz.com.

To be sure you receive our communications, please add our domain @lancasterjazz.com to your safe-senders list to avoid missing any emails from us.

Many thanks and we look forward to exploring your music,

The Lancaster Jazz Festival Team

Apply to play at the Lancaster Jazz Festival