SONGS songwriting competition enters the next round

“It's incredible to see the amazing talent that takes to the stage at SONGS every year. I would advise everyone to come and see the SONGS final at our SpardaWelt Eventcenter,” says Andreas Küchle, Head of Marketing at Sparda-Bank Baden-Württemberg.

"We are delighted to be able to offer SONGS again this year in collaboration with the Sparda-Bank Baden-Württemberg Foundation for Education and Social Affairs! Time and again, SONGS winners go on to study at the Popakademie, such as Eva Sauter, Myle, Enya, Ayla, and Piya. It's great that we can promote songwriting among young people in this way!" says Derek von Krogh, Artistic Director and Managing Director of Popakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Whether pop, rap, electro, or rock, as a duo, solo, or with a whole band—at “SONGS,” students from Baden-Württemberg get the chance to bring their own SONGS to the big stage. Students aged 11 to 21 can apply together with an institution, e.g., a school, music school, or youth center. The three best SONGS will receive prizes in kind, which will be used to equip the institutions with musical equipment. In addition, the winners will receive professional coaching at the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg. The Popakademie also offers a one-day vocal camp for all singers in the final.
At the SONGS final on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the SpardaWelt Eventcenter in Stuttgart, selected participants will present their submitted SONGS live in front of a jury of experts. A special guest will also perform.

For teachers and educational professionals, a training course on songwriting/producing will be offered on January 27, 2026. Registration and information about the training course for teachers can be found at songs@popakademie.de

The deadline for submissions is March 9th 2026: https://www.popakademie.de/de/dabei-sein/songs/

About the Education and Social Affairs Foundation of Sparda-Bank Baden-Württemberg eG
Cultural and sustainable engagement has always been an integral part of the corporate philosophy of Sparda-Bank, which has strong regional roots. The Education and Social Affairs Foundation is one of five foundations run by Sparda-Bank. It addresses social issues in the federal state. For many years, the foundation has been committed to social institutions and projects that care for children, young people, and people with disabilities and illnesses. The foundation does not see itself as a mere source of funding, but rather promotes networking between different actors and supports the common good through its own projects. In addition, the foundation is particularly committed to education-related projects that focus on topics such as promoting healthy eating, teaching media literacy, and promoting innovative learning methods.

About the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg: The Popakademie is a state-run higher education institution and center of excellence for the music and creative industries and their pop culture scenes. With its focus on popular music and the creative industries, it offers an academic education that is unique in Germany's public higher education landscape. www.popakademie.de