Sonora 2026 Music Competition Opens for Canary Islands Artists
Registrations are now open until February 28th for the 2026 Sonora music competition, offering Canary Islands artists and bands increased prize money and performance opportunities at major festivals.
The Sonora music competition for artists and bands from the Canary Islands is now open for registrations for its 2026 edition. You can sign up starting Monday, December 1st, until February 28th. This competition offers a fresh chance for solo artists and new musical projects of all styles to showcase their talent. It celebrates creativity, new ideas, and variety in music. To register, visit www.sonora2026.com.
Any band or artist living in the Canary Islands can apply, no matter their musical style – whether it's urban, pop, rock, singer-songwriter, world music, folk, jazz, contemporary, experimental, or electronic. The live finals will take place on April 17th and 18th in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
For 2026, Sonora is stepping up its support for artists' careers by increasing its prize money and awards. This aims to help winning projects grow professionally.
The top prize, Sonora Gold, is worth 6,000 euros. This money can be used for recording music or promotion. The winner also gets to perform at the Sonora Festival in October 2026 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, sharing the stage with well-known national and international artists. The second prize, Sonora Silver, offers 3,000 euros to help artists create and promote their work. The third prize, Sonora Bronze, provides 1,500 euros for a recording or promotional project.
Additionally, all 10 finalists who perform live in the Sonora final can receive the Sonora Passport. This pass guarantees them performance slots at major music festivals across the Canary Islands, including Sonidos Líquidos (Lanzarote), Phe Festival (Tenerife), Boreal (Tenerife), and Hero Fest (El Hierro), among others.
Josué Iñiguez, the Councilor for Culture of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, describes Sonora as "a commitment to new talent and to the cultural life of the city and the entire Archipelago." He sees it as a cultural driver, a way to give artists exposure, and a key meeting point for all types of music and generations. Iñiguez adds that Sonora "naturally includes the shared spirit of participation, variety, and diverse representation of the multiculturalism that defines Las Palmas de Gran Canaria." He also notes that these qualities are "characteristics with which the city presents itself as a candidate for European Capital of Culture."
Santi Gutiérrez, the executive producer, says this new structure strengthens Sonora's dedication to offering "real, organized, and lasting opportunities to those creating the music of the future in the Canary Islands." He believes public support "confirms Sonora's role as a launchpad and a vital gathering place for new artists. It combines excitement, exposure, and artistic quality, making it a platform that can boost careers, encourage musical diversity, and bridge gaps between generations and different locations."