Marking 10 years of the Christmas Songwriting Competition

Have you written any Christmas songs? Enter your festive compositions into the Christmas Songwriting Competition

This year’s winning songwriters will be jingling all the way to a trophy, radio exposure, and even a publishing deal

For many of us, Christmas isn’t just a holiday – it’s a genre of its own. From wistful winter favourites like Chris Rea’s Driving Home For Christmas to evergreen anthems such as Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You, the season has inspired some of the most enduring songs ever written. And now, for a limited time, there’s a chance for emerging and established songwriters alike to join that tradition.

If you think you’ve written the next seasonal staple, the 10th Annual Christmas Songwriting Competition is your chance to shine. The winning songwriter or songwriters will take home a coveted Christmas Songwriting trophy, a bundle of prizes, and the possibility of a songwriting contract with a major music publishing house. And that’s just the beginning. The top 15 finalists will have their tracks featured on the official Christmas/Holiday Compilation CD, which will be promoted to radio stations across the USA and Canada – a brilliant opportunity for emerging writers looking for industry exposure.

Last year’s top honours went to Ben Winship and Tim O’Brien for their wonderfully witty entry Santa Ate a Gummy. “This is a great honour to win the top prize… we are thrilled to have been selected,” the pair said after their win. Second place went to Austria’s Karin Bachner and Tobias M. Hoffmann with In The Mood For Christmas, while Jan Edwards, Lucy LeBlanc and Corey Lee Barker claimed third with Mingle Neath The Mistletoe. Fittingly for the season of togetherness, all three winners were collaborative co-writes.

The deadline to enter this year’s competition is 23 December 2025, and each entry costs $35. To find out more and submit your songs online, head to songwriting.net/xmas-sm

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