Registration for the thirteenth edition of the contest opens today.

 

Conad Jazz Contest is not just a competition: it is an important career launch offered by Conad in collaboration with Umbria Jazz to reward the talent of young jazz musicians between the ages of 18 and 28.

 

Bologna, March 18, 2026 – Conad Jazz Contest 2026 is underway , the 13th edition of one of the most sought-after jazz competitions for young musicians, a unique opportunity to showcase your music and perform on the prestigious stage of Umbria Jazz (Perugia, July 3-12, 2026).

 

Registration for the Conad Jazz Contest is officially open from today until May 27, 2026; participation is free and can be done directly on the website www.conadjazzcontest.it .

 

The competition is open to musicians between the ages of 18 and 28, who can register as soloists or as a band (up to eight members). To participate, participants must upload three jazz pieces, which will be evaluated by a panel of judges. Jazz enthusiasts will be able to listen to the tracks posted on the website for free, offering participants the opportunity to gain recognition and recognition right away.

 

Once registration closes, starting May 28th , the Technical Jury , chaired by Manuele Morbidini , director of the Umbria Jazz Orchestra and saxophonist and composer, will select nine of the ten finalists. The tenth finalist will be selected by the ” Popular Jury ,” made up of jazz enthusiasts and anyone who wishes to register and vote for their favorite musicians for free directly on the Contest website, accessed from computers and smartphones.

 

The 10 finalists thus selected will perform live in the final phase of the Contest on the coveted Umbria Jazz stage in front of the festival audience and the Artistic Jury , chaired by Stefano Bragatto , Director of Radio Monte Carlo, the official radio station of Umbria Jazz, who will decree the overall winner live on the radio at the end of the performances of all the finalists.

 

The first place winner will receive a series of prizes to support their musical career: a check for 5,000 euros, a tour between the summer of 2026 and the summer of 2027 with live performances on other prestigious jazz stages throughout the peninsula, and the digital distribution of the overall winner’s EP ( extended play) on all music streaming platforms by Universal Music Italia , which for the second year adds further prestige to the now consolidated initiative by Conad and Umbria Jazz.

 

“Supporting culture as a shared heritage is more important than ever. With the Conad Jazz Contest, which we have been promoting for 13 years, we want to give young musicians a concrete opportunity to express themselves and grow professionally,” says Francesco Avanzini, General Manager of Conad . “Jazz is a universal language capable of uniting people and nurturing talent: this is why we continue to invest in a project that contributes to the growth of young people and communities.”

 

Stefano Mazzoni, President of the Umbria Jazz Foundation , adds: “Umbria Jazz has always been synonymous with great jazz in Italy. Thanks to our ongoing and intense collaboration with Conad, we are proud to be able to give so many jazz talents the opportunity to make themselves known and grow, contributing not only to the cultural and artistic development of society, but also to the development of jazz itself, which evolves and innovates with them. ”

 

Information and rules are available at www.conadjazzcontest.it .

Registration is open from Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

Online voting starting May 28, 2026 .

 

 

 

Conad press office

Burson | Via Morimondo, 26 | 20143 Milan

Contact: Daniele Rurale | [email protected] | +39 346 501 1546
Sofia Lorenzini | [email protected] | +39 347 990 1134

 

Umbria Jazz Press Office

Umbria Jazz Participatory Foundation | Piazza Danti, 28 | 06122 Perugia | Tel. 075 5732432

Contact: Cristiano Romano | [email protected] | +39 338 3086249