Amhrán na Laoch 2026 is part of this year's Irish Music Month.
Amhrán na Laoch Songwriting Competition has been confirmed for Irish Music Month 2026.
Hot Press and the IBI have announced Amhrán na Laoch 2026 – an Irish language songwriting competition, which is supported by An Post – as part of this year's Irish Music Month.
Amhrán na Laoch was won last time out by Huartan, from Belfast, with ‘Bean Udaí Thall’. Huartan went on to win the Live Act of the Year Award at the NI Music Prize and also took the BBC Introducing Northern Irish Artist of the Year Award at the end of 2025.
Amhrán na Laoch has been singled out for praise by the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly.
“As President of Ireland, may I send my very best wishes to Hot Press and to all those local radio stations and artists participating in this year’s Irish Music Month, it is vitally important that our broadcasters support our local Irish artists and I am very grateful for the commitment which each of the stations involved are showing to Irish musicians through this initiative.”
Amhrán na Laoch is a great chance to further highlight the potential of the national language in popular and contemporary music.
Gael Linn have also joined forces with Hot Press and the IBI, to release a recording of the winning song as part of the prize.
How to enter:
- Entries for Amhrán na Laoch should be sent directly to Hot Press.
- The closing date for entries to Amhrán na Laoch is Friday, 18th September 2026.
- Songwriters or artists wishing to enter must get a recording or a demo done, and upload that song or track via the special Amhrán na Laoch entry form on hotpress.com.
- Songs must be the original work of the songwriter, artist or band that submits the entry.
The rules stipulate that at least 50% of the song must be in Irish.
Cuir isteach do amhrán anois,” a dúirt sé. "Mura bhfuil tú istigh, ní féidir leat a bhuachan.
Enter your song now. If you’re not in, you can’t win!
MORE ON IRISH MUSIC MONTH
Irish Music Month takes place in September and October across 22 participating local radio stations, covering every blade of grass in Ireland.
If your song gets selected as Amhrán na Laoch, you win:
- Airplay support across 22 independent Irish radio stations
- Guaranteed coverage in and support from Hot Press
- €2,500 prize money
- Music industry mentoring & support
- Mixing, mastering and release of a single through the Gael Linn label
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