Contest

Strefa Kultury Wrocław invites to participate in one of Poland’s most prestigious and oldest jazz Contests – Wojtek Siwek 2026 Jazz Individuality Contest.

1. The Contest is open and the following performers are allowed to enter it: bands, musicians: instrumentalists and vocalists who meet the following criteria:

• Are 30 years old or younger by 19/03/2026;
• Previous Grand Prix or individual prize winners of Jazz on the Odra are excluded.;
• At least half of the members of performers have the Polish nationality;

Musicians may participate in only one application; multiple entries involving the same person will result in the rejection of all related applications.

2. The Participant, in order to enter the Contest, must provide for evaluation by the festival’s Selection Committee a recording of 3 pieces (total duration approx.. 20 min) in wave or mp3 format (via CD, USB, or email). One piece must be based on a blues or rhythm changes form. Submissions must include a signed application form, photograph(s), and a biographical note (in an electronic version). Physical media will not be returned.

3. It is allowed to replace only one member of a band qualified for the Contest Final with a musician who was not a member of such a band named in the application and present on the recording. Changes involving more members are permitted only in documented “force majeure” cases..

4. The application along with musical material must be sent to the Organiser’s registered office address or in electronic form at the following Organiser’s email address: konkursjno@strefakultury.pl – please make a note: “KONKURS NA INDYWIDUALNOŚĆ JAZZOWĄ im. Wojtka Siwka (Wojtek Siwek JAZZ INDIVIDUALITY CONTEST)” – in doc, docx, pdf or jpg and wave or mp3 format. The application to be submitted by the Participant must be accompanied by an application form attached to these Regulations, which must be completed and signed by all members of a band (the form can be downloaded from the website: https://jazznadodra.pl/konkurs/regulamin/ ). Electronic applications must include scans of documents signed by all band members.

5. The application must be delivered to the organisers’ registered office not later than by 19/03/2026. The date of submitting an application is the date on which a letter is delivered or an email containing an application is received on the Organiser’s server.

6. Based on applications received, the Selection Committee will select the Finalists, who will be notified of the selection by the Organiser by 08/04/2026.

7. The Contest Final will take place as part of a concert to be held on 22/04/2026, at a venue designated by the Organiser, according to the program of the 62th Jazz on the Odra Festival in Wrocław, during a concert at which the Finalists will be entitled to stage a public performance. The Organiser reserves the right to move the event online or cancel it due to legal, safety, or health restrictions.

8. The Organisers will agree on the rules for performance and the order it is to be staged individually with qualified artists.

9. The Contest performance, to be judged by the Jury, should not be longer than 20 minutes. The Jury has the right to interrupt a performance of a participant during the Contest if the time limit is exceeded.

10. The Jury’s decision will be announced and prizes will be awarded on 22/04/2026 during the concert held as part of the 62th Jazz on the Odra Festival in Wrocław. The winner of the Grand Prix Contest Prize is further required to put on an approx. 30 minutes performance during concert of the The Winner of the Wojtek Siwek 2026 Jazz Individuality Grand Prix Contest Prize on 22/04/2026. No remuneration will be paid for participation in this concert – it is covered by the Contest prize.

11. The Wojtek Siwek 2026 Jazz Individuality Grand Prix Contest Prize awarded by the Jury of the festival is funded by the President of Wrocław and amounts to PLN 25,000.

12. In addition, the Jury will hand out titular awards to bands or members of bands, or for compositions that received recognition of the Jury, however, the Jury may award additional prizes in kind and/or cash prizes. The Jury has the right to divide, at their sole discretion, cash prizes and give awards other than the Grand Prix prize.

13. The amount of prizes will be announced by the Jury in its verdict.

14. The Participants of the final will be provided with a technical support, a standard backline (drums, 2 amps, Gran Touch), accommodation (participants only), and free entry to festival concerts (subject to seat availability).

15. The Organiser stipulates that it is not possible to perform with a recorded backing track (the use of effects played by a computer and the use of loop machines are allowed).

16. The Organisers will not reimburse travel and transportation costs.

17. At the request of the Organiser, the Participants of the Contest will take part in free workshops conducted by professionals – stars of the Festival. The workshop, as decided by the Organiser, may be organised online or cancelled.

18. The Participants of the Contest grant, free of charge, to the festival organisers the rights to record, broadcast, and use their performance and image for promotional and archival purposes.

19. Submitting an application for participation in the Contest means the acceptance of the provisions contained in the Regulations. The detailed Regulations of the Contest are available at the Organisers’ office and on the following website: www.jazznadodra.pl.

20. The Organiser reserves the right to make amendments to the Regulations, in particular in cases where the organisation of the Contest under the rules set forth therein is hindered or precluded for reasons beyond the control of the Organiser, including health and safety regulations.