EnterENTER

Entries are open for the 2027 Cambridge Band Competition, the UK’s longest-running band competition. Solo artists, bands and every kind of act with a Cambridge connection can enter, in two categories: Under 18 and Over 18. Send us two tracks by 6pm on Sunday 10 January. The final is on Saturday 8 May, and the winner plays Strawberry Fair.

How to enter

1. Read the rules, pick your category, then fill in the entry form: your act, line-up, how you meet the Cambridge connection, and links to two tracks and a photo (SoundCloud, YouTube, Dropbox or similar — no file uploads).
2. We listen to everything. Heat line-ups are drawn from the entries and announced on this site and our socials.
3. If you’re picked for a heat, the team will contact your primary contact with your date, venue and the details.

Rules

The short version. The full Terms & Conditions are what count.

• Who can enter: solo artists, bands and other musical acts. One entry per act; musicians can play in more than one act, and previous entrants, finalists and winners are welcome back.
• Cambridge connection: at least half your performing members must normally live within 30 miles (straight line) of Market Square, Cambridge, or currently study at a school, college or university in Cambridge.
• Age categories: Under 18s if more than half your performers are under 18 on Saturday 6 March 2027; otherwise Over 18s (a 50/50 split goes in Over 18s). Any act with under-18 performers needs a responsible adult contact and must follow the safeguarding arrangements.
• Your music: two links to recordings (streaming or file-sharing, no uploads or email). Covers are allowed, but originality is judged, so send originals if you can.
• Judging: a listening panel scores technical ability, innovation and originality, and the Strawberry Factor (out of 30). Live heats add stage presence.
• To the final: the judges pick one act from each heat, plus one audience favourite across all the heats combined.
• Line-up changes after you enter need the organisers’ OK and can’t make the act ineligible.
• Be decent: acts can be removed for abusive, unsafe or disruptive behaviour, on the night or online.

Terms & Conditions (PDF of the Terms & Conditions, 175 KB) · Privacy Notice (PDF of the Privacy Notice, 165 KB)

Questions? bandcomp@strawberry-fair.org.uk

Choose your category

Go by the ages of your performers on the first heat, Saturday 6 March 2027.

Key dates