DCJazzPrix™ is an annual international band competition that provides a unique professional and adjudication platform for emerging jazz bands, outside of traditional academic and commercial arenas. Unlike other performance-based contests, DCJazzPrix emphasizes the essential interactions between band members and recognizes these relationships as the core pursuit of the jazz aesthetic. As of December 5, 2025, there is no age restriction.

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Emerging jazz bands from across the globe are encouraged to apply for our premier international competition. All applicants will have their music heard by a prestigious jury of jazz luminaries. Three finalist bands will be selected to travel to Washington, DC, to compete in the DCJazzPrix Finals before an enthusiastic audience during the annual DC JazzFest. DCJF will provide a travel stipend to each band.

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The winning band will receive:

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• A $15,000 grand prize; second and third place prizes of $3,000 will also be awarded

• A year-long association with the DC Jazz Festival for the band

• Customized business development and career impact services for each member of the band

• Extensive publicity support

• A highly visible 2026 DC JazzFest engagement with commensurate compensation

 

Definition of “Emerging Band”

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DCJazzPrix is designed for emerging professional jazz bands in the early stages of building national or international visibility, for whom participation in the competition and DC Jazz Festival would provide significant career acceleration.

For the purposes of this competition, an “emerging band” is defined by career stage, not age. Eligible bands typically demonstrate:

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• Early-to-mid career trajectory as a working band (not just as individual sidemen)

• Limited but growing national/international exposure

• Developing—not firmly established—brand recognition in the jazz ecosystem

• Clear potential for career lift through festival visibility, professional development, and industry support
   

​Bands considered beyond the emerging stage, who would be ineligible for this competition, include those that:​

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• Maintain a long-standing, widely recognized artistic profile

• Consistently headline major festivals or large venues

• Have extensive national or international touring as a band

• Possess a substantial, widely distributed recording catalog with sustained media attention

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In close cases, applicants and panelists should consider:
 

“Would most presenters, peers, and critics still experience this band as a discovery?”

If not, the group is likely beyond the emerging category for DCJazzPrix.

 

Application Deadline​: March 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

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Sponsors

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DCJazzPrix is made possible by the generous support of The Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation.

The DCJazzPrix award is made possible by the generous support of the Gillon Charitable Fund and the Galena-Yorktown Foundation.

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Interested in learning more about sponsoring our programs like DC JazzPrix? Contact Kelly Silver at kelly@dcjazzfest.org.