John Lennon Songwriting Contest

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Past Winners
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

2026 Contest Schedule

2026 Session I - NOW CLOSED
Open - February 17, 2026
Deadline - June 30, 2026 - 11:59pm PT
Winner Announcement -
September 1, 2026
12 Grand Prize Winners (one in each category) and 36 Finalists (three in each category)

2026 Session II - NOW OPEN
Open - July 1, 2026
Deadline - December 31, 2026 - 11:59pm PT
Winner Announcement -
March 1, 2027
12 Grand Prize Winners (one in each category) and 36 Finalists (three in each category)

2026 Song of the Year
Winner Announcement -
July, 2026
One of the 2026 Grand Prize winners will win Song of the Year and $20,000

Imagine Peace

Song of the Year	Lennon Awards	Grand Prize Winners	Finalists
		Session I	Session I
		Session II	Session II

2023 Grand Prize Winners - Session I
The Session I Grand Prize Winners are listed below.

Children's

Little Burrowing Owl "Little Burrowing Owl"
by Mr. Elephant & De La Torre
Oakland, CA

Country

Halloween on Xmas Eve "Halloween on Xmas Eve"
by Anna Vaus
Nashville, TN

Electronic

The Golden Hour "The Golden Hour"
by Angie Chan
Melbourne, Australia

Folk

Tunnel's End "Tunnel's End"
by Jared Rabin
Chicago, IL

Gospel/Inspirational

I'll Take Jesus "I'll Take Jesus"
by Steven Huff
Cincinnati, OH

Hip-Hop

Shoebox "Shoebox"
by Akeem Loves You
Los Angeles, CA

Jazz

Going That Counts (For Ella) "Going That Counts (For Ella)"
by Ori Dagan
Toronto, Canada

Latin

Amor Minimal "Amor Minimal"
by Cancamusa
Mexico City, Mexico

Pop

Call Your Friends "Call Your Friends"
by FLAVIA
Dublin, Ireland

R&B

Don't Say "Don't Say"
by AILYM
Seoul, Korea

Rock

Little High Little Low "Little High Little Low"
by The Royal Foundry
Edmonton, Canada

World

She's Calling "She's Calling"
by Holly Riva
Sydney, Australia