Scotland’s National Music Prize Opens Applications For Award To Support Newcomers With Package Worth Up To £10,000
Scotland’s search for new music talent has launched with the country’s national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, today opening applications for The Sound of Young Scotland Award, with a prize package worth up to £10,000 available.
Artists can apply for The Sound of Young Scotland Award for FREE via www.sayaward.com/thesoundofyoungscotland until midnight on Friday 21st August.
The next generation of Scottish talent can apply to win a funding package worth up to £10,000 to support the creation of their debut album, as well as gain the coveted title of the Sound of Young Scotland at this year’s SAY Award Ceremony in Dundee. Produced by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), the award is supported by the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland and Youth Music, with manufacturing support from Seabass Vinyl.
The prize fund includes; cash grants totalling £8,000 to cover studio and production costs, a performance slot at 2027’s SAY Award Ceremony, 2 hours of one-to-one legal advice from industry experts via Harper Macleod LLP, up to 250 vinyl pressings of their debut album from Seabass Vinyl, dedicated 121 sessions for the winner from Creative Scotland via the Youth Music Initiative, a bespoke art prize from The SAY Award Design Commission, and more. Aimed at supporting young artists to create their debut album, the Sound of Young Scotland winner will be announced at 2026’s SAY Award Ceremony in Dundee’s Caird Hall on 5th November.
The Sound of Young Scotland Award is now in its sixth year, having supported and championed some of the country’s brightest emerging talent in their music careers. Previous winners include Alice Faye (2025), No Windows (2023), LVRA (2021) and more.
To be eligible for the award, artists must be: 18 – 25, have never released an album and be a ‘Scottish’ artist (born in Scotland, 50% of core members born in Scotland, or have made Scotland their creative base for the past two years). View full eligibility criteria and prize fund conditions at www.sayaward.com
Morag Macdonald, Youth Music Initiative Manager at Creative Scotland said, “The Sound of Young Scotland Award is an unbelievable opportunity to springboard a young artist’s career and sample the depth of talent in Scotland’s young musicians today. As well as the winner receiving financial support to confidently stride into the next steps of their development, those on the shortlist will be offered specialist advice from Creative Scotland.”
A cross-genre judging panel of 11 previous SAY Award nominees will review eligible Sound of Young Scotland Award submissions, whittling applicants down to five. The five nominees will be announced alongside The SAY Award Shortlist, before the judging panel reconvenes to choose the final winner.
The Sound of Young Scotland Award is supported by the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland, Youth Music and Seabass Vinyl, with the aim of stimulating and supporting the future of Scottish music. The Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative is administered by Creative Scotland and aims to provide access to music-making opportunities for children and young people who may not normally have the chance to participate. Youth Music is the country’s leading young people’s music charity, believing that every young person should have the chance to make, learn and earn in music. Seabass Vinyl is Scotland’s first vinyl pressing plant; an independent, family-owned business, which manufactures records from their factory in East Lothian, with an emphasis on quality and sustainability.
The Sound of Young Scotland Award winner will also receive a bespoke prize created by a Dundee based creator via The SAY Award Design Commission.
One of the biggest nights in Scotland’s music calendar, The SAY Award Ceremony will return to Dundee’s Caird Hall on Thursday 5th November 2026 to celebrate its 15th year, following a hugely successful inaugural event in the city which saw Kai Reesu take the top prize. Kai Reesu will return to the Caird Hall to perform as part of this year’s Ceremony in front of over 1,500 fans and industry professionals, alongside 2025 Sound of Young Scotland winner Alice Faye. Early-bird tickets for 2026’s SAY Award Ceremony are now on sale via www.sayaward.com
The SAY Award is a Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) production. The SAY Award 2026 is delivered in partnership with Fettercairn, Creative Scotland, Leisure & Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council, UNESCO City of Design Dundee, Seabass Vinyl, PPL, HMV, FOPP, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, Youth Music, Apex Hotels, Malmaison and Music Declares Emergency.
Previous winners of The SAY Award include; Kai Reesu ‘KOMPROMAT Vol.i’ (2025), redolent ‘dinny greet’ (2024), Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’ (2023), Fergus McCreadie ‘Forest Floor’ (2022), Mogwai ‘As The Love Continues‘ (2021), Nova ‘Re-Up’ (2020), Auntie Flo ‘Radio Highlife’ (2019), Young Fathers ‘Cocoa Sugar’ (2018), Sacred Paws ‘Strike A Match’ (2017), Anna Meredith ‘Varmints’ (2016), Kathryn Joseph ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012).
Now in its sixth year, previous winners of the Modern Scottish Classic Award are: KT Tunstall ‘Eye to the Telescope’ (2025), Martyn Bennett ‘Grit’ (2024), Paolo Nutini ‘These Streets’ (2023), Cocteau Twins ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ (2022) and Frightened Rabbit ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ (2021).
Previous winners of the Sound of Young Scotland Award are: Alice Faye (2025), Dillon Barrie (2024), No Windows (2023), Berta Kennedy (2022), LVRA (2021).
Follow The SAY Award on social media across Instagram @sayaward, Facebook @SAYaward , TikTok @thesayaward and X @SAYaward