2026 WallMag Awards
Make Their Songs Yours
Winners announced on Jul 20, 2026
The submission deadline has been extended to 20 July 2026. There's still time to enter — and if you've already submitted, add your ownership statement before then to stay in the running.
For the artists who make a song their own.
The WallMag Cover Artist Awards 2026 celebrate India's most inventive cover musicians — singers and players who reimagine well-loved songs across genres, languages, and instruments.
This is a juried award. An open community vote shortlists the Top 100, then the WallMag Editorial Team chooses the winners — so recognition is earned on your arrangement, your voice, and your craft, not bought.
What you win is a credential you can use: the Cover Artist of the Year title, a feature in WallMag Creator Magazine, and verifiable recognition for your profile, your gigs, and the collaborators and venues you pitch.
Covers welcome — that's the whole point. Submit your reinterpretation of an existing song; credit the original, and your arrangement and recording stay yours, shown only for the awards and their features.
First entry free. Entries close 3 July 2026.
Timeline
Event Start
Submissions open for the WallMag Cover Artist Awards 2026.
Submissions Close
Final day to enter your strongest work.
Top 100 Finalists Shortlisted
Curated selection from jury + community votes.
Top 3 Winners Announcement
Celebration of the year's finest in music covers and reinterpretations.
Prize & Certificate Distribution
Partner brand coupons, certificates, and feature placements rolled out.
What to Upload
Submit up to 5 of your strongest covers and reinterpretations — audio or video. A single piece or a short set both work.
Reimagine an existing song in your own way — vocals, instrumental, a mashup, a genre flip, or a new language. Credit the original work; the arrangement, performance, and recording must be yours.
Record at the highest quality you can. A clean phone recording in a quiet room is fine — what matters is that your voice or playing comes through clearly.
All work must be your own performance and arrangement. AI-generated, lip-synced, stock, or plagiarised submissions are disqualified without refund.
Add a line about each cover — why you chose it and what you changed. Context helps the jury and community connect with your take.
Q: Who can enter?
A: Any India-based cover artist aged 18 or over — singers and instrumentalists, across any genre, language, or style. All experience levels welcome.
Q: Can I submit a cover of a copyrighted song?
A: Yes — that's exactly what this award is for. Reinterpret any song you love. Credit the original work, and submit your own arrangement, performance, and recording. You're judged on how you make it yours.
Q: Can I enter as a band or music project?
A: Yes. Bands and projects are welcome. Sign up with your band or project name as the “Full name” on your WallMag profile, and your entry, public profile, and any certificate or prize will be issued in that name. Your first entry is free; additional entries are paid.
Q: Do I keep the rights to my recording?
A: Yes. You retain full rights and ownership of your arrangement and recording. WallMag never sells or licenses your music.
Q: How will my submission be used?
A: Your recordings are used only to run the awards and to promote you and the awards — your entry, your feature, and your recognition. We never use, sell, or license your music for any other commercial purpose.
Q: How are winners chosen?
A: In two stages. An open community vote shortlists the Top 100 finalists, then the WallMag Editorial Team selects the Top 3 winners. Judged on arrangement, performance, and how fresh your take feels — not on who pays to enter.
Q: What does it cost to enter?
A: Your first entry is free. Additional entries are paid — you’ll see the exact price at the entry step. Paid entries are refundable within 7 days.
Q: When does it close?
A: Entries close 3 July 2026. Finalists and winners are announced per the published timeline.