Judged based upon work

The WallMag Musician of the Year Awards 2026 celebrate the creators who make India sound like India — the vocalists, instrumentalists, rappers, producers, and bands turning bedrooms, rehearsal rooms, and stages into moments worth hearing. This is a pan-genre, pan-language national award: no gatekeeping by style or following, only your sound and a community ready to listen. Every entry is judged by the WallMag creator community alongside an expert music jury, so recognition is both credible and community-backed. Winners and finalists earn national visibility, partner-brand rewards, and a lasting place in WallMag's celebration of India's most compelling music.

Submit up to 5 of your strongest, original music works — as a vocalist, instrumentalist, rapper, producer, composer, or band. Each submission may be a single piece or a coherent set that tells one story.

We're excited about original tracks you wrote, recorded, produced, or performed and fully own — across any genre or language. You may enter as an audio track or a music video.

Submissions must be your own original work and ownership. Do not upload AI-generated, stock-licensed, or plagiarised content — entries containing these will be disqualified without refund. Submit at the highest available quality the platform allows.

Award Categories

Enter under the category that best fits your work:

Vocal

• Hindustani Classical Vocal

• Carnatic Classical Vocal

• Playback / Bollywood Vocal

• Western / Pop Vocal

• Ghazal

• Sufi

• Bhajan / Devotional

• Folk Vocal

• Rap / Hip Hop Vocal

• Singer-Songwriter

Instrumental

• Guitar (Acoustic / Electric)

• Bass Guitar

• Piano / Keyboard

• Harmonium

• Sitar

• Sarod / Santoor

• Veena

• Violin

• Bansuri / Flute

• Shehnai / Nadaswaram

• Saxophone

• Tabla

• Mridangam / Ghatam

• Dhol / Dholak

• Drum Kit

Bands & Genres

• Rock / Band

• Metal

• Indie / Independent Music

• Pop

• Jazz / Blues

• Funk / Soul / R&B

• Folk & World Fusion

• Classical Fusion

• Hip Hop

• Lo-fi

Production & Electronic

• Music Production

• Electronic / EDM Production

• Beat Making

• Beat Boxing

• DJ / Mixing

• Mixing & Mastering

• Film & Background Score

• Sound Design

Formats & Collaborations

• Solo Performance

• Duet / Collaboration

• Band / Ensemble Performance

• Cover Song

• Unplugged / Acoustic Session

• Music Video

If your work sits between two of these, pick the closest one and say so in your entry description — we read every submission before it goes to the panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can participate in the WallMag Musician of the Year Awards 2026?

A: Any creator based in India over 18 years of age can participate — hobbyist and professional musicians across every genre and language, with no experience restrictions.

Q: How are entries judged?

A: Judging happens in two stages. First, the WallMag creator community votes on every entry, and the Top 100 entries with the most community votes become the finalists. Only after the finalists are announced does the expert jury begin — reviewing those 100 finalists to select the Top 3 winners. In short: the community vote decides the Top 100 finalists, and the jury decides the winners.

Q: How many entries can I submit, and must they be original?

A: You may submit up to 5 original works that you created and own. Copied, stock, or AI-generated music is disqualified.

Q: What can I submit — audio or video?

A: Both. You can enter your work as an audio track or as a music video, up to 5 entries in total.

Q: What does it cost to enter?

A: Your first entry is ₹99. Additional entries are priced on a bundle ladder shown on the award page — the more you enter, the lower the per-entry cost.

Q: What do winners and finalists receive, and when?

A: Winners and finalists receive partner-brand rewards, a WallMag Creator Magazine feature, and recognition certificates. Rewards and certificates are distributed from 22 October 2026. Every entrant is also officially ranked and receives a participation certificate.