The Commonwealth Song Contest
The Commonwealth Song Contest is a major international music event for the 2.5 billion people of the 56 Commonwealth Nations. The first CSC launched during The 2018 Commonwealth Games and received thousands of song entries from artists and songwriters worldwide. Finalists and Winners were chosen with an international public voting system. The United Kingdom won that year with Australia close behind, followed by India. Canada, Singapore, The Bahamas and Saint Lucia.
The second Commonwealth Song Contest was held to coincide with the 2022 Commonwealth Gamesand again received many thousands of song entries. The public vote took place internationally with many thousands of votes and in addition 10,000 music professionals and songwriters were invited to vote for their favourite song in the Music Industry Vote.
The current CSC is now open for etries and voting and results announcements will be held during the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Talks are currently taking place to stage the event annually with host producers and partners in each country.
This Commonwealth event features music from the 56 Commonwealth Nations and their Oversees Territories..All songwriters and artists who are residents or nationals of these nations or who can demonstrate close ties with the nation are eligible to participate and represent their country. The CSC showcases the music and talent of the participating nations, promotes awareness of cultures and geography, and above all else, aims to strengthen ties between Commonwealth Nations. For full details of each Commonwealth country and links to detailed country profiles visit the Commonwealth Nations Official Website.
USA: There have been talks about accepting song entries from the USA following recent statements from the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) and from the US Government stating that the USA is in discussions with the UK, the RCS and King Charles about becoming an "Associate Member" of the Commonwealth. The Eurovision Song Contest has included Australia (a non-European country) since 2015 stating that "EBU Members or specially invited Associates (like Australia) can take part in the competition". CSC rules are stricter than Eurovision's rules and normally only allow "countries with very close and strong historic ties to the Commnweatlh, and with English as the official language" to become Associates. The USA fulfills these criteria even if official Associate Membership of the Commonwealth itself is not eventually granted. We will publish updates as these talks progress.
INTERNATIONAL: In the 2025/2026 event there will be a special International sub-section for songs from non-Commonwealth countries. This is because the CSC is held in association with the UKSC who are the official international entry processors for the event. The UKSC gives full free CSC entry to all entrants from Commonwealth countries - and the UKSC will also forward outstanding entries from non-Commonwealth countries to this special international section.
Everyone - beginners and professionals - is welcome to submit songs. Songwriters may record and perform themselves and enter their own demos recordings, or other people may sing and record the song for them. Bands and singers can perform their own original compositions, or perform songs written by friends or music partners. Schools and colleges are encouraged to submit songs and may find support from Commonwealth Foundation Offices and Arts Organisations in their own countries.
Music producers, TV and Radio producers, industry professionals, promoters, government organizations and sponsors are invited to contact the CSC to discuss partnerships. This is an opportunity to join an international music event with a potential audience of over 2.5 billion people - the world´s largest music marketplace. Contact the CSC here (industry contacts only).
The Commonwealth Song Contest is a major international music event for the 2.5 billion people of the 56 Commonwealth Nations. The first CSC launched during The 2018 Commonwealth Games and received thousands of song entries from artists and songwriters worldwide. Finalists and Winners were chosen with an international public voting system. The United Kingdom won that year with Australia close behind, followed by India. Canada, Singapore, The Bahamas and Saint Lucia.
The second Commonwealth Song Contest was held to coincide with the 2022 Commonwealth Gamesand again received many thousands of song entries. The public vote took place internationally with many thousands of votes and in addition 10,000 music professionals and songwriters were invited to vote for their favourite song in the Music Industry Vote.
The current CSC is now open for etries and voting and results announcements will be held during the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Talks are currently taking place to stage the event annually with host producers and partners in each country.
This Commonwealth event features music from the 56 Commonwealth Nations and their Oversees Territories..All songwriters and artists who are residents or nationals of these nations or who can demonstrate close ties with the nation are eligible to participate and represent their country. The CSC showcases the music and talent of the participating nations, promotes awareness of cultures and geography, and above all else, aims to strengthen ties between Commonwealth Nations. For full details of each Commonwealth country and links to detailed country profiles visit the Commonwealth Nations Official Website.
USA: There have been talks about accepting song entries from the USA following recent statements from the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) and from the US Government stating that the USA is in discussions with the UK, the RCS and King Charles about becoming an "Associate Member" of the Commonwealth. The Eurovision Song Contest has included Australia (a non-European country) since 2015 stating that "EBU Members or specially invited Associates (like Australia) can take part in the competition". CSC rules are stricter than Eurovision's rules and normally only allow "countries with very close and strong historic ties to the Commnweatlh, and with English as the official language" to become Associates. The USA fulfills these criteria even if official Associate Membership of the Commonwealth itself is not eventually granted. We will publish updates as these talks progress.
INTERNATIONAL: In the 2025/2026 event there will be a special International sub-section for songs from non-Commonwealth countries. This is because the CSC is held in association with the UKSC who are the official international entry processors for the event. The UKSC gives full free CSC entry to all entrants from Commonwealth countries - and the UKSC will also forward outstanding entries from non-Commonwealth countries to this special international section.
Everyone - beginners and professionals - is welcome to submit songs. Songwriters may record and perform themselves and enter their own demos recordings, or other people may sing and record the song for them. Bands and singers can perform their own original compositions, or perform songs written by friends or music partners. Schools and colleges are encouraged to submit songs and may find support from Commonwealth Foundation Offices and Arts Organisations in their own countries.
Music producers, TV and Radio producers, industry professionals, promoters, government organizations and sponsors are invited to contact the CSC to discuss partnerships. This is an opportunity to join an international music event with a potential audience of over 2.5 billion people - the world´s largest music marketplace. Contact the CSC here (industry contacts only).
THE COMMONWEALTH NATIONS
Pacific Nations
Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Kiribati
European Nations
UK, Malta, Cyprus
Asian Nations
India, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalem, Sri Lanka, Maldives
African Nations
Botswana, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia
Americas Nations
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
Pacific Nations
Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Kiribati
European Nations
UK, Malta, Cyprus
Asian Nations
India, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalem, Sri Lanka, Maldives
African Nations
Botswana, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia
Americas Nations
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago