NPR Tiny Desk Contest 2025

NPR Music is now entering the 11th year of the Tiny Desk Contest, which has helped launch many careers in music: The first-ever winner (Fantastic Negrito) has gone on to win three Grammys and counting, and 2017’s winner, Tank and the Bangas, even got nominated for best new artist a few years back — while others have gone viral, signed major-label deals and toured the world. Just as importantly, the Tiny Desk Contest has created a community of musicians who enter by the thousands each year.

These are the rules:

• This is for undiscovered talent; you can't have a current recording contract.
• You must be at least 18 years old and live in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, U.S.V.I. or Puerto Rico to enter.
• The panel of judges — including members of NPR Music, DJs from NPR Member stations and Tiny Desk alums — will choose the winner.
• Take this quiz to see if you're eligible.

The winner gets to...

• Play a Tiny Desk concert at NPR in Washington, D.C.
• Be featured on NPR’s All Things Considered
• Play NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour
• Be paired with a mentor in the industry

And all you have to do is:

• Create a new video that shows you playing one song you've written.
• Do it the way you'd perform a Tiny Desk concert: at a desk. (Any desk!)
• Upload your video to YouTube.
• Fill out the entry form before 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 10, 2025.

All the info you need is on npr.org.