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Open Call Ung Nordisk Musik 2026
ARCHIVE – 80th anniversary year
Festival dates: 10.-15.8.2026
UNM (Ung Nordisk Musik) is a joint organization spanning the Nordic and Baltic countries, whose mission is to promote the work of young music makers and sound artists by producing a yearly festival. Founded in 1946, making it one of the oldest festivals of its kind, UNM has been a meeting place for creators under the age of 31 to exchange thoughts, musical ideas and establish new connections with others from across Northern Europe.
Five works from each Nordic country (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland), and two works from each of the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) will be selected in this year’s call for works. The selection of works is made by independent juries representing each participating country.
Apply for our Open Call for works: Open Call for Works 2025
For the 80th anniversary with the theme ARCHIVE, the festival will be focusing on the past and future of UNM by showcasing your favourite works from your compositional archive. During the festival year in 2026 we aim to be able to accommodate dramaturgical works. For this we will co-produce the works with Scenatet.
We will also offer a residency program and invite to a UNM conference during the festival. We encourage all those interested to apply regardless of race, religion, gender, background, education, or artistic style.
For the festival we aim to make sure, to the extent of our abilities, that the venues and lectures being accessible for everyone including individuals with disabilities.
UNM can accommodate all kinds of works such as; sound art, electronic/electroacoustic, chamber to larger settings, vocal, installations and more.
UNM Residency 2026
For the 2026 festival we are very excited to announce a residency collaboration with the ensemble NEKO3.
Apply for the residency through: Open Call for Residency
NEKO3 is a Copenhagen-based experimental trio consisting of pianist/performer Fei Nie and two percussionists/performers Lorenzo Colombo and Kalle Hakosalo.
More info: https://www.neko3cph.com/events/
From each country one composer will be selected for the residency program and one combined from the Baltic countries through the separate open call for the residency.
Selected works will be workshopped in Copenhagen with the composers, ensemble members and mentors Jeppe Just Christensen and Søs Gunver Ryberg during the 26th to 30th of May 2026 and showcased as a part of the festival program in August 2026.
Info about the residency mentors:
UNM Conference 2026
As a part of UNM 80. anniversary celebration we are presenting a UNM Conference— as a “career package” for young music creators that consists of a series of lectures and workshops. Between 11 – 15 August we invite different guests from across the music industry who will be talking about:
- Freelancing and self-releasing
- Festival production
- Cultural fundings
- Startup union
- Music publishing and engraving
- Electronics/electroacoustics
Scenatet — ensemble specializing in performance and dramaturgical works. 6 performers although the ensemble is flexible in size.
More info: https://scenatet.dk/about/
ÆTLA Vokalensemble — SSAATTBB
More info: https://www.aetlavocalensemble.com/om-aetla/
AKELA — string quartet.
More info: https://www.akelaquartet.com/om-os
K!ART — experimental music ensemble. 5 performers: guitar, keyboards, percussion, clarinet, cello.
More info: https://klart.net/Information
Athelas Sinfonietta — 1,1,1,1/1,1,1,0/2perc.,pno.,hp/1,1,1,1,1. With the possibility for string extension and soloist.
More info: https://athelas.dk/
NEKO3 — experimental music ensemble. 3 performers: perc., perc., pno.
More info: https://www.neko3cph.com/about
Most of the festival will take place in the heart of Copenhagen. We have The Royal Danish Academy of Music as a collaborator. Several concerts will take place there, where we can also accommodate 3D works for up to 48 loudspeakers. We also have an outdoor venue. Other venues include KoncertKirken, Literaturhaus and more.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. The application is open to all Danish citizens and/or residents born
on January 1st 1994 or later AND/OR are a full-time student in the field
of arts or music on or before June 30th 2024, and you do not hold a
previous master’s degree in music or the arts. In group applications,
all group members must meet the requirements in order to apply.
2. UNM consists of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden,
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. An applicant who is eligible to
apply to the open call from more than one country may only send in
one application, or else their applications will be disqualified.
3. In the Danish Call for Works, applicants may only participate in the
festival every other year. Applicants who will participate in the UNM
festival 2025 cannot apply in this year’s Call for Works or
Artist-in-Residence.
4. The UNM Call for Works is anonymous. Applications to the Call for
Works are sent through the application form. Only applications
sent through the form will be accepted. Applicants enter their
personal information and pseudonym via the application form. The
pseudonym must be such that it is impossible to identify the
applicant. The personal information submitted via the application
form will only be seen by the boards of UNM and used for
administrative purposes. This information will be stored for a
maximum of 5 years after which it will be deleted.
5. Attachments to the application have to be anonymised. Ensure
that any attachments or materials you submit do not contain
names, dedications, performer information, watermarks or other
identifying data in any form. Please also check the metadata for
audio and video files. However, make sure your pseudonym is
visible on each page of the documents attached. If you send a
score the application must also include an audio recording/MIDI
file or a written description of the composition.
6. The selection process includes a gender quota which will be
realized from two lists – male (M) and non-male (NM). 2 works with the
highest points from each list will be selected. The final and third selection
will be that work which has received the highest points from either
list. Thus, either a 2M+3NM or 3M+2NM combination of representatives
will be selected for the festival.
7. Each applicant may apply with a total of 2 works. If an applicant
participates in the call as part of a group with a single work, they
may participate as an individual with one work. If the applicant’s
group/collective applies with 2 works, members of the
group cannot participate as individuals. If the applicant applies
to the residency organised by UNM Denmark, they can still apply for the regular
call with one work as an individual or as part of a
group. In the event that an applicant’s work is selected for both
categories, they can decide with which work they would like to be
represented by at the festival.
8. A total of 5 works will be selected in the call for works. In addition
to this, runner-ups will be announced. If the performance of a
selected work is canceled, a replacement work will be selected
from among the runner-ups. Attendance is expected from the artist
selected to participate in the festival throughout the festival week.
The performance of a selected work may be canceled if
the selected artist is unable to attend the festival.
9. UNM commits to producing a performance or exhibition
of all selected works, however, here we provide more information
on next year’s specific festival ensembles.
10. The application deadline is 23/6/2025 After that, the application form will be closed.
11. UNM verifies the applicants’ eligibility and checks the
attachments sent through the application form before submitting
them to the jury. If necessary, UNM may ask the applicant
to amend or supplement their application. It is the applicant’s
responsibility to submit the requested changes or documents by
the end of the application period. After the application period
ends, applications cannot be changed or amended, so please
submit your application early enough.
For more information on the festival see the website of the host country.
UNM Danmark is grateful to receive genrous support from Dansk Komponistforening and Koda Kultur.
