Everything you need to know
2026 YAMawards
FAQ
Based on which criteria does the jury select the nominees and winners?
General criteria
The music and other artistic material (such as text and choreography) must be high quality within the chosen genre. Musicians and singers must be high calibre. Music must be the production's primary focus. Communication between musicians and audience, where relevant, should be skilled and inspiring. We assess the programme's relevance and necessity, whether it opens new musical horizons, innovates, or adds educational value. We also assess international appeal and whether it can work in multiple countries.
Best Opera
Presented by RESEO (European Network for Opera and Dance Education): The staging must be high quality and relate meaningfully to the music. We are open to new opera works for young audiences of all ages using new librettos (adaptations of existing stories are accepted) or new compositions.
Best Participatory Production with Young Audiences
We evaluate necessity and relevance both artistically and socially. We look at the original intention and how well the project achieves it, the level of audience engagement, and the artistic expression and output in relation to the creative process.
Which productions are eligible for the Public Choice?
Every nominee competes for the Public Choice award, regardless of their primary category—whether Opera, Small Ensemble, Large Ensemble, School Concert, or Participatory Production. A public vote ultimately determines the winner.
How is voting for the Public Choice conducted?
Nominees are officially announced on 29 August 2026 on the YAMawards website and social media. Each person can cast three votes for three different productions online.
The nominee with the most votes at 17:00 CET on 29 September 2026 wins the Public Choice award.
Who can attend the YAMawards Ceremony?
The ceremony is open to everyone registered for YAMsession, the annual international event for creative professionals in young-audiences development.
Where can I find all YAMawards rules and terms?
The full guidelines and terms are available here:
For any additional questions, please contact us:
- Email: info@yama-award.com
- Email: mail@jmi.net
- Phone: +32 2 513 97 74
What must I attach to the application for a valid submission?
You must provide a full-length production video submitted via an online YouTube or Vimeo link. Entries have no duration limit, but note that only two-minute finalist promo videos will be shown online for public voting.
Non-English productions must include subtitles or a detailed summary.
Complete entries and all materials must arrive by 17:00 CET on 8 May 2026. YAM/JMI accepts no responsibility for late entries or missing/corrupt video files.
What production time period is eligible, and are there restrictions?
There is no general restriction on when a production took place. However, the Best Opera category is an exception: productions submitted for Best Opera must have premiered after May 2016.
If I apply online, must I also complete the nomination agreement?
Yes. You must print and sign the agreement, then attach a scan to your online application.
Review the 2026 application materials
Check the application form and official terms for complete submission information and future reference.
