Deadline: December 16, 2025
SUBMISSION FORM VIA SUBMITTABLE
Now in its 38th year, NAMT’s Festival of New Musicals is the cornerstone of NAMT’s mission to be a catalyst for nurturing musical theatre development and production.
In 1989, the Festival of New Musicals was created to provide a forum to celebrate the new musicals that were being produced and presented around the country. Since then, the Festival has introduced musical theatre producers to 300+ musicals and 600+ writers from around the world. More than 85% have gone on to subsequent readings, workshops, productions and tours; been licensed; and/or recorded on cast albums as a direct result of the Festival!
Held over two days in New York City every fall, the Festival produces 45–minute presentations of eight new musicals before an audience of over 800 industry professionals with the experience and resources to move the work forward. We look for new musicals at all stages of development from the broadest possible range of voices.
Festival Purpose and Goals
The Festival’s immediate goal is to connect writers with producers, particularly NAMT Members, and extend the development trajectory of presented musicals by establishing new creative partnerships. Over time, the long–term goals are to expand the musical theatre repertoire, advance the musical theatre art form and support the field.
QUALITY & RANGE
Showcase quality new musicals by musical theatre creators of all identities and backgrounds with a wide breadth and depth of stories, styles, sizes and stages of development.
CONNECT WRITERS & PRODUCERS
Encourage a forum to spark new collaborations and ventures.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Provide musical theatre artists with a professional networking & breakthrough opportunity showcasing their creative talent.
DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTIONS
Encourage future development and productions of selected new musicals.
Our 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals will take place on October 22 & 23, 2026.
We never take any royalties from our writers or ask them to pay for their participation in the Festival. The Festival is funded solely through sponsorships, grants and donations contributed by government agencies, foundations, organizations and individuals.
Step 1: Is Your Show Eligible?
Any new musical can be submitted for consideration as long as it meets the criteria below.
Must-Haves:
You should also consider:
Step 2: Compile Your Information
Please note the following deadlines for the 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals:December 16, 2025: Early Deadline for All Submissions
January 6, 2026: Late Deadline for All Submissions ($40 fee applies)
Shows submitted by the early deadline require no fee for submission. Shows submitted after the early deadline will be charged a $40 late fee, which must be paid by credit card on the submission portal. No exceptions.
Deadlines expire at midnight PST (west coast time).
All the information you need about the writers and (if applicable) agents, production/development history and more is outlined in the application, but you should read this entire page before prepping your materials.
You may save and return to your application without having to complete it all in one sitting.
Now in its 38th year, NAMT’s Festival of New Musicals is the cornerstone of NAMT’s mission to be a catalyst for nurturing musical theatre development and production.
In 1989, the Festival of New Musicals was created to provide a forum to celebrate the new musicals that were being produced and presented around the country. Since then, the Festival has introduced musical theatre producers to 300+ musicals and 600+ writers from around the world. More than 85% have gone on to subsequent readings, workshops, productions and tours; been licensed; and/or recorded on cast albums as a direct result of the Festival!
Held over two days in New York City every fall, the Festival produces 45–minute presentations of eight new musicals before an audience of over 800 industry professionals with the experience and resources to move the work forward. We look for new musicals at all stages of development from the broadest possible range of voices.
Festival Purpose and Goals
The Festival’s immediate goal is to connect writers with producers, particularly NAMT Members, and extend the development trajectory of presented musicals by establishing new creative partnerships. Over time, the long–term goals are to expand the musical theatre repertoire, advance the musical theatre art form and support the field.
QUALITY & RANGE
Showcase quality new musicals by musical theatre creators of all identities and backgrounds with a wide breadth and depth of stories, styles, sizes and stages of development.
CONNECT WRITERS & PRODUCERS
Encourage a forum to spark new collaborations and ventures.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Provide musical theatre artists with a professional networking & breakthrough opportunity showcasing their creative talent.
DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTIONS
Encourage future development and productions of selected new musicals.
Our 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals will take place on October 22 & 23, 2026.
We never take any royalties from our writers or ask them to pay for their participation in the Festival. The Festival is funded solely through sponsorships, grants and donations contributed by government agencies, foundations, organizations and individuals.
Step 1: Is Your Show Eligible?
Any new musical can be submitted for consideration as long as it meets the criteria below.
Must-Haves:
- The Musical must be complete and ready for readings, workshops and/or productions. No placeholder scenes or songs. No abbreviated or summarized scenes or songs.
- The Musical should have a demo that is an accurate representation of the music and style of the show and at least 50% of the score (meaning half of all of the music) must be available to submit on demo.
- The Musical must have full underlying rights clearances for any pre-existing material used (music, source material, etc.) in the script.
- The Writers must be ready for readings, workshops and/or productions at the time of submission and available for presentations in October 2026 at the Festival.
Your Project is Ineligible to be Submitted if:
- The Musical is already being licensed through a professional licensing house.
- The Musical has been produced on Broadway. [Shows that have had readings, workshops and/or productions (including regional or Off-Broadway) are still eligible.]
- The Musical has already been submitted to the Festival three times. Each project can only be submitted three times for review by the committee.
- The Musical has already been selected for the NAMT Festival of New Musicals as one of our main presentations (excludes shows presented as part of our supplementary programming including concerts, cabarets & showcases).
- The Musical is not complete, missing songs or scenes.
You should also consider:
- Writers are writers-only for the NAMT Festival process and may not direct, music direct or star in their presentations. No exceptions.
- Writers must be available for all rehearsals in person in New York City. Rehearsals may begin as early as October 11, 2026. NAMT does not provide housing or travel assistance.
Step 2: Compile Your Information
Please note the following deadlines for the 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals:December 16, 2025: Early Deadline for All Submissions
January 6, 2026: Late Deadline for All Submissions ($40 fee applies)
Shows submitted by the early deadline require no fee for submission. Shows submitted after the early deadline will be charged a $40 late fee, which must be paid by credit card on the submission portal. No exceptions.
Deadlines expire at midnight PST (west coast time).
All the information you need about the writers and (if applicable) agents, production/development history and more is outlined in the application, but you should read this entire page before prepping your materials.
You may save and return to your application without having to complete it all in one sitting.