Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 | One of the most valuable arts prizes in Australia

Welcome

Message from the Executive Director & Founder of the annual Melbourne Prize

We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the Melbourne Prize Trust operates – the People of the Kulin Nation – and pay our deepest respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.

Entries for the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 & Awards are now open! Please visit the News section on our website to access the Entry Form and further details.

We are delighted to offer the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 & Awards; one of Australia’s most prestigious and valuable arts prizes of its kind in Australia. Open to all music genres and for Victorian residents only, this year’s program includes four categories: the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025, The Beleura John Tallis Award for Emerging Composers, the Professional Development Award and the Falls Creek Musicians Residencies.

Please visit the Key Dates section on our website for more information. This November, in celebration of the awards, a public exhibition will be available at Fed Square along with a digital catalogue – our Event & Finalist Fee Partner.

Now in its 21st year, the annual Melbourne Prize continues to recognize and reward artistic talent, foster creative development, and enrich public life. It provides career development opportunities for Victorian sculptors, musicians, and authors and demonstrates the power of collective community investment in supporting the arts.

We extend our gratitude to our partners this year, whose generous contributions have made this year’s Melbourne Prize for Music & Awards possible.

Thank you for your interest in our activities.

For information in the Melbourne Prize Trust click here.

Simon Warrender OAM
Executive Director & Founder
Melbourne Prize Trust

Supporting Victorian sculptors,
writers and musicians since 2005

Support the annual Melbourne Prize.

The annual Melbourne Prize, which is run by the Melbourne Prize Trust, is funded through public and private sector community investment and we acknowledge and thank all our partners this year who have made it possible to offer the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024.

Click here to support Melbourne Prize Trust

News

ENTIRES OPEN IN THE MELBOURNE PRIZE FOR MUSIC 2025 & AWARDS

Click here for the guidelines and entry form

/ Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 – $60,000
/ The Beleura John Tallis Award for Emerging Composers 2025 – $20,000
/ Professional Development Award 2025 – $10,000
/ Falls Creek Musicians Residencies 2025 – two 14-day residencies + $1,000 (incl. GST) to each recipient
/ Civic Choice Award 2025 – $2,000 – awarded to a finalist in the Melbourne Prize for Music with the most public votes (voting opens on 4 September when finalists are announced)

Click here for the prize categories
Click here for the media release
Click here for the judges
Click here for the key dates
Click here for the partners and patrons

Runner-up finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2025 receive $1,000, supported by Fed Square.
There are no finalists in the other three categories.
For Victorian residents only.
Artists may apply directly or be nominated.

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MELBOURNE PRIZE – Since its establishment in 2005, the annual Melbourne Prize has become one of Australia’s most prestigious arts awards. Dedicated to supporting Victorian writers, musicians, and sculptors, it offers substantial career development opportunities while celebrating excellence, creativity, and talent. Operating on a three-year cycle, the prize alternates between the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture, the Melbourne Prize for Literature and the Melbourne Prize for Music.

Thank you to our 2025 partners and patrons – please see below.

This year’s design identity and website are made possible by the generous support of the following partners.

PLAYGROUND

PLAYGROUND studios are a leading Melbourne-based design studio. As a Founding Partner of the annual Melbourne Prize, the studio develops the identity each year for music, literature and (urban) sculpture.

ABOUT THE 2025 DESIGN – This year, PLAYGROUND’s visual identity for the Melbourne Prize for Music & Awards draws inspiration from Chladni’s patterns—the hidden geometries formed when sound meets matter. It captures the moment vibration becomes art, and music takes visible shape. Invisible forces become a tangible celebration: a kaleidoscope of genre, emotion and movement.

This is music you can see. Rhythm you can feel. Colours that sing and dance. All vibrating in perfect harmony to create living, breathing art.

THE MIGHTY WONTON

The Mighty Wonton are Founding Partners of the annual Melbourne Prize and have been with the Melbourne Prize Trust since inception. The company develop and manage IT for the Melbourne Prize and together with PLAYGROUND, design and manage the website.

Welcome

News

Key Dates

Partners & Patrons