Forever a Phase have announced Discovery League, a brand new competition giving emerging bands the chance to earn a spot on the lineup for Palooza 26 this October!
The fan-driven competition will see 20 bands battle it out across a series of weekly rounds, with the overall winner opening Palooza 26 in Sheffield on 17 October 2026.
Applications are now open and bands interested in taking part can submit their entry by emailing sam(@)samttmedia.co.uk. Applicants must be available on 17 October and able to travel to Sheffield if selected.
To enter, bands need to provide a short biography, their location, and a Spotify link to the track they’d like featured as part of the competition. Forever a Phase have also confirmed that unreleased music can be submitted for consideration.
The competition itself will run from late July through to the end of August. Across four weeks, five bands will be featured each week on Forever a Phase platforms, where fans will be encouraged to listen, engage and vote for their favourites.
At the end of each week, one band will progress to the final, creating a shortlist of four finalists. Those four acts will then compete in a final round, with the winner securing a slot on the Palooza 26 lineup.
While only one artist will ultimately earn the opening performance slot, all 20 participating bands will receive exposure to the Forever a Phase audience throughout the competition.
The initiative aims to give emerging artists a genuine opportunity to reach new listeners while helping music fans discover their next favourite band.
Applications are open now!
Not a band, but want to support new music? Tickets for Palooza 26 are available from as little as £5.
