NEW Folk 2026 Singer Songwriter Competition; Since 1973, the Grassy Hill New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters has been at the heart of the Kerrville Folk Festival’s mission to champion songwriters and their craft. More than just a contest, New Folk is a launching pad — a tradition that has introduced audiences to some of the most influential voices in American music. Over the years, artists like Lyle Lovett, Adrianne Lenker, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, James McMurtry, Anaïs Mitchell, and Jonathan Byrd (among many others) have stood on the New Folk stage early in their careers. Today, hundreds of songwriters continue to submit their work each year for the chance to be part of this extraordinary lineage. Whether you’re discovering tomorrow’s favorites or cheering on the rising stars of today, New Folk is where the future of songwriting comes into focus.