Deadline Extended: Enter the Qilaut 2025 Inuktut Songwriting Contest

May 21, 2025

Passionate about writing and performing your own songs in Inuktut? Why not apply to Nunavut’s premier annual Inuktut songwriting contest?

Submissions are now open for Qilaut 2025 – Nunavut’s annual Inuktut songwriting contest. This year’s themes are Pirursatillunga and Inuit Sanasimajangit.

2025 marks a special milestone for Qilaut as it is the 10th anniversary since its inception. Over the past decade, this contest has given Nunavut artists a platform to perform their songs in Inuktut. To date, 90 songs and 11 albums have been recorded and released. It has highlighted Nunavut’s vibrant Inuktut music scene and has strengthened the use of Inuktut. Through Qilaut, Nunavummiut have been and continue to contribute to the vibrancy, revitalization, and preservation of the Inuit culture and language.

• This year’s prizes are:
• First Prize: $5,000
• Second Prize: $2,500
• Third Prize: $1,500
• Seven Runners-Up: $500 each

Winning submissions will be professionally recorded for a compilation album that will be distributed in 2025 and will have the opportunity to perform at three live concerts in Nunavut.

To view official contest rules, requirements for submissions and to learn about this year’s theme, visit the Government of Nunavut website. Please send submissions to qilaut@gmail.com. The deadline has been extended to 11:59 p.m. EST on June 4, 2025.

Contact

Weichien Chan
Manager, Communications
Department of Culture and Heritage
867-975-5508
CHComms@gov.nu.ca

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