ICSF

Join us November 5-7, 2026 for a 3-day music festival and conference centered around the craft of songwriting. Presented by The Englert Theatre across downtown Iowa City.

2026 Scholarship Apps OPEN!

The Iowa City Songwriters Festival will offer up to 20 scholarships to musicians eager to expand their craft. ICSF Scholars will receive free access to all festival events, exclusive artist engagements, meals, and hotel accommodations during the festival. The scholarship is an opportunity for musicians to experience a 3-day master course in songwriting, and participants will leave enlightened, inspired, and equipped with fresh ideas and techniques to better hone their craft. Scholarships are open to residents from anywhere! Scholars must be available for the whole duration of the festival, which is typically 3-4 days. Scholarships will be awarded based on this simple application that includes 200-word answers to 5 prompts on how the scholarship would benefit the applicant. A small panel of Englert employees will choose Scholars.

*Scholar applications will close Sunday, May 31 at 11:59 PM CT

2026 SCHOLAR APPLICATION

“The Iowa City Songwriters Festival reminded us why we love music” – Tony Dehner

photo by Lucius Pham

Sponsorship Opportunity

ICSF Sponsor Guide

We also want to share a special opportunity to deepen your connection to ICSF. One of our core values is making this festival accessible to those who may not otherwise be able to attend. Our Scholar Program provides full festival access, as well as room and board, to 20 selected artists so they can participate fully and grow their craft here in Iowa City.

If your time at ICSF inspired you and you’d like to help open this door for someone else, please consider becoming a Scholar Sponsor. A sponsorship of $1,500 covers the cost for one scholar to attend the festival. Sponsors will be recognized in our program materials and on-site signage as partners in building a vibrant and inclusive future for songwriting.

Scholar Perks

All Access to ICSF
3 Night Stay at The Graduate Hotel
Food from local establishments
Intimate three-course meal + song swap on first night at Trumpet Blossom Cafe
Exclusive engagement with ICSF Artist in Residence
1:1 Mentorship from Festival Artists
Access to MusiCares
Networking + Connections within the global songwriting community

Would you be ready to Sponsor a Scholar now? Click the button below to donate securely!

SPONSOR A SCholar now!

Prefer to chat with Paige Samek + Sarah Mannix about this sponsorship opportunity? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!

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2025 ICSF

The Iowa City Songwriters Festival is an intimate, three-day music festival and conference celebrating the craft of songwriting. It showcases world-class songwriters through performances at venues across downtown Iowa City, including The Englert Theatre, The James Theater, The Black Angel, Trumpet Blossom Café, and a conference at the Iowa Conservatory. The festival also partners with organizations such as Merge, Think IC, The Den, and The Wilder to offer additional artist workshops and engagements.

Alongside the performances, the conference features artist talks, panel discussions, and mentoring sessions, as well as scholarship opportunities that give attendees access to top artists from across the country. These opportunities allow participants to deepen their understanding of the art and process of writing songs.

Rooted in the idea that Iowa City should be just as much a hub for songwriters as it is for other forms of writing, the festival is carefully curated for both songwriting enthusiasts and casual listeners. Its mission is to cultivate a vibrant community of musicians, writers, and music lovers in Iowa City—honoring the rich tradition of songwriting and the powerful human connections it inspires.

Lineup

Courtney is the consummate artist — a poet, painter, and songwriter whose prolific output has crossed mediums and reached audiences across the globe. The Arizona native and current Nashvillian gave an honest, vivid voice to the many dark forests and sunlit meadows of life and love.

Since her breakout debut Honest Life in 2017, Courtney released six acclaimed albums (with a seventh on the way), earned a GRAMMY nomination for Old Flowers, and published her first book of poetry, Monarch. Iowa City audiences remembered her 2023 performance and reading at the Mission Creek Festival. Her visit to ICSF came just days after the release of her second book of poetry, Love Is A Dog That Bites When It’s Scared, and ahead of her upcoming seventh studio album.

When it came time to choose an Artist in Residence, Courtney was an obvious choice. Her work bridged the traditional literary community in Iowa City (fiction, poetry, nonfiction) with the songwriting world. This multi-disciplinary approach embodied the spirit of creativity we celebrated at ICSF.

The Englert was excited to expand, learn, and grow with the community by hosting an ICSF Conference that features artist talks, panel discussions, and 1:1 mentoring sessions.

2025 Conference Lineup + Pictures