Listen!
If everything were perfect, you'd never learn and you'd never grow.
Top 20 Perú 2026
Ale Salazar
Ariana Cisneros
Brittany Petit
Camila Ramos
Carolina del Pozo
Clacla VillaMar
Daro Saudade
Elizabeth Llantoy
Fidelius
Gardimix
Hernan Llaque
Jhon
Joaco Paiva
Juanmi y Sandra
Karem Farias
Paolo Gonzáles Bazalar
Raly Sumac
Roberto Arana
Roman C
Starcris
These are the songwriters still in the running. Public voting opens soon.
Season 2 Sponsors
The jury
Together with the public, they choose the Perú 2026 finalists.
Jessyca SarangoComposer and music producer
Ricardo MoránTelevision producer, writer and film director
Glen BarclayExecutive producer, commercial and creative director
Julie FreundtSinger-songwriter, music producer and director of Escuela Acordes
Nicola PedrerosMusic producer, mentor and creative director
María BestarSinger, songwriter and filmmaker
Mentors
Artists and coaches who guide participants throughout the contest.
Alonso BriceñoSinger and Songwriter
Diego DibósMusic producer and singer-songwriter
Diego La HozDirector, playwright and theater educator
Rina MirandaMentor, singer and producer
Rossana Fernández MaldonadoMentor, actress, singer, songwriter
Sandro LeónVocal Coach
The first season
9.24Mimpressions
14Ksubscribers
MORE THAN A CONTEST.
The start of a career.
The winner of Cuéntamelo Cantando receives:
- US$1,500 in cash to push your music career forwardA cash prize so you can keep investing in your growth as an artist and take the next step in your professional path.
- Professional production of your first singleTurn your song into a professional-grade release, working alongside a team of producers and engineers who'll bring your music to life with the quality it deserves.
- The official music video for your first singleShow your music to the world with a professional music video, made to accompany your song's release and strengthen your image as an artist.
How it works
Four grooves to your big debut.
From an audio file to a development deal. That is how the road sounds.
01
Apply
Upload your original song file.
02
Top 20 Selection
The team selects the top 20 from all the submissions.
03
Judges and voting
The public votes and the jury deliberates. Finalists are chosen.
04
Winner
The winner signs an artist development contract with Mantra.
The team
The people guiding Cuéntamelo Cantando from production to mentorship.
Jose ValExecutive Producer
Juan Pablo BedoyaProducer
Sally GilDirector of Strategic Alliances and International Development
The platform
A community for singer-songwriters.
Cuéntamelo Cantando is where Latin singer-songwriters find their audience, their story, and their community. We take the song seriously, and the person who writes it.
Every year we run a city-based contest. But the platform lives year-round: artists publish songs, fans follow them, and the music gets heard.
- ♩Original songs onlyOnly your own work. The jury listens with that in mind.
- ◎Fan communityFollow your favorite artists and discover new talent.
- ✦Annual contestAn open process, with a jury and public vote.
Listen!
Marcelo Castillo
Winner
Cuéntamelo Cantando 2025
Season 1 Finalists
Meet the 2025 finalists →Inspiration
Great artists on the journey, perseverance, and finding your voice.
My first song wasn't perfect, and neither was my first performance. But they helped me discover my style and find my voice.
I lost on 'American Idol', but I never lost my passion for music. That competition gave me the push to fight for my dream, and that's what matters.
I remember playing in bars with only a few people listening. But I believed in my music and in my ability to get better.
Partners
Technology partner
We support
Kantaya is a nonprofit that has spent 20+ years transforming children's lives through quality, holistic education.
We contribute to building a brighter future, where every child can fulfill their dreams.
Visit kantayaperu.com →
Frequently asked questions
What is Cuéntamelo Cantando?
Cuéntamelo Cantando is both an annual contest and a year-round platform for singer-songwriters. Each edition runs in one country: entry is free, you apply with an original song of your own, an internal committee listens to every entry and picks the Top 20, and from there the jury and the public decide the semifinalists and the winner. When an edition ends the songs do not disappear: every artist keeps their own page with their catalogue, their posts and their community of fans, and goes on publishing for the rest of the year. The first season ran in Peru, closed with 9.24 million impressions and 14 thousand subscribers, and was won by Marcelo Castillo.
How much does it cost to participate?
Nothing. Entry is free.
What do I need to apply?
An original song of yours in MP3 or WAV, performed with voice and one additional instrument, and a one-minute intro video. It all goes in a single submission, and entries close on 30 September 2026.
Who can participate?
Any singer-songwriter residing in Peru, of any age. Under-18s need authorization from a parent or legal guardian at the time of entry.
How is the winner chosen?
An internal committee made up of the contest director and two professional musicians listens to every entry and announces the Top 20. From there, the jury and the public vote decide the semifinalists and the winner. The full rules are on the contest rules page.
What does the winner get?
First place receives US$1,500 in cash, professional production of their first single and the shooting of the official music video, plus a month of press and marketing campaign and two hours of mentorship with a mentor of their choosing from the judging panel. They also sign an exclusive 2-year deal as an artist and songwriter with Mantra Media, which is separate from the contest rules.
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