Solo artiste
One person
Christmas 2026
2026 Competition theme
GloryintheHighest
“Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace,good will toward men.”
Our theme
Our Theme: Glory in the Highest
The theme of this edition is Glory in the Highest, taken from Luke chapter 2 verse 14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” It is the song of the angels at the birth of our Lord, and it sets the tone for everything the programme does: worship that gives glory to God, a season of peace in our communities, and good will shown to one another. The theme guides the repertoire entrants choose, and ‘message and theme fidelity’ is one of the scored criteria at adjudication.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Glory to God
Worship that lifts every voice to heaven.
Peace on Earth
A season of harmony in our homes, churches and communities.
Good Will Toward Men
Courtesy, fairness and kindness in everything we do.
A Message from His Excellency
My dear people of Akwa Ibom State,
When the angels announced the birth of our Lord, they did not speak, they sang: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ That song has echoed across the centuries, and this Christmas we invite it to ring out across every corner of our dear State.
Akwa Ibom is a land of song. From the church choirs of Uyo, Eket and Ikot Ekpene to the school choirs, community groups and gifted soloists in our villages, our people have always given God glory with their voices. The Christmas Choral Night, ‘Glory in the Highest’, is our way of celebrating that gift, and of giving every talented choir and artiste, wherever they are, a fair and open opportunity to minister before the whole State.
Pastor Umo Eno
Executive Governor, Akwa Ibom State
How it works
Four steps to the stage
1
Register
Create your account with your email and phone number, both verified by one-time code. Complete your profile, verify your identity, and enrol your group members.
2
Submit
Record your performance as a single continuous live take, 3 to 6 minutes long, minimum 720p, with your unique Verification Phrase spoken on camera, and upload it through the Portal.
3
Verification
Ministry Desk Officers check every entry for eligibility, completeness and authenticity. You may be asked to correct an entry or provide a short live verification clip.
4
Selection
Expert adjudicators score approved entries against a published rubric. Shortlisted finalists are notified, confirm within 72 hours, attend a live audition, and minister on the Christmas Choral Night.
Portal opens 1 October
Categories
Find where your voice belongs
Ensemble or small group
2 to 7 persons
Church choir
8 to 60 persons
Community or independent choral group
8 to 60 persons
School or institutional choir
8 to 60 persons
Children and teens choir
8 to 60 persons, majority under 18
Instrumental group or band
2 to 30 persons, Christmas repertoire
Groups with any member under 18 must register two verified adult group leads.
Genres
Styles we welcome
Traditional Christmas carols
Established carols in standard or adapted arrangement
Classical and sacred choral
Anthems, oratorio excerpts and set pieces
Contemporary gospel Christmas
Modern gospel treatment of the Nativity theme
Indigenous language carols
Ibibio, Annang, Oron, Efik and other local languages
Afro gospel praise and worship
Christmas and Nativity centred worship
A cappella and acoustic gospel
Unaccompanied or lightly accompanied
Instrumental Christmas
Brass, strings, keys, folk instruments
Original Christmas composition
Previously unpublished work written by the entrant
All entries must be Christian or Christmas based and must speak to the theme, Glory in the Highest (Luke 2:14). Secular content is not accepted.
Voices of Akwa Ibom
Churches, schools, communities and soloists — one song of glory
Images are illustrative.
Prizes, grants & honoraria
Prizes, Grants & Honoraria
A total prize purse of ₦10,000,000 will be shared among the three winning entries of the 2026 Christmas Choral Night.
10 million naira total prize purse
2
2nd Prize, First Runner-up
3 million naira
Plaque and certificate
1
1st Prize, Winner
5 million naira
Glory in the Highest trophy and certificate
3
3rd Prize, Second Runner-up
2 million naira
Plaque and certificate
- Every finalist ministers live on the Christmas Choral Night stage.
- Certificate of Participation for every verified entrant.
Prize split is subject to final confirmation by the Programme Secretariat.
Key dates
The road to Christmas Choral Night
Portal opens (registration and account creation)
Thu, 1 October 2026
Entry window opens
Thu, 1 October 2026
Entry window closes
Fri, 16 October 2026
Desk review (rolling)
ProvisionalThu, 1 October 2026 – Fri, 23 October 2026
Expert adjudication
ProvisionalMon, 26 October 2026 – Sat, 7 November 2026
Shortlisted finalists notified
ProvisionalWed, 11 November 2026
Accept within 72 hours
Live audition and technical check
ProvisionalSat, 21 November 2026
Rehearsals
ProvisionalMon, 23 November 2026 – Wed, 9 December 2026
Christmas Choral Night, Uyo
ProvisionalSat, 12 December 2026
Venue to be announced
All times are West Africa Time (WAT). Provisional dates will be confirmed by the Programme Secretariat.
What judges look for
The scoring rubric
- Vocal or instrumental execution25
Technical accuracy, tone, intonation and control
- Musicality & interpretation20
Expression, dynamics and phrasing
- Message & theme fidelity15
How well the piece speaks to Glory in the Highest
- Presentation & stage readiness15
Visual presentation, discipline and stagecraft
- Originality & creativity10
Arrangement, interpretation and creative choices
- Group coordination & discipline10
Ensemble unity, blend and timing
- Recording quality5
Audio and video clarity
Total: 100 marks
Enter the 2026 edition
Lift your voice. Give glory.
The Portal and entries open 1 October 2026. Entries close 16 October 2026.
Portal opens 1 October Log in