Peckham rooted: BORN N BREAD are back

Longstanding partners BORN N BREAD know that community is everything.

Rooted in Peckham, the collective have spent years creating space for Black women and underrepresented voices across music, media and culture. What started between school friends has grown into a platform championing new talent and building opportunities where they didn’t always exist themselves.

In addition to returning to host our beloved Cornerstone stage, BORN N BREAD are back with the GALA Festival DJ Competition – and entries are officially open. They’re searching for two emerging DJs from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds to join this year’s programme, with the chance to perform at GALA’26. And this year brings something new: a live final at Palais on 14 May, where finalists will play in front of a live crowd and a panel of experienced DJs.

@galafestival

Longstanding partners BORN N BREAD know that community is everything. 💞 Rooted in Peckham, the collective have spent years creating space for Black women and underrepresented voices across music, media and culture. What started between school friends has grown into a platform championing new talent and building opportunities where they didn’t always exist themselves. Now, for the fifth year running, BORN N BREAD return with the GALA Festival DJ Competition 💿 – and entries are officially open! They’re searching for two emerging DJs from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds to join this year’s programme, with the chance to perform at GALA’26. And this year brings something new: a live final at #Palais London on 14 May, where finalists will play in front of a live crowd and a panel of experienced DJs. Created to support women, femmes and non-binary people taking their first steps into DJing, the competition exists to platform talent too often overlooked on festival line-ups — while giving winners practical support, exposure and a pathway into the scene. To apply: — Be 18+ and London-based — Identify as a woman, femme or non-binary person from a Black or ethnic minority background — Submit a 30-minute mix [link in bio!] — Applicants must not have previously performed at a mainstream festival — Must be available for the live final on 14.05.26 and to play GALA Festival on 22.05.26 Competition opens Wednesday 29 April, 8pm Competition closes Sunday 10 May, 8pm Link in bio 🔗

♬ original sound – galafestival

Created to support women, femmes and non-binary people taking their first steps into DJing, the competition exists to platform talent too often overlooked on festival line-ups — while giving winners practical support, exposure and a pathway into the scene.

To apply:

Follow @bornnbread_ & @galafestival
Be 18+ and London-based
Identify as a woman, femme or non-binary person from a Black or ethnic minority background
Submit a 30-minute mix
Applicants must not have previously performed at a mainstream festival
Must be available for the live final on 14.05.26 and to play GALA on 22.05.26

Competition opens Wednesday 29 April, 8pm
Competition closes Sunday 10 May, 8pm

Application form.

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BORN N BREAD will host the Cornerstone Stage at GALA’26 on Friday 22 May. Revisit our 2022 interview with the collective here.