Today, we present a video collage filled with the laughter, dancing, sincerity and talent that has caught our eyes and ears over the past few months. With more than 6,000 entries from artists hailing from every inch of the 50 states — plus Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C. — we celebrate the diversity of this community and the work and joy that goes into each entry.
The first song we hear is “Papa Said,” a theatrical, jazzy ballad by Jobi in Florida. Also from Florida, there’s a tropical exploration of love in “Falta de Agua” by Nicole Horbath. Then, we take a tour through some acoustic entries with the tender and nostalgic “Coaster” by Emily Jeanne Brown in New York. Finally, Kyle Tasch in Illinois ties the group together with his aptly named song “My Desk is Tiny.” As the music plays, let us know your favorite moment in the comments.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t include everyone. To explore all of the entries and watch them in full, head to the Contest entry browser. We promise you’ll find something new to love.
The 2026 Tiny Desk Contest is presented by Capital One and supported by Rivian.
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We also featured many excellent eye and ear-catching entries in our #DeskOfTheDay series on Instagram since we last wrote. Take a look at the latest:
Before we go: Just a friendly reminder that next week we’ll kick off this year’s Top Shelf series, where the judges highlight their favorite entries live on YouTube. Make sure to set your reminder for episode one, hosted by Bobby and Robin, by clicking the notification bell on the video. We’ll also be sending reminders through this newsletter on Thursday mornings in the coming weeks.
From the Desk,
NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest team
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