Sam Smith and BBC Introducing are running a call for 10 opening acts for Sam Smith’s UK residency shows in Manchester and London, with artists able to upload music to the BBC Introducing Uploader between late July and early August and tag it with “Sam Smith.”

Winners will be announced later in the summer and will be featured across BBC Introducing.

The openings come ahead of the release of Smith’s forthcoming album Hazel Eyes, due on August 21.

Full information and Terms and Conditions for the opportunity will be released soon.

Ticket information: general sale began on July 10, with a fan pre-sale on July 9; tickets available via Ticketmaster and the artist’s store.

The announcement was made on BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders, underscoring the collaborative discovery process.

Smith described the initiative as an exciting part of the discovery process for artists and audiences, highlighting the value of uncovering new talent.

The project emphasizes discovery and audience engagement, with Smith expressing enthusiasm for supporting emerging artists.

The program centers on discovering new artists and engaging audiences through the artist-finder process, with Smith’s active involvement.

The partnership aligns with BBC Music’s broader mission to support emerging artists and showcase established ones as part of BBC’s Summer Of Music 2026.

Statements from BBC Music director Lorna Clarke and BBC Introducing editor Kelly Betts highlight the initiative’s impact and goals, in the context of Summer Of Music coverage including Charli XCX, Calvin Harris, and related programming.

The collaboration sits within broader BBC summer programming featuring live acts and extensive festival coverage across BBC platforms.