John Henry Medina, Director of Digital & Radio Content at TejanoNation.net and host of the syndicated Tejano Nation radio show heard on great stations across the nation every weekend, shares this important information on the 2026 Big Squeeze Accordion Contest, now celebrating their 20th anniversary: “Applications are now available from Texas Folklife for the 20th Anniversary of The Big Squeeze Accordion Contest, one of the nation’s premier competitions for youth and young adult accordionists.

Big Squeeze Accordion Contest 2025 winner Emiliano Soto. | Credit: Mariaelena Villarreal / Tejano Nation

“We are excited to welcome you to one of the most important youth and young adult accordion competitions in the country,” said Sunny Sauceda, Director of Musical Heritage at Texas Folklife. “A program dedicated to honoring tradition, spotlighting talent, and cultivating the next generation of Texas accordion stars.”

Since its launch in 2006, The Big Squeeze has provided a statewide stage for young musicians to showcase their skills across a wide variety of genres, including Zydeco, Cajun, Polka, Conjunto, Tejano, and Classical. For 20 years, the contest has helped jumpstart the careers of many talented artists who have gone on to record albums, tour nationally, teach, and advocate for their musical traditions.

As the program marks this milestone in 2026, Texas Folklife is introducing new enhancements designed to strengthen its impact. These include a restructured application process, updated performance expectations, and the creation of the Texas Folklife Accordion Music Advisory Council, a group of respected tradition bearers and genre experts who will help guide the future of The Big Squeeze.

“We thank you for joining us in this historic moment, and we look forward to witnessing your talent, energy, and dedication throughout this year’s journey,” added Sauceda.

Applications for the 2026 Big Squeeze Accordion Contest have been extended to January 7, 2026. Full details and submission guidelines are available at TexasFolklife.org.

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