Santa Monica Travel & Tourism is inviting songwriters and musicians to compete for $10,000 by creating an original song celebrating the city's connection to historic Route 66 as part of the iconic highway's 100th anniversary in 2026.
The Route 66 Song Contest, announced Wednesday, is open to artists over 18 in 10 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Submissions will be accepted through April 30, 2026, with a winner selected in June.
"The Santa Monica Route 66 Song Contest presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for music lovers to be part of this historic anniversary by invoking their artistic imagination and sharing what the road's legacy and Santa Monica's connection means to them," said Misti Kerns, president and CEO of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. "The arts are core to Santa Monica's community and culture, and we're pleased to invite artists from around the world to join us in creatively honoring this milestone."
Santa Monica serves as the legendary western terminus of Route 66, with the highway officially ending at the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards. An honorary marker on the Santa Monica Pier commemorates the end point, where travelers can photograph their completion of the cross-country journey.
The city will play a central role in the centennial celebrations. On Jan. 3, 2026, Santa Monica will serve as the starting point for The Drive Home, a road trip organized by America's Automotive Trust in partnership with the National Route 66 Centennial Commission. The cross-country journey will travel the length of Route 66 and culminate in an exhibition at the Detroit Auto Show.
Mayor Lana Negrete emphasized the cultural importance of the contest during the announcement.
"Music crosses all lines, languages and culture, and it brings people together in a time of need," Negrete said. "This is a really cool and sweet opportunity to honor the past, take into account all the things Santa Monica offers along Route 66 being the final stop."
Negrete, whose family's Santa Monica Music Center has operated in the city for 55 years, noted the store's location on Santa Monica Boulevard along the historic route. The business provides instruments and repairs to local schools and colleges while also offering private lessons and group programs.
"We hope to see someone come up with something unique that talks a little bit about Santa Monica, but really about that American emblem road trip that takes you across our beautiful nation and ends right here at our beautiful coastal city," she said.
Route 66 was officially established Nov. 11, 1926, as part of the first U.S. numbered highway system. The 2,448-mile transcontinental road connected Chicago to Santa Monica, linking rural communities to major cities and allowing farmers and truckers to transport goods more easily.
During the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Route 66 became a lifeline for more than 200,000 migrants fleeing drought and poverty in the Midwest, heading west toward California. Author John Steinbeck immortalized the highway in his 1939 novel "The Grapes of Wrath," dubbing it the "Mother Road" as a symbol of hope and escape.
Following World War II, Route 66 boomed with vacationing families, fueling a roadside economy of diners, motor courts and attractions throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
The highway was gradually replaced by the Interstate Highway System. The last original section was bypassed by Interstate 40 in 1984, and Route 66 was officially decertified in 1985. About 85% of the old route remains drivable, preserved as Historic Route 66 by state associations and the National Park Service.
The highway gained lasting fame through popular culture, including Bobby Troup's 1946 song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," which was recorded by Nat King Cole and later covered by artists from Chuck Berry to the Rolling Stones. A 1960s television series and Disney-Pixar's "Cars" further cemented the route's place in American culture.
Full contest details are available at santamonica.com/route66. Visitors to Santa Monica can obtain Route 66 souvenirs and a free Certificate of Completion at the city's Visitor Information Centers.