Aspiring DJs, take note! Your Shot, the DJ competition for beginners, is returning to the United States.
Prospective participants need to first register and then attend one of the in-person selection events taking place in Denver and Miami in August, and New York and Los Angeles in September. (Denver and Miami are new to the U.S. edition this year.) Registration is open now, with organizers reporting that more than 8,300 would-be participants have already signed up. Registration is open on the competition’s website.
Those who are selected for Your Shot will spend six weeks learning the core skills of DJing, from mixing and music selection to live performance. Mixers and controllers for these lessons is being provided by AlphaTheta, with Sony providing top of the line speakers and headphones. The 2026 competition will culminate in showcase weekends in Denver, Miami, Los Angeles and New York, where contestants perform and compete in front of real crowds. Winners will get an opening DJ slot at a major music festival, with this year’s prizes including slots at F1 Las Vegas, Insomniac’s EDSea and additional events to be announced.
Founded 16 years ago in Australia, Your Shot debuted in the U.S. last year, with this edition bringing more than 500 first-time DJs into its training and mentorship program. The event culminated in showcases that brought more than 10,000 attendees across Los Angeles and New York, with a pair of female DJs, Jelly Bean and Punky Butter, ultimately winning. As part of this victory, both of these artists will play opening sets at the 2026 editions of Pennsylvania’s Elements Music & Arts Festival and San Diego’s CRSSD.
The advisory board for Your Shot’s 2026 U.S. edition includes DJ and Femme House cofounder LP Giobbi, president of Live Nation’s Vibee Harvey Cohen and management company The Circuit Group, who represent scene stars including Chris Lake and Fisher.
“Every aspiring artist deserves access to opportunities, mentorship and a community that believes in them,” LP Giobbi said in a statement. “I’m proud to support the incredible work Your Shot is doing to help the next generation of DJs build confidence, develop their craft and take that first step.”
