Your Shot, the hit DJ training and competition event brand from Australia, had a smashing US debut in 2025, running its programming in New York City and Los Angeles. For 2026, Your Shot USA expands its events to two more cities, including the bass capital, Denver, and the house capital, Miami, for more impact and visibility in the States’ hottest EDM markets. Registration is currently open for all four cities, but don’t delay. Registration closes for the cities on a rolling basis, with selection events at each of the local club venues where the final competition will take place:
- August 22 – Bar Standard – Denver, CO
- August 29 – M2 Nightclub – Miami, FL
- September 12 – Catch One – Los Angeles, CA
- September 19 – Elsewhere – Brooklyn, NY
With a no-experience-necessary application process, Your Shot selects candidates to participate in a 6-week DJ crash course taught by industry professionals, allowing aspiring producers to hone their craft for the modern-day music market. Then, at the culmination of the DJ boot camp, the newly trained DJs will participate in a DJ exhibition at a local club to show off their skills and compete for prizes awarded to the top performers. In addition to a monetary award, 2025’s winners Jelly Bean (LA) and Punky Butter (NYC) also got the opportunity to play festival sets at CRSSD and Elements this year.
“Your Shot is not just a DJ competition,” shared Steve Pillemer, Founder and CEO of Your Shot. “It is a community for aspiring DJs, and music fans to challenge themselves, learn a new skill, and build real relationships. We have now seen firsthand, across both Australia and America, that music, access, and opportunity have an incredible power to improve and change lives.”
Your Shot does amazing work uplifting a music community, something I’ve been grateful to witness firsthand over the last year. I consider myself lucky that my favorite local Brooklyn club, Elsewhere, hosted the 2025 NYC competition, letting me hear dozens of hungry and talented young DJs show off a wide range of EDM genres in a fun multi-room venue with four stages for the occasion.
Better yet, a long-time friend and local flow artist, Vybria, advanced to the final four of the NYC competition, leading to a handful of local bookings in the competitive New York City scene over the past year. “Playing my live set was such a feeling of accomplishment and joy, making a long time dream come true, watching weeks of grinding come to fruition,” Vybria recalls. “Getting called up as an overall winner to play in the final was surreal. It validated my dreams to pursue music, that when I work hard I can achieve great things and make something special for people to enjoy. I was able to take people on an emotional journey and… it was a very emotional experience because I’ve wanted this for so long.”
Vybria continues to priase her Your Shot experience, saying “Your Shot didn’t just teach me the basics when it came to understanding DJing hardware and software with Rekordbox, it fostered an underground community of artists that are now hosting their own events. Your Shot gave us our wings and taught us how to fly, now it’s our time to learn how to soar. There’s so much I’ve learned each time I’ve stepped behind the decks… Your Shot gave me the confidence to put myself out there, to make mistakes and learn how to regroup, to never give up. Those skills and connections are the ones that will take me far.”
With dozens of educated, inspired young producers and a revitalizing effect on the local grassroots music scenes, Your Shot has had a tremendous uplifting experience for its US cities in 2025. Of course, it’s also helped launch the careers of Australian artists like Sippy, Tigerlily, and Go Freek. For 2026, Your Shot renews its national brand partnership with AlphaTheta for mixers and controllers, and welcomes Sony as a new partner through its ULT POWER SOUND series of speakers and pro audio headphones. These partnerships elevate the Your Shot experience from bedroom-to-stage, giving emerging DJs access to professional-grade gear, powerful sound, and a more immersive live environment.
This year’s U.S. advisors include producer, instrumentalist, DJ, and FEMME HOUSE co-founder LP Giobbi; Harvey Cohen, President of Live Nation’s Vibee; and the management company The Circuit Group, which manages Chris Lake and FISHER. “Every aspiring artist deserves access to opportunities, mentorship, and a community that believes in them. 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.” LP Giobbi shared.
Preliminary registration info from two weeks ago shows skyrocketing attention, with more than 8,300 applicants across the country. But don’t let that discourage you; the application process is open to everyone from amateur aux holders to experienced music selectors and everyone in between. Just be sure to submit those applications soon, as the initial Denver deadline is in about two weeks. For more information about the program and the culminating live event, connect using the Your Shot links below.
