PHASE 1
January 6 – February 28, 2026
APPLICATIONS & SELECTION
• Early Bird Applications: January 6 – February 6
• Last Chance Applications: February 7 – February 22
• Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
• Official competition roster confirmed by February 27
PHASE 2
March 4 – September 30, 2026
THE COMPETITION
The competition officially launches on March 4. Artists actively compete through:
• Real-world creative challenges
• TikTok LIVE performances
• Short-form content and storytelling
• Audience engagement and community building
• Mentorship, feedback, and ongoing evaluation
Artists are continuously evaluated across: Demand, Discipline, Scalability (Innovation), and Durability.
PHASE 3
March 20 – April 10, 2026
LIVE ACTIVATIONS & TOUR
12 POP-UP STREET CONCERTS
• Unannounced, high-visibility pop-up performances
• Organic audience testing without advance promotion
• High-impact short-form and LIVE content capture
• Early proof of demand, presence, and adaptability
• Real-world testing of stage command & crowd conversion
These pop-ups serve as an early pressure test:
Can the artist stop people, hold attention, and create momentum in the wild?
8-CITY MINI BUS TOUR
July 2 – August 10, 2026
• Live performances across eight markets
• Creator-led TikTok LIVE broadcasts from each city
• Fan engagement, meetups, and brand integrations
• Consistency, endurance, and scalability tested at scale
The competition continues throughout the tour.
PHASE 4
September 13 – September 17, 2026
THE FINALE (LIVE PERFORMANCES)
• The Final 8 artists perform live at a New York City music venue
• Live audience and professional production
• Livestreamed audience participation
• Final evaluations completed
WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
September 30, 2026
Final results announced
Winner officially crowned
Prize distribution and $250K career acceleration package activated
This window allows for final scoring validation, content rollout, press and partner amplification