Your Shot, a beginner-focused DJ competition, is returning to the United States for its second year, giving aspiring DJs the chance to learn skills, perform live, and win a coveted festival opening slot. The initiative, founded in Australia 16 years ago and launched in the US last year, matters because it offers newcomers structured mentorship and real performance opportunities in an industry where breaking through can be difficult without connections or experience.

Registration is open now, with more than 8,300 hopefuls already signed up ahead of in-person selection events in Denver and Miami in August, and New York and Los Angeles in September, with Denver and Miami new additions this year. Selected participants undergo six weeks of training in mixing, music selection and live performance, using equipment provided by AlphaTheta and Sony, before competing at showcase events in front of live crowds. Winners will earn opening DJ slots at major festivals, including F1 Las Vegas and Insomniac's EDSea, following on from last year's winners Jelly Bean and Punky Butter, who are set to play Elements Music & Arts Festival and CRSSD in 2026. The competition's advisory board includes DJ LP Giobbi and Live Nation's Vibee president Harvey Cohen.