RAPSTAR2026 has drawn 12,953 applicants, the highest ever, and is set to premiere October 10 on ABEMA with a 10 million yen prize.
RAPSTAR2026, ABEMA's rapper discovery audition, has drawn 12,953 applicants, the highest in the program's history and nearly double last year's 6,780. The 2026 season premieres October 10 on ABEMA, with a winner's prize of 10 million yen, up from 3 million. Seven producers provided beats for application videos.
The prize increase was announced in June, when the program confirmed the winner's prize of 10 million yen, the highest ever. Applications opened June 1 through June 12, and the finals are set for December 29 as part of the STARZ 2026 event. Beat makers for the audition videos include Chaki Zulu, D3adStock, and others.
The near-doubling of applicants and the raised prize signal the program's growing pull in the hip-hop scene, according to the coverage.
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STARZ 2026 will be held on December 29, 2026 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, with doors at 13:00 and a 14:00 start. The event combines a hip-hop live show with the RAPSTAR 2026 FINALS, the deciding stage of ABEMA's rapper audition. The fastest advance ticket lottery runs October 10 to 19 on Lawson Ticket.
ABEMA's rapper discovery audition RAPSTAR2026 has drawn 12,953 applicants, the highest ever, nearly double last year's 6,780. The 2026 season premieres October 10 on ABEMA, with a 10 million yen prize, up from 3 million. Seven producers provided beats for application videos.
The next-generation rapper audition project RAPSTAR 2026 has been announced with a winner's prize of 10 million yen, the highest in the program's history. Applications open June 1 through June 12. The finals will be held December 29 as part of the STARZ 2026 event. Beat makers for the audition videos include Chaki Zulu, D3adStock, and others.