Submissions are closed—but the excitement is just beginning!

Auditions for the 2025 K12 Talent Showdown have officially concluded. Thank you for sharing your talent!

From singing and dancing to juggling and comedy, you showed us what makes you shine.

The top 36 finalists will be announced on Feb. 25, 2026—check back soon to see who takes center stage!

Step up. Be bold. Be yourself.

Explore the talent submissions we received from K12-powered students in grades K–12 from across the nation!

Categories

Below are the categories that students could choose to enter their talent in:

Musical Performances

Sing it, strum it, beat it, blow it—if it makes music, it belongs here.1

Creative Performances

Poetry. Spoken word. Acting. Dancing. Comedy. Storytelling. If it moves the crowd or brings the feels, this is your stage.

Variety Acts

Got a skill that turns heads? Show us your magic, martial arts, gymnastics, juggling—or anything totally unexpected.

1Music must be original or in the public domain. Copyrighted songs and performances are not permitted.

What You Could Win

36 finalists (plus chaperones) will be invited to the in-person final competition to perform LIVE on stage in June 2026!

We’ll crown one winner and one People’s Choice award per grade band (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12) in each category—for a total of 24 prizes!

1st Place

$500

(Cash or Amazon e-gift card—your choice!)

People’s Choice

$250

(Cash or Amazon e-gift card—your choice!)

Winners will be announced in June 2026!

Judging Criteria

A panel of judges will review entries based on:

Virtual Round

  • Creativity and originality (25%)
  • Skill, technique, and execution (25%)
  • Presentation and stage presence (25%)
  • Overall impact and entertainment value (15%)
  • Technical Quality (10%)

In-Person Finals Round

  • Creativity and originality (25%)
  • Skill, technique, and execution (25%)
  • Presentation and stage presence (25%)
  • Overall impact and entertainment value (25%)

The top 36 finalists will be announced at 5 PM (ET) on February 25, 2026.

Talent Showdown Timeline

Aug. 12–Nov. 17, 2025

Submit your entry

Nov. 18, 2025–Feb. 20, 2026

Judging period

June 2026

Live, in-person finals & public voting. Winners will be announced at this time too.

Before submitting, all participants must agree to these terms upon submitting an entry.

We’ve got answers. Email us at competitions@K12.com

Stay in the know.

Don’t miss a beat—follow us on social media for the latest updates on the K12 Talent Showdown and see how we’re helping students explore and showcase their creative skills.

K12 Talent Showdown