Submit Today to Enter BroadwayWorld's Next On Stage: Season 7

The spotlight is calling! Next On Stage, BroadwayWorld’s nationwide competition for high school and college students, is back for Season 7 and ready to discover a brand-new batch of rising stars. Whether you’ve joined us before or you’re stepping into the competition for the very first time, now’s your chance to sing out, stand tall, and show us what makes you shine!

Next On Stage: Season 7 is presented by The Institute for American Musical Theatre (IAMT) and Atlantic Acting School, and sponsored by Music Theatre International, 54 Below, Schmigadoon!, Pronto Me, The Westin New York at Times Square, and Starbright Floral Design. Learn more about our sponsors!

For Season 7, we're inviting high school and college-aged students to enter by submitting videos of themselves performing a song from the musical theatre canon. Each week, contestants will be voted on by the general public and judged by an all-star panel of judges, including: J. Elaine Marcos (Drag: The Musical), Michael Minarik (Les Misérables), Kyle Taylor Parker (Kinky Boots), Courtney Reed (Moulin Rouge!), Kate Rockwell (Mean Girls), and Michael James Scott (Aladdin). Ben Cameron will return as host.

The deadline to submit is October 19, 2026, by 11:59 PM ET. Videos must feature solo performances without backing vocals and should be in an audition/self-tape-style format, filmed horizontally against a flat background with a steady camera.

Submissions should be around one minute in length and uploaded to YouTube as unlisted or public links (please avoid "Shorts"). High school submissions are open to individuals aged 14-18, graduating between 2026-2030, while college submissions are for those aged 18-23, graduating between 2026-2030.

Contestants who have previously entered the competition are eligible to enter again, however Contestants who have won the competition in a prior year are ineligible to reenter. 

This contest is open to U.S. residents only. For questions regarding eligibility, contact nextonstage@broadwayworld.com.

Enter the competition today!