Ready to Rise?
Compete live at your local Hard Rock Cafe for a chance to take
your music to the global stage.
August 4, 2026
August 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EST)
Hard Rock Rising is a global music competition built on what happens live. In partnership with Coca-Cola, artists from around the world take the stage at local
Hard Rock Cafes where fans show up, vote live, and decide who moves forward.
The artists who move the room rise to the top, advancing from local stages to global recognition,
a $10,000 grand prize, and more.
Grand Prize
Win $10,000 plus a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Florida and California, including:
- Hotel accommodations at Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando
- Opening Act for major artist at Hard Rock Live Orlando
- Round-trip airfare to Orlando
- Universal theme park tickets
- $10,000 USD
- Recording session at Coke Studio LA + music distribution
- Round-trip airfare to Los Angeles
Total prize value may vary based on artist location and number of traveling band members.
Join Hard Rock Rising: How to Enter
Submit your music for a chance to take your sound from your hometown to the world stage.
Complete required fields on the form, including:
- Your preferred Cafe
- Two original song links
- Photo and lyrics
Agree to the Official Rules
View the full rules here.
Submit Entry
Watch your inbox for confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Artists, bands, DJs, and solo performers who meet the eligibility requirements and are at least 18 years of age. Please view the Official Rules for full eligibility criteria.
All entrants must submit two original song links through approved streaming platforms.
No. Music submissions must be provided as streaming links. File uploads will not be accepted.
SoundCloud, YouTube, Spotify, and other streaming platforms.
Bands may have up to five members. Solo artists and DJs are also eligible to participate.
Yes. All participants must be at least 18 years old at the time of entry.
Yes, provided you own the rights to the music and it complies with the Official Rules.
No. Each artist or band may submit one application per participating Hard Rock Cafe location.
All live performances must be original songs. Submitted songs must be original works.
Artists will be evaluated based on originality, musical talent, songwriting, audience appeal, stage presence, and overall potential as an emerging artist. Please refer to the Judging Criteria section and Official Rules for additional details.
Artists must submit a promotional image that is:
- Minimum 150 DPI
- RGB color mode
- PNG or JPEG format
- Approved for promotional use
The winning artist will receive:
- $10,000 cash
- Round-trip airfare to Orlando
- Hotel accommodations in Orlando
- Universal theme park tickets
- Round-trip airfare to Los Angeles
Prize value may vary based on artist location and number of travelers.
Yes. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address provided once your submission has been successfully received.
Entries must be submitted by August 21 at 11:59 PM (Time Zone TBD).
Competition Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| September 2 | Round One – First three artists/bands compete. Winner announced. |
| September 9 | Round Two – Second three artists/bands compete. Winner announced. |
| September 16 | Round Three – Third three artists/bands compete. Winner announced. |
| September 23 | Final Round – Three finalists compete. Performances from all participating cafe winners are submitted to Coke Studios for final judging. |
| October 5 | Winner Announced – Grand prize winner selected and notified. |
Selected artists will be contacted directly using the information provided in their submission.
Artists will be evaluated on a combination of:
- Originality and creativity
- Musical talent and performance quality
- Songwriting and composition
- Audience appeal and stage presence
- Overall potential as an emerging artist
Artists selected to perform at local Hard Rock Cafe competitions will compete live in front of fans. Local competition winners are determined through audience voting. Finalists advancing beyond the local level will be evaluated on criteria including originality, musicianship, social presence, and overall potential.
The artist who best demonstrates exceptional talent, originality, and readiness to perform on a global stage will advance through the competition.
NO PURCHASE/PAYMENT NECESSARY. 18 years and older and resident of participating location countries, except where excluded or prohibited by law. Entries: 9:00am ET 8/04/26 to11:59 pm ET 8/18/26. Local spots limited; only selected entrants participate. To enter and for Official Rules including local competition dates/requirements, local/grand prize winner selection and prize description, visit https://cafe.hardrock.com/hard-rock-rising.
