Rising Tides Announced as 2026 USKA Kickoff Venue
Dallas, TX — Rising Tides, in partnership with SoundSnobs Karaoke, is proud to announce its official designation as the 2026 United States Karaoke Association (USKA) Kickoff Qualifying Venue. As part of this honor, Rising Tides will host qualifiers for both of USKA’s premier national competitions: the U.S. Open and the Karaoke Cup.
SoundSnobs Karaoke is led by DJ Rich and DJ Gail, both accomplished competitors on the IKF Karaoke Cup World Finals stage. DJ Rich placed in the Top 16 at the IKF Karaoke Cup World Finals in both 2024 and 2025, while DJ Gail earned a Top 10 finish in the Duets division at the 2025 IKF Karaoke Cup World Finals.
While DJ Rich and DJ Gail will not serve as judges for the competition, they will act as mentors for contestants who advance, helping prepare them for the Regional and World Final stages. Their firsthand experience competing at the highest level provides invaluable guidance for performers ready to elevate their craft.
What the Judges Are Looking For
USKA competitions are judged on more than vocal ability alone. Scoring includes stage presence, artistry, emotional impact, and overall entertainment value. This is not just about finding the best technical singer — it’s about discovering the entertainer who can command a stage and captivate a Las Vegas audience. For detailed information on judging criteria, click here.
In past World Final events, judging panels have included casting professionals affiliated with major national television franchises such as American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and The Voice, along with talent managers and Artist & Repertoire (A&R) representatives. While USKA cannot guarantee industry opportunities to contestants, many competitors who have advanced to the World Finals have gone on to pursue expanded performance careers beyond karaoke after gaining national exposure.
U.S. Open - dates announced
The U.S. Open features genre-specific competitions in Pop, Rock, Country, and Showtunes, with separate divisions for men and women. Contestants who advance through local qualifiers will move on to Regional Finals taking place in May and June. From there, top competitors will earn the opportunity to compete at the World Finals in August at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas.
Karaoke Cup - dates coming soon
The IKF Karaoke Cup combines all genres into one elite competition with a larger prize pool, attracting some of the strongest vocalists in the country. Advancement is primarily determined by highest score, with additional pathways including a People’s Choice selection and a coveted Golden Ticket. Regional Finals for the IKF Karaoke Cup will take place in August and September, followed by IKF Karaoke Cup World Finals in November at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas.
Rising Tides is proud to host qualifiers for both competition tracks, offering Texas singers multiple paths to the national stage.
With Texas claiming national titles two years in a row, the mission is clear: defend the crown and prove once again that Texas is home to the best vocal talent in the country.
Qualifying Dates:
There is a $31.20 registration fee for EACH genre. These fees go directly to the United States Karaoke Association and any questions and concerns about registration fees should be directed to them. SoundSnobs Karaoke is not involved in adjudicating these events. With that said, any questions about adjudication should be also directed to the United States Karaoke Association.
USKA U.S. Open
March 21st, 2026
Applications are now closed for this event :(
IKF USKA Karaoke Cup
To be announced soon…
