"We've Got Talent!"

Official Contest Rules

Please read these Official Contest Rules carefully before registering for We’ve Got Talent 2026. By submitting your registration, payment, audition materials, and required participant information, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to follow these rules and requirements.

Registration & Entry Requirements

To participate in We’ve Got Talent, you must complete the required registration process, submit the $30 non-refundable registration fee, and provide all required participant information, audition details, and signed acknowledgments by the stated deadline. All required materials must be completed in full for an entry to be considered. Official materials state that signed paperwork must be completed with the application fee and that fees are non-refundable.

By registering, you confirm that all information you submit is accurate, complete, and truthful. If a participant is under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete the required consent and release acknowledgment as part of the submission process.

Eligibility

We’ve Got Talent welcomes a wide range of performers, including solo acts and ensemble acts. Eligible talent may include singers, musicians, actors, dancers, comedians, poets, jugglers, puppeteers, impressionists, magicians, quick-change artists, and other family-friendly performance-based acts.

Official contest materials indicate that student and adult performers are eligible to participate. They also state that participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf. Group acts are permitted, and one official document states that no more than 16 participants may be included in a single act or group.

Acts That Are Not Allowed

All performances must be suitable for a family-friendly audience. At this time, acts involving pyrotechnics, animals, trapeze performances, or aerial elements are not permitted. If you are unsure whether your act qualifies, you should contact the event team before completing your submission.

Audition Submission Rules

All participants must submit an audition that reflects the same act they intend to perform if selected. Once your act is submitted and acknowledged, no changes may be made to the performance. This includes the performers, costume, material, format, and length of the act.

If selected for live auditions or finals, you must present the same act that was submitted during the enrollment period. Performers should appear in the same costume and use the same materials planned for live performance.

Performance Length & Timing

All acts are limited to two minutes and thirty seconds (2:30). Audition and performance timing will be strictly enforced. If your act exceeds the allowed time, or if you fail to be ready within your scheduled time, you may be eliminated from the competition. Participants selected for live auditions should also arrive early and be prepared for their assigned audition time.

Music, Vocals & Audio Rules

If you are a singer, you may perform only in one of the approved formats: a cappella, with a track that does not include lead vocals, or with live accompaniment provided by you.

If your act uses a track, required audio must be submitted in the format and timeframe requested by the event. Official rules state that performers using a track must provide an MP3 recording in advance.

Props, Equipment & Stage Requirements

A piano or keyboard may be provided if needed. Any other instrument, equipment, or approved performance item must be brought, handled, and removed by the performer within the allotted time. No special flooring may be required or used. No scenery is permitted. Only simple hand props may be used, and they must be easy for the performer to carry on and off stage. Basic stage lighting will be provided.

Content Standards

All acts must be G-rated. Any inappropriate or indecent language, gestures, costumes, or material may result in disqualification. This includes, but is not limited to, profanity, explicit sexual content, racist content, threatening language, abusive content, defamatory material, or anything deemed unsuitable for a family-friendly event environment.

Conduct & Disqualification

Any participant who appears to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other controlled substances may be disqualified and asked to leave the premises. Participants are expected to conduct themselves appropriately throughout the registration process, audition process, and live event. Failure to follow official contest rules may result in disqualification at the sole discretion of event organizers.

Intellectual Property & Submitted Materials

Creative materials should not include brand names, logos, trademarks, trade names, or other protected intellectual property. In addition, official registration materials state that submitted headshots and audition videos become intellectual property of Gifford Academy for Performing Arts and that the organization reserves the copyright.

Selection Process

Acts are evaluated based on entertainment value, showmanship, and ability. Official materials also state that selected acts may be chosen in a way that helps create a balanced and entertaining variety of performances for the event. One official document states that 30 acts will be selected to perform in the live auditions.

Media & Promotional Release

By submitting a registration, I grant Gifford Academy for Performing Arts, We’ve Got Talent, and their partners, affiliates, successors, licensees, and representatives the irrevocable right to use, reproduce, publish, display, edit, distribute, and promote the participant’s name, likeness, image, voice, performance, biography, submitted photos, audition videos, and related materials, in whole or in part, in any format or medium now known or later developed, for marketing, advertising, publicity, promotional, educational, fundraising, and event-related purposes, without further approval, notice, or compensation, unless prohibited by law.

Parent / Guardian Consent to Media Release

As the parent or legal guardian of the participant and I authorize Gifford Academy for Performing Arts, We’ve Got Talent, and their partners to use the participant’s name, likeness, image, voice, performance, submitted materials, and related content for marketing, promotional, advertising, educational, fundraising, and event-related purposes without further notice or compensation.

Event Dates & Participant Availability

Participants should only register if they are available for all required deadlines, auditions, rehearsals, if applicable, and event dates connected to the competition. Official Dates: Online Auditions Open May 31st-July 31st, Live Semifinals on October 3, 2026, and Live Event Finals on November 14, 2026. Participants are responsible for being available throughout the contest process if selected.

Assumption of Responsibility

By entering the competition, participants and, where applicable, parents or legal guardians acknowledge responsibility for following the contest rules, meeting deadlines, providing accurate information, and participating safely. Official materials further state that Gifford Academy and its partners will not be held responsible for broken equipment, injuries, or other occurrences outside of their control.

Right to Enforce & Update Rules

Event organizers reserve the right to interpret, apply, and enforce these rules as necessary to maintain fairness, safety, event quality, and the family-friendly standards of the competition. Organizers may also update website wording, submission instructions, or administrative procedures as needed, provided that the official participant expectations remain in effect.

Ready to Enter We’ve Got Talent?

If you have reviewed and agree to the Official Contest Rules, you can move forward with registration, submit your $30 non-refundable entry fee, and continue to the next step to provide your audition details and signed participant form.