Musika SamaSama Filipino Festival 2026 Is Calling All Performers

Whether you sing, dance, play an instrument, speak to the rhythm, or perform a music-related cultural tradition — the BahaiDeals.com Rising Stars Contest wants you on its stage.

The contest is part of MuSSFF 2026: The Great Filipino Songbook Remix, taking place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Eugene Field Park in Chicago. Free and open to the public, the festival celebrates over a century of Filipino music, culture, and language. The BahaiDeals.com Rising Stars Contest closes out the afternoon with an open-call showcase unlike any other — no barriers, no gatekeeping, just performers and their moment in the spotlight.

A total of $500 in cash prizes will be awarded among 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, with an additional People’s Choice Award. A panel of judges will score acts on talent, creativity, stage presence, entertainment value, and connection to the festival spirit of joy, community, and cultural celebration.

What Makes the Rising Stars Contest Different

This is NOT a Filipino-only competition. The Rising Stars Contest is designed to be a bridge — an invitation for every corner of Chicago’s performing arts community to step into the world of Filipino music and find their own connection to it.

•  Open to ALL performers: singers, vocalists, dancers (any genre), instrumentalists, bands, spoken word artists with music, and Filipino cultural performers

•  Open to ALL ages: minimum age 6; youth performers welcome with parent/guardian consent

•  Open to ALL skill levels: from first-timers to seasoned performers

•  Filipino music is warmly encouraged but not required — all acts simply need a music component

•  Live music, backing tracks, and recorded audio are all permitted

•  Solo acts, duets, and groups up to 8 performers are welcome

•  Free to enter

Prize Structure

•  1st Place — $300 cash

•  2nd Place — $150 cash

•  3rd Place — $50 cash + $100 Gift Certificate to Leilani Asian Fusion

•  People’s Choice Award — $100 Gift Certificate to Leilani Asian Fusion

Organizers reserve the right to find replacement prizes of equal cash value in cases where the prizes are no longer available. 

How to Enter

Registration is free and open now. Space is limited to 10 acts on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizers reserve the right to curate the final lineup.

Register at: bit.ly/risingstarscontest

Rising Star Contest Guidelines: https://bit.ly/dcc_guidelines 

Performers using pre-recorded music must submit their audio file (MP3 or WAV preferred) no later than August 28, 2026. Full contest guidelines are available at the registration link above.

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