TikTok LIVE has announced that its global music programme for emerging artists, Music On Stage, will return in 2026 with a refreshed format.
The programme brings together music creators from more than 20 regions around the world, enabling them to perform live, connect with new audiences, and unlock "career-changing" opportunities through TikTok LIVE and SoundOn, its all-in-one platform for music marketing and distribution.
This year's programme builds on the inaugural campaign in 2025, which generated more than 8.2 billion impressions and attracted more than 1.4 million viewers to the Global Finals.
Auditions officially begin on Saturday (August 15) with a special All-Day Global Relay Concert. Spanning three days, the relay will feature artists around the world, showcasing original songwriting, live musicianship and standout performances from TikTok LIVE music creators.
"Music On Stage reflects everything that makes TikTok LIVE unique," said Shen Gao, head of LIVE operations, Americas at TikTok. "Every day we see talented artists build genuine communities, develop loyal fanbases and share their music with audiences around the world in real time. This programme takes that one step further by giving emerging artists the opportunity not only to be discovered, but to develop sustainable careers beyond the platform.
"We're proud to help the next generation of music talent move from livestreams to record releases and festival stages."
Finals will be on the 18th September and the winner gets all the support in recording and releasing their own original song
Cat Burns
The 2026 Global Finals in September for the EMEA and Americas competition will be hosted by Cat Burns, while Thai singer-songwriter Songkarn will host the APAC Finals, with a second guest judge to be announced soon.
"We all know that TikTok has played a massive part in my journey and I am so grateful to the platform, so this year I will be joining music on stage as a guest judge, and I am so excited," said Burns. "Finals will be on the 18th September and the winner gets all the support in recording and releasing their own original song.”
The top creators will gain access to professional development opportunities in partnership with SoundOn, including the opportunity to record and release original music with full production, distribution and promotional support. Winning artists will also have the chance to perform on major live stages, including TikTok LIVE Fest and selected music festivals around the world, including the Breakaway Carolina Festival, and the All Things Go NYC Festival in September.
Last year's winners included Angelyque Solorio, who released her debut EP through SoundOn, generating more than 350,000 creator videos on TikTok and accumulating more than 450,000 streams.
Creators can register for Music On Stage until August 14.
