We are excited to bring you Symmetry Festival's annual DJ competition!
Our online DJ competition is your chance to join our unique and diverse lineup and play a set of your own on one of the Symmetry Festival stage.
Please review the guidelines below before submitting your application. The deadline to submit your DJ competition entry is July 1st, 2026.
Official Symmetry DJ Competition ENTRY RULES:
To Be Eligible:
- Must be 18 years old or older (Valid ID REQUIRED for entry to Symmetry Festival).
- Must be a resident of the United States.
- Must submit a registration form and a mix or video routine up to 30 minutes in length
- Mixes must be ORIGINAL and mixed specifically for this contest. Mixes recorded prior to the contest entry or recorded for another purpose may not be submitted. The tracks in the mix do not need to be produced by the submitting artist, but originally produced music is highly encouraged.
- Controllers can be used for submission videos, however, the winner MUST perform on CDJs for the set at Symmetry Festival.
- A video submission is not required but highly encouraged.
Submission Rules:
- Mixes must not exceed 30 minutes in length.
- If sending a video please upload to YouTube. If sending an audio mix, please upload to Audius or SoundCloud.
- All YouTube videos or SoundCloud mixes must be made public for viewing and listening.
- The title of your YouTube video or SoundCloud/Audius mix must include "Symmetry Festival DJ Competition mix" or similar verbiage.
- The description of your YouTube video or SoundCloud mix must include a link to our website (SymmetryFestival.com), and include the dates (October 2-3, 2026) and location (Libertyville, IA).
- Submissions must include a brief introduction that includes your DJ name and why you want to play at Symmetry Festival, either recorded beforehand or in the video / mix description.
- A full track list must accompany your mix (track list section will be included on registration form).
- All videos must be in HD format (720p and higher) with an unedited direct audio recording of your routine.
- Videos must include a clear view of ALL equipment being used (mixer, CDJ’s, etc.)
- Submissions must coincide with an Instagram post. You are free to select any picture/video content that you'd like.
- The caption must:
- tag @symmetryfestival,
- include the dates (October 2-3, 2026) and location (Fairfield, IA),
- and mention that you have entered the DJ competition.
- If you are submitting a video mix, we encourage you to use a clip from your mix as your social post!
- All submissions must be received by July 1st, 2026. Any video(s) received after the open submission dates will not be considered.
Online Judging Criteria
The Symmetry Festival DJ Competition is not a popularity contest. Our team listens to every mix and selects our favorites based purely on music selection and mixing skill.
Your mix will be judged on two areas of skill:
Technical: Overall mixing, mixing speed, and rhythmic skill. Use of the equipment/mixer. Blends, song transitions, chops, beat juggling, and other tricks.
Musicality: Song selection and style. Track flow & compatibility.
Symmetry Festival showcases primarily underground and melodic bass music and associated genres, such as dubstep, trap, wave, 140, deep dub. Genres that fit within this umbrella are more likely to be accepted.
We will choose multiple winners who will receive an offer to perform at Symmetry Festival for an opening set on each of our stages: Main Stage, vibe.digital Stage, and Forest Stage. Good luck!