RAPSTAR 2026 Announces STARZ 2026, the Competition Finale at Ariake Arena on December 29

RAPSTAR 2026, which has aired on ABEMA since October 10, received 12,953 applications, a series record. The finale, titled STARZ 2026, will take place on December 29 at Ariake Arena and will feature a 10 million yen prize, the largest in the program’s history.

The competition

Participants submitted performances built on an original beat provided by the production, with their own lyrics and performance video. A seven-person jury, SEEDA, R-指定 (R-Shitei), Benjazzy, KM, C.O.S.A., LEX and ¥ellow Bucks, selects candidates at each stage. Those who advance move on to the RAPSTAR 2026 FINALS, decided in front of a live audience at Ariake Arena in December.

The jury’s composition says something about the program’s editorial direction. SEEDA and R-指定 represent two generations and two distinct approaches to Japanese rap. Benjazzy, KM and C.O.S.A. come from the underground scene that carried the most weight across the past decade. LEX and ¥ellow Bucks have done the most commercially in Japanese rap over the last three years. That mix doesn’t aim for stylistic consensus; it aims for quality selection, regardless of a candidate’s musical direction.

RAPSTAR, three years in

Launched in 2023 on ABEMA, RAPSTAR has become Japan’s main showcase for the next generation of rap. RAPSTAR 2025 notably revealed Sonsi, whose “BBA Spice” with STUTS was one of the scene’s most-played tracks this summer, and whose first solo show at Spotify O-EAST sold out quickly. The 2026 edition has already pushed Filix王 into the picture, whose “GALFY8” clip with Itaq and ゆるめるモ! spread well beyond the program’s own audience.

Tickets for STARZ 2026 are available on Lawson Ticket in four tiers: Platinum (¥19,900, guaranteed front-arena seats), Gold (¥13,900), A-Arena (¥11,900, standing), and A-Stand (¥11,900, reserved seating).

See also : RAPSTAR 2026: Watch all the episodes here

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