[New Season Kicks Off] National Dance Contest 'D-SHOCK 2026-2027' Starts! Evolving into a '3-Category System' from Beginners to National Top-Tier. Final Championship Spanning 12 Rounds Across 7 Cities, Entry Applications Open!

Chord Prise Inc. (Representative Director: Naoya Kurusu), organizer of the national street dance contest 'D-SHOCK,' is pleased to announce the opening of the 2026-2027 season.

Starting with the early online qualifiers in April 2026, a schedule of 12 qualifying rounds across 7 areas nationwide – Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Kyushu, Chugoku, Hokkaido, and Tohoku – has been confirmed. Entry applications have also commenced.

The biggest highlight of this season is the overhaul of the category system. Building upon the previous division structure, a new 3-category system has been introduced: PRIME (top tier), OPEN (challenge), and BASE (development/unawarded). This creates an environment where all dancers, from first-time teams with no track record to national powerhouses, can compete seriously at their respective stages.

Structure Diagram of the 3 Categories (PRIME / OPEN / BASE)

Click here for the official D-SHOCK website.

2026-2027 Season Qualifying Schedule (All 12 Rounds)

### Qualifying Schedule

| Round | Date | Category | Event Name | |---|---|---|---| | 1st | April 26, 2026 (Sun) | OPEN／BASE | Early Online Qualifier | | 2nd | May 24, 2026 (Sun) | PRIME／OPEN | Kanto 1st Qualifier (Tokyo) | | 3rd | June 14, 2026 (Sun) | PRIME／OPEN／BASE | Chubu Qualifier (Nagoya) | | 4th | July 12, 2026 (Sun) | PRIME／OPEN | Kanto 2nd Qualifier (Chiba) | | 5th | August 11, 2026 (Tue) | PRIME／OPEN | Kanto 3rd Qualifier (Kanagawa) | | 6th | September 13, 2026 (Sun) | PRIME／OPEN／BASE | Hokkaido Qualifier (Sapporo) | | 7th | October 4, 2026 (Sun) | PRIME／OPEN／BASE | Kansai Qualifier (Osaka) | | 8th | October 31, 2026 (Sat) | PRIME／OPEN／BASE | Kyushu Qualifier (Fukuoka) | | 9th | November 21, 2026 (Sat) | PRIME／OPEN／BASE | Chugoku Qualifier (Hiroshima) | | 10th | December 13, 2026 (Sun) | PRIME／OPEN | Kanto 4th Qualifier (Saitama) | | 11th | January 17, 2027 (Sun) | PRIME／OPEN／BASE | Tohoku Qualifier (Sendai) | | 12th | February 14, 2027 (Sun) | PRIME／OPEN | Final Qualifier (Tokyo) |

Click here for schedule details and entry.

New Category System 'PRIME / OPEN / BASE'

With the introduction of the 3-category system this season, dancers can aim for the national stage at an optimal level suited to their skills and achievements.

### Three Category Logos (PRIME・OPEN・BASE)

- **PRIME (Top-tier Category)**: Open to teams with award-winning experience in national dance contests or top-ranked teams from OPEN qualifiers. This is the shortest path to the top, with only the 1st place winners from each qualifier and age division advancing to the PRIME FINAL. - **OPEN (Challenge Category)**: The main category open to all entries regardless of experience or track record. It includes a team division (offline and online) and a solo division (online). Achieving a top rank in OFFLINE qualifiers also grants eligibility to compete in PRIME qualifiers, serving as a stage for growth and challenge. - **BASE (Development Category)**: A dedicated development category for unawarded teams and dancers. Both team and solo competitions are conducted through online qualifiers. This is an accessible entry point for those new to dance contests, allowing them to participate with confidence.

Click here for category details.

D-SHOCK's Commitment: Fair Judging and Comprehensive Support

“I shiki ito yo Aoi Anzu no kokoro”

- **5-Item Judging with Full Scoring System**: Evaluation is based on 5 items – "Composition, Technique, Expression, Costume, and Entertainment" – with a complete scoring system. A fair ranking method based on total scores is adopted. - **Free Distribution of Videos and Photos for Immediate Use**: After the competition, all participating teams will receive edited videos, fixed-camera videos, and performance photos for free. These can be immediately utilized for subsequent practice or promotional materials.

Entry Fees

- OFFLINE: 4,400 yen (Includes video and photo gifts) - ONLINE: 5,500 yen (Campaign discount of -1,100 yen available / until 2 weeks before the performance date)

Check the entry process here.

Last Season's Review

D-SHOCK 2025-2026 ROUND FINAL

The 2025-2026 season culminated in the "D-SHOCK 2025-2026 ROUND FINAL" held on March 31, 2026 (Tuesday) at Tokorozawa Sakura Town JAPAN PAVILION HALL. A total of 94 teams and 322 dancers, who had won through qualifiers across the country, gathered and brought a moving finale witnessed by a full audience of 728 spectators.

The overall championship title was awarded to "I shiki ito yo Aoi Anzu no kokoro," who also won the U-15 division.