The Open Decks Contest is Subcultural Music’s chance for one House Music artist to join the lineup and perform live at Road to The Island: Halloween Edition on 31 October 2026. The prize is simple and rare: one artist, one spot, one chance to arrive at The Island. Submissions close on 25 October 2026, so the time to send your mix is now.
What Is The Open Decks Contest?
The Open Decks Contest is an open call. Instead of picking every artist behind closed doors, Subcultural Music is inviting DJs and producers to send in a House Music mix, and one of them will take the decks live on the night. In their own words, not everyone finds The Island. This time, your music might take you there.
The contest sits inside Road to The Island, the event series that runs before the main Island event. The Island is Subcultural Music’s flagship, built on the idea of By The DJs, For The DJs, and an open decks slot is exactly what that idea looks like in practice: a stage that starts with a mix, not a booking.
How To Enter The Open Decks Contest
Entering takes four steps, and all four count:
- Upload your House Music mix to YouTube or SoundCloud.
- Submit your mix through the official submission form (also linked in the Subcultural Music Instagram bio).
- Follow @subculturalmusic, @dvaradelhi and @grooveprjct.
- Tag a DJ in the comments who deserves a chance to perform at The Island.
Step four is the one people forget. Tagging a DJ you believe in puts another artist on the radar, and it is part of how the contest works, so do not skip it.
Important Dates
- Submissions close: 25 October 2026
- Winner announced: 26 October 2026
- Live performance: 31 October 2026
The window is short. There is one day between the close of submissions and the winner announcement, and five days after that until the Halloween night itself, so the winner needs to be ready to play.
Where The Winner Will Play
The winning artist performs at Road to The Island: Halloween Edition on Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 7 PM onwards at Dvara in Delhi. The night is curated by Subcultural Music with co-hosts Groove Prjct and The Funktion, and the music is electronic. Costumes are mandatory for everyone in the room, and the best costume wins drinks coupons. You can find every detail on the event page.
Making Your Mix Count
Nobody can tell you exactly what the team is listening for, but a few things help any mix stand out. Treat these as tips, not rules.
- Play it like a set. Build a journey with a clear start, a middle and a close, not a pile of tracks.
- Keep it House. The contest asks for a House Music mix, so let the genre lead.
- Make the transitions clean. A mix is judged on how it flows as much as on what you play.
- Think about the room. This is a Halloween night at a club, so imagine a dance floor in costume when you plan the energy.
Most of all, send something that sounds like you. A slot at an open decks contest goes to the artist with a point of view.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enter the Open Decks Contest?
Upload a House Music mix to YouTube or SoundCloud, submit it through the official submission form (also linked in the Subcultural Music Instagram bio), follow @subculturalmusic, @dvaradelhi and @grooveprjct, and tag a DJ in the comments who deserves a chance to perform at The Island.
What kind of mix should I submit?
The contest is for House Music. Your mix needs to be uploaded to YouTube or SoundCloud before you submit it.
When do submissions close, and when is the winner announced?
Submissions close on 25 October 2026, and the winner is announced on 26 October 2026.
How many artists will be selected?
One. A single artist wins a spot on the lineup and performs live.
Where and when does the winner perform?
The winner performs live at Road to The Island: Halloween Edition on 31 October 2026, from 7 PM onwards at Dvara in Delhi.
Your Journey Starts With A Mix
One artist. One spot. One chance to arrive. Upload your House Music mix, follow the three accounts, tag a DJ who deserves it, and submit your mix through the contest form before 25 October 2026. If you are not entering, come to the night anyway: register for Road to The Island: Halloween Edition and cheer on whoever gets the decks.
