FREE WEEKEND PASS TO ANYONE WHO SIGNS UP TO COMPETE!

Albany—it's finally your turn to shred! For the first time ever, the US Air Guitar Championships are coming to upstate New York. The Albany Qualifier at the Dead Man's Hands Expo is not only your chance to carve your name into air guitar history, but it's also kicking off the 2026 season early—which means the road to Nationals starts right here. Thank You EQX and thank U.S. Air Guitar

Aireoke (Saturday) 4:00-6:00

This is a fun, no-stakes, freestyle performance—think karaoke but expanded. Participants can pick any song and perform however they like: air guitar, air drums, lip-sync, or even interpretive dance. The only goal is to have fun, rock out, and set the vibe for the weekend.

Qualifier (Sunday) 4:00-6:30

This is the official competition. 

OpRock kicks off an opening number. 

Competitors can either bring a prepared one-minute track or pick one on the spot. After round one, the top five scorers advance to round two, where everyone performs a compulsory song. Scores from both rounds are combined to determine the winner.

Fourth round (incase there a 3rd air off tie breaker) 

To cap things off, everyone gets on stage together, audience included, for a big, chaotic, communal jam—usually to "Freebird" or "War Pigs."