CHAMPIONING PROFESSIONAL ARTISTRY & CREATIVITY

Open to nail professionals of all levels in the USA, Mexico & Canada, including educators and brand ambassadors.

The only requirements? You need to have held your nail licence for at least 12 months – since July 28, 2024 or earlier – AND live and work in North America.

Competition entry opens July 28. You simply needed to upload basic information and images of your nail work, plus a 60-second reel-style video about yourself.

These entries will then be assessed narrowed down to a shortlist of 25 nail artists, who’ll be revealed on September 1. They'll then go through to compete in the challenge stages.

On October 1, the first of six monthly challenges will kick off. The remaining challenges will take place in November, January, February, March and April.

Each challenge is set by one of our amazing sponsors, who’ll detail a nail task that artists will have 10-14 days to complete. The sponsor may send products to competitors to support their handiwork. Each challenge will be designed to exercise creativity and showcase incredible skill.

Finished nail looks will then be judged, and the artists through to the next challenge will be revealed, as well as who needs to fight for their place in contest. These fighters will need to complete an additional, shorter challenge, before it’ll be decided who stays, and who’s eliminated from the competition.

Challenges continue, with eliminations at each stage, and a top three will be announced on May 1. They’ll be flown to Premiere Orlando to meet sponsors, take part in photo calls and complete a final task – before we’ll reconvene back at The Scratch Social on 30 May 2026 at Premiere Orlando to announce the winner.

The top 3 will receive cash prizes – and see their profiles raised across the sector, while the winner will take home a stunning trophy, Scratch cover and column, prize pack and be given some huge opportunities in their role as North America’s Star Nail Artist.