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An anime soundtrack, magic using ropes, the music of Interstellar, a dazzling dance solo and a group of STEM students suddenly realising they had won the crowd’s vote.
Talent for Tomorrow returned to Atkinson Forum for its fourth year, bringing another afternoon of live music, dance, magic and performances from across the Curtin community.
But after a packed line-up took their turn in the spotlight, one performer walked away with the 2026 crown.
Performing a song featured in a Japanese anime, Carol delivered the winning performance of Talent for Tomorrow 2026 and took home the $1,000 first-place cash prize.
And the win could take her well beyond the Talent for Tomorrow stage. First place also comes with the opportunity to perform at future Curtin events, including Graduation Ceremonies, with paid performance opportunities advertised as being worth up to $10,000.
His choice of music was suitably cinematic.
Swarup performed the unmistakable theme from Interstellar, filling Atkinson Forum with Hans Zimmer’s atmospheric score and earning himself second place and $500.
For a first live performance, walking away as runner-up is a pretty strong debut.
Made up entirely of women studying STEM, the pop band brought a combination of music, energy and chemistry to the stage.
Then came the announcement.
Septune had won the 2026 People’s Choice Award and its $250 cash prize.
Judging by their reaction, they were not expecting it.
That surprise became one of the sweetest moments of the afternoon as the group realised the Curtin crowd had chosen them as their favourite act.
And then Susay came back…
Talent for Tomorrow also welcomed a familiar face back to the stage.
Last year’s winner Susay, also known as Sushant Chaudhary, returned after taking out the top award in 2025 with his beatboxing.
This time there was no judging pressure. He was back to perform.
And he somehow found a way to level things up.
Susay combined his signature beatboxing with a harmonica, delivering an electrifying performance and reminding the crowd exactly why he walked away with the crown last year.
One stage, a lot of talent
Of course, Talent for Tomorrow was never going to be just about three awards.
Across the afternoon, dancers took over the stage, musicians swapped microphones for instruments, singers showed off completely different styles and magicians brought something altogether different to the competition.
Holding it all together were two familiar faces.
Musa Amil Izham and Kristel Lao-As, from the Curtin Life series I’m at Curtin, Now What?, returned as hosts, guiding the crowd through the performances and keeping the energy going between acts. The pair also hosted Talent for Tomorrow in 2025.
By the end, Talent for Tomorrow 2026 had produced a winner, a first-time performer turned runner-up, a shocked People’s Choice band and another reminder of just how much talent is hiding across campus.
Congratulations to Carol, Swarup, Septune and every student who took the chance to step onto the Talent for Tomorrow stage.
See you in 2027?
