Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 20: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the launch of ‘North East Star’, a first-of-its-kind regional music talent hunt designed to discover and celebrate emerging musical talent from India’s Northeast. Known for its rich cultural heritage and strong musical legacy, the region is home to some of the country’s most promising artists. Through this initiative, TKM seeks to provide aspiring artists with a larger platform to showcase their creativity and reach wider audiences.
Open to artists aged 18 to 35 years, including singers, instrumentalists, bands, choirs and solo and group performers across a wide range of musical genres and formats, the North East Star Contest will be held from 28 August to 27 September 2026. The program will bring together emerging musical talent through a multi-stage format, with online registrations commencing on 16 Aug 2026 & closing on 22 August 2026 as last date for online registration, followed by state-level live auditions at Toyota dealerships across the eight states of Northeast India. The event will culminate in a grand finale on 27 September at Guwahati, where the region’s finest musical talents will compete for top honors.
Audition Information:
Following the online entry phase, twenty shortlisted performances from each state will move to the state-level auditions. From these auditions, two winners will be selected from each state, leading to a final lineup of sixteen finalists who will compete at the grand finale in Guwahati, Assam.
State-Wise Audition Details:
| S. No. | State | City | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nagaland | Kohima | 28 August |
| 2 | Arunachal | Itanagar | 30 August |
| 3 | Manipur | Imphal | 1 September |
| 4 | Mizoram | Aizawl | 3 September |
| 5 | Sikkim | Gangtok | 6 September |
| 6 | Tripura | Agartala | 8 September |
| 7 | Meghalaya | Shillong | 10 September |
| 8 | Assam | Guwahati | 13 September |
Mr. Sachin Sharma, Vice President– East Region, Sales- Service-Used Car, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We are excited to launch North East Star, a first-of-its-kind regional music talent hunt that celebrates the extraordinary musical heritage and emerging talent of Northeast India. More than a competition, it is a platform that empowers aspiring artists to showcase their abilities, pursue their dreams and gain wider recognition. At Toyota, we remain committed to creating opportunities that drive meaningful progress and strengthen communities. As our relationship with the Northeast continues to deepen, we are honored to support youth aspirations, celebrate creativity and contribute to the growth of the region’s vibrant cultural ecosystem.”
Prizes for the Top 16 Finalists:
The winner will receive a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, the second winner will receive ₹50,000, and the third winner will receive a cash prize of ₹30,000. In addition, a consolation prize of ₹10,000 per act (solo, group, etc.) will be awarded to participating artists who do not secure a position in the top three.
For further details and online registration, please visit the link below: https://www.ahibi.in/forms/ne-star
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