HYBE India audition plans have expanded across the country, with Shillong in Meghalaya and Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland added to the latest round of the company’s nationwide search for young female performers. The South Korean entertainment company has announced eight additional cities under its “HYBE India Audition: Final Call” initiative, widening its search for artists who could eventually be developed for a global audience.
The expansion comes after a strong response to the first phase of the talent hunt. HYBE India said the initial round attracted applications from all 28 states and six Union Territories, as well as members of the Indian diaspora. The company said submissions came from more than 1,650 cities across 116 countries, highlighting the broad interest generated by its India-focused talent programme.
HYBE India audition adds eight cities
The new in-person audition locations are Lucknow, Dimapur, Kohima, Shillong, Jaipur, Indore, Goa and Kochi. The addition of three cities in the Northeast gives aspiring performers in Meghalaya and Nagaland a more direct opportunity to participate without travelling to audition centres in distant parts of the country.
For the Northeast, Shillong, Kohima and Dimapur are significant additions because the region has a strong tradition of music, performance and youth culture. Bringing the audition process closer to these communities could allow more performers to present their abilities directly to casting teams.
The other five new locations extend the search across northern, western and southern India. Together, the eight cities give the company a wider geographical reach as it looks for performers from different cultural and artistic backgrounds.
Who can apply for the talent search?
The HYBE India audition is aimed at female participants with abilities in vocals, rap, dance, acting and modelling. Reports on the latest audition call state that eligible participants were born between 2005 and 2011.
The initiative is not limited to singers. Applicants can demonstrate skills across several performance categories, giving candidates with different artistic strengths an opportunity to be considered. Those selected through the process could potentially enter HYBE’s broader artist development system.
The company’s India operation is seeking talent that can be trained and developed with the possibility of reaching audiences beyond the domestic market. This makes the audition significant for performers interested in professional careers in music and entertainment.
Applications open until October 31
Online applications for the latest round opened on September 2 and will remain open until October 31, 2026. Candidates who want to attend an on-ground audition must first register online and select their preferred city. Shortlisted applicants will then receive information about the audition venue from the company’s casting partners.
HYBE India is also accepting applications through academies and educational institutes, WhatsApp and its network of casting partners. The multiple submission channels are intended to make the search accessible to aspiring performers across different regions.
Applicants should rely on HYBE India’s official audition platform for registration and follow the instructions provided there. The company’s official India website currently features the audition programme and invites aspiring artists to apply.
A wider search after strong response
The latest expansion reflects the scale of interest generated by the first phase. According to HYBE India CEO Damien Woochang Lee, applications came from a remarkable range of regions and backgrounds, reinforcing the company’s view that significant talent remains to be discovered across India.
Lee said the objective of the programme is to discover, nurture and develop talent with the potential to represent India on the global stage. The latest eight-city expansion therefore represents more than an increase in audition locations. It signals an effort to reach communities that may previously have had fewer direct opportunities to enter an international entertainment talent pipeline.
What the expansion means for Northeast talent
For Meghalaya and Nagaland, the new locations could bring greater visibility to performers from the region. Shillong, in particular, has a long-standing reputation for its music scene, while Nagaland has produced performers across contemporary music and other creative fields.
The addition of Dimapur and Kohima alongside Shillong means aspiring candidates from a wider part of the Northeast can consider participating in the HYBE India audition process. However, selection remains competitive, and appearing at an audition does not guarantee training, representation or a debut.
As the application window remains open through October 31, attention will now turn to the response from the newly added cities. The expansion gives performers in Meghalaya, Nagaland and six other locations a fresh opportunity to put their skills before HYBE India’s talent team, potentially opening another pathway for Indian artists seeking a future on the global stage.
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