Stereo Groove- winner of NE Star 2026.
Kohima, September 30 (MExN): Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) concluded the grand finale of NE (North East) Star 2026- Ultimate Music Talent Hunt, celebrating the exceptional musical talent and cultural diversity of Northeast India.
Bringing together 16 outstanding finalists from across northeast state, the grand finale held on September 27 at Guwahati.
The grand finale witnessed a showcase of musical talent, with Stereo Groove from Nagaland crowned NE Star 2026. Pateng Band from Meghalaya and Naad Band from Sikkim were declared the first and second runners-up, respectively.
The Pateng Band from Meghalaya emerged as the winner in the Mogo category while the Special Judges' Choice Awards were presented to Samuel from Nagaland, Pallavi from Assam and Immanuel from Mizoram in recognition of their outstanding performances.
The finalists were judged by an eminent panel featuring Subir Malik, Founder Member and Keyboardist of Parikrama and Kaushik Dutta, Founder Director of Music Connect.
The event also featured performance by Deeplina Deka.
Speaking on the occasion, Sachin Sharma, Vice President - East Region, Sales-Service-Used Car, TKM said, “NE Star 2026 musical talent hunt was conceived with the vision of providing talented young artists from the region a platform to showcase their passion and potential.”
He stated that over the course of this journey, “we have witnessed extraordinary talent, dedication and creativity from participants across all eight Northeastern states.”
He said that the grand finale was not only a celebration of musical excellence but also of the rich cultural heritage that makes this region unique.
The NE star musical talent hunt was open to aspiring singers, musicians, bands, choirs and performers between 18 and 35 years of age.
Following over 300 registrations and auditions conducted across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, two finalists from each state advanced to the grand finale, where they competed for the coveted NE Star 2026 title.
Through initiatives such as NE Star, Toyota Kirloskar Motor continues to reinforce its commitment to fostering youth aspirations, supporting local talent and contributing meaningfully to the cultural development of communities across India.
