Nagaland’s Stereo Groove and Samuel Subba have been shortlisted as finalists for the 2026 edition of NE Star – The Ultimate Music Talent Hunt powered by Toyota. According to a press release the shortlisted finalists were announced following auditions conducted across Northeast India. The Grand Finale is scheduled to be held on September 27 at Greenwood Resort, Guwahati, Assam.
Stereo Groove has been shortlisted in the band category, while Samuel Subba will compete as a solo artist. They will represent Nagaland at the Grand Finale along with shortlisted artists from the other seven Northeastern states.
The final lineup features solo vocalists, instrumentalists and bands representing all eight Northeastern states. Arunachal Pradesh is represented by solo artists Mannga Arangham and Gejar Bojir, while Assam has Abhijit Borah and Pallavi Devi in the solo category.
Manipur will be represented by bands Not Funny and Distorted Morticians, while Meghalaya’s finalists are bands Pateng and Toxic Pony. Mizoram has solo artists Benjoa Khiangte and Emmanuel, while Sikkim has “Naad” Group Folk Instrumental and solo artist Sumit Gajmer. Tripura’s finalists are solo artists Bipul Singha and Snigdha Roy.
The finalists will compete at the Grand Finale, bringing their respective musical styles, cultural influences and performances to the stage. Managed by Unitex Inc. and affiliated with the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), NE Star aims to discover and promote musical talent from Northeast India. The platform provides emerging solo artists and bands an opportunity to showcase their talent at regional and national levels.
According to the organisers, the finalists will showcase their distinct sounds, cultural influences and musical talents at the Grand Finale.
NE Star has encouraged fans, supporters and music enthusiasts to follow the journey of the finalists through its official YouTube and Instagram channels for updates, announcements, broadcast footage and behind-the-scenes content.
