Bangkok Stop Set for November 7-8 as Part of Global Search
YG Entertainment, the South Korean agency behind BLACKPINK and BABYMONSTER, announced this week that its "2026 YG Global Audition" will include a stop in Bangkok on November 7 and 8. The audition is part of a global search running from July through December as the label looks for new trainees from around the world, marking YG's first large-scale international talent search in two years.
Applicants born between 2008 and 2015 are eligible regardless of gender or nationality, and candidates can choose to be assessed in one of five categories: singing, rap, dance, visual or acting. Online pre-registration for the Bangkok audition opens on September 1, giving hopefuls roughly two months to prepare before the in-person tryouts take place.
Thailand's Track Record of K-pop Breakout Stars
Thailand has become one of YG's most productive scouting grounds in recent years. BLACKPINK's Lisa, arguably the country's best-known K-pop export, was discovered through a similar YG audition process before debuting in 2016, while BABYMONSTER members Chiquita and Pharita followed a similar path more recently. The agency's decision to return to Bangkok reflects both the city's deep pool of aspiring performers and the commercial success Thai idols have brought to K-pop groups in international markets.
The Bangkok leg adds to a run of entertainment activity in the city this year, with industry watchers projecting Thailand's broader entertainment and media sector to reach around 550 billion baht in 2026. For fans hoping to follow in Lisa's footsteps, the November audition offers the next high-profile opportunity to break into one of K-pop's biggest labels.
