Showcase your talent, inspire our community — become the next Hmong Idol. Submit an audition video, and 15 contestants are selected to compete live at Cal Expo over two rounds. Come prepared with three songs.
Hmong Idol is a singing competition that highlights the vocal artistry and musical intelligence of the Hmong community. This competition serves as a platform for participants of all ages.
Entry runs through an audition video. Up to 30 entries are accepted, and the Hmong Idol coordinators review every submission to select the Top 15 contestants who advance to the live competition at Cal Expo Fairgrounds on November 28–29, 2026.
The winner takes home $2,000 and the opportunity to collaborate with 1 of the 4 judges, with $1,000 for second place and $500 for third. Presented by SHNY in partnership with KD Entertainment.
The grand prize winner also receives the opportunity to collaborate with 1 out of the 4 judges.
Sign-ups open Friday, September 18, 2026. Registration runs through this page — up to 30 entries are accepted.
Starting September 18, record and submit your audition video. Email it to hmongidol@sacramentohmongnewyear.com.
All audition videos must be received by October 16, 2026. Late submissions are not considered.
The Hmong Idol coordinators review all submissions and select the Top 15 contestants to advance to the live competition.
The competition is judged over two rounds, and the winner returns to the stage for a third performance — so every contestant should arrive with three songs ready to go.
Your first-round song must be performed in Hmong. This round honors the language and musical traditions at the heart of the festival.
The second round is entirely your call: English or Hmong, rap or ballad, slow or up-tempo. Pick the song that best shows the judges who you are as an artist.
The winner takes the stage for a final performance. Because any contestant could be crowned, all 15 must come prepared with a third song.
Pitch accuracy, breath control, vocal range, and the precision of musical execution across the chosen piece.
The ability to connect with the audience through interpretation, storytelling, and emotional authenticity.
Confidence, charisma, and command of the stage — how a performer carries themselves before the audience.
Selecting a piece that showcases the performer's range while respecting the cultural significance of the festival.
Bringing a fresh interpretation or personal voice to a familiar song — making it your own without losing its essence.
The total package: how the performance moves the audience, the judges, and the broader community watching.
Sign-ups open Friday, September 18, 2026. Record your audition video and email it to hmongidol@sacramentohmongnewyear.com.
All audition videos are due. Coordinators review every submission and select the Top 15 contestants to advance.
The Top 15 perform live at Cal Expo Fairgrounds before a panel of four judges and the festival audience. Round 1 songs must be performed in Hmong.
Finalists return with a song of their choice — English or Hmong, any style. Winners are crowned and awarded $2,000, $1,000, and $500, and the champion closes out with a third song.