A live dating comedy show that puts two strangers on a blind date in front of an audience is preparing to take its format beyond the United States, as Garam Masala Dating plans an international tour across cities in India, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UAE and Bali.
Created and hosted by comedian Surbhi, Garam Masala Dating brings two singles together on stage for their first meeting, with the audience watching as the date unfolds. The show combines comedy, audience participation and dating, with a singles mixer held after the performance.
The organisers say the upcoming tour will span 32 cities, with contestants to be cast locally in each location. Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are among the Indian cities listed, while the proposed international stops include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, cities across the UK and Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Bali.
The format has grown through live performances and social media content. The show’s website currently says it has staged more than 40 shows and matched 13 couples, while its current public figures list more than 10 million views. Some event promotions have cited higher view figures, so those numbers vary across the show’s promotional material.
At each show, two people meet for the first time in front of a live crowd. Surbhi and co-host Wyatt Feegrado guide the date through questions, games and comedy, while members of the audience can take part in the experience. The event then opens into a singles mixer, giving attendees an opportunity to meet people away from the stage.
The concept arrives at a time when dating is increasingly taking place through apps and social platforms, while many South Asian singles continue to navigate expectations around relationships, family and marriage. Garam Masala Dating’s approach places that first meeting in a very different setting, making the audience part of the experience rather than keeping the interaction between two people on a phone screen.
The organisers say the show is open to people beyond the South Asian community, with the existing audience including people from different backgrounds. The show’s website says around 40 per cent of its audience is non-South Asian.
The live format has already expanded beyond its New York base, with public listings showing performances in cities including San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC during 2026.
For the international tour, local casting is expected to give singles in each city the opportunity to take part in the on-stage dates. The organisers say the tour will bring the format to audiences across multiple countries later this year.
For people accustomed to meeting potential partners through apps, introductions or social media, the show’s premise offers a deliberately public alternative: meeting a stranger for the first time with hundreds of other people watching.
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