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Entertainment • Reality TV

The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer is a reality singing competition franchise that began in South Korea as King of Mask Singer.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Masked Singer is a reality singing competition franchise that began in South Korea as King of Mask Singer. Its format features celebrities performing in elaborate costumes and masks while their identities remain hidden until they are eliminated or unmasked. The best-known version in the United States premiered on Fox in 2019.

Format

The show’s core format involves celebrities performing anonymously in elaborate costumes and masks. They are gradually revealed through eliminations, while clues and panel commentary help audiences and judges infer their identities.

Origins and franchise

The franchise began with South Korea’s King of Mask Singer, developed by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. It later expanded into an international franchise with local versions in several countries.

American adaptation

The American series The Masked Singer premiered on Fox on 2 January 2019. It is hosted by Nick Cannon and uses panelists who try to identify the performers from clues and performances.

International versions

The format has been adapted for British television and other markets. The British version premiered on ITV in 2020 and won an International Emmy in 2021.

Key facts

  • The franchise originated with the South Korean program King of Mask Singer.
  • Contestants are celebrities who sing while wearing full costumes and face masks to conceal their identities.
  • A panel or audience uses clues and performances to guess who is behind each mask.
  • The format has been adapted in multiple countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
  • The American version premiered on Fox in January 2019 and is hosted by Nick Cannon.
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Canadian context

The franchise has aired in Canada through broadcast and streaming availability of international versions, and its format has had broad appeal among Canadian reality-TV audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Masked Singer?
It is an international reality singing competition franchise in which celebrities perform in masks and costumes while their identities stay hidden.
Where did The Masked Singer come from?
It originated from the South Korean program King of Mask Singer, developed by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation.
When did the U.S. version premiere?
The American version premiered on Fox on 2 January 2019.
Who hosts the U.S. version?
The U.S. series is hosted by Nick Cannon.
What is the basic format?
Contestants sing anonymously in costumes, and they are unmasked after elimination while panelists and viewers guess their identities.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Masked_Singer_(American_TV_series)
    Supports: U.S. series premiere date, host, franchise origin, and format
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masked_Singer
    Supports: International franchise origin, first aired date, and general format
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Masked_Singer_(British_TV_series)
    Supports: British version premiere and International Emmy win
  4. Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56276004
    Supports: U.S. series metadata including origin, presenter, and start time
  5. Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56276162
    Supports: Franchise identification as an international singing reality television game show from South Korea