A computer draw, 200 fans and no plus-ones: MrBeast lands in Uzbekistan on his first trip to Central Asia

MrBeast is going global again. Jimmy Donaldson, owner of YouTube's biggest channel with about 520 million subscribers, visits Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, on Friday (Oct. 9). It is the creator's first trip to Central Asia, and the invitation came from the country's Art and Culture Development Foundation, which is organizing the visit with the Tourism Committee.

Tickets are not for sale. Only 200 fans aged 18 or older will attend a public event with the YouTuber, featuring interactive games and a trivia contest with prizes. Registration ran from Tuesday (Oct. 6) until noon on Thursday (Oct. 8), and participants will be picked at random by a computer system, regardless of follower counts or connections. Each spot is personal: no companions, no selling or swapping, and those selected must cover their own travel and accommodation.

The frenzy has even prompted an official warning. The foundation said it is the only reliable source of information about the event and that no one will ask registrants for payments, card details or passwords, after fake links and accounts appeared. According to The Times of Central Asia, the visit is part of Tashkent's strategy to grow its creative economy and attract young foreign audiences.