Eurovision fans sporting bright outfits gathered in Bangkok on Saturday for the contest’s first ever Asia edition, featuring 11 competing countries and guest performers including the 2026 European winner Dara.
- Filipino singer Carmelle won the inaugural grand final with her dance-pop track “Sobra-Sobra”.
- The lineup featured acts from 11 nations, including a Mongolian economist and a Nepalese rock band.
- National juries and public viewers split the voting weight equally across participating countries.
Malaysian mega-fan Fauzan was among the first in the queue at the One Bangkok Forum, wearing a blue corset over a white trouser suit to honour his nation’s entry Aina Abdul, who performed her song “Bluest Sky”, CNA reported.
“I’m very pleased it’s come to Asia. We’ve been waiting so long!” Fauzan told CNA.
Eurovision launched in 1956 and draws millions of viewers globally, but previous attempts to expand outside Europe faced hurdles, including a US version in 2022 that fell flat. The Bangkok event offered a more compact format than the European contest, avoiding wacky tropes like singing turkeys while showcasing regional pop stars and unique backgrounds.
Mongolian singer Beck maintained a day job advising the deputy prime minister as an economist.
Nepal’s entry Pratik Himal Rai performed the rock number “Ananta Maya” wearing an ornately ruffled top and strange mesh masks. Vietnam’s Tóc Tiên opens with EM TIÊN, while Bhutan’s Nyendra performs Lhayi Semo and South Korea’s JUNHEE brings DEEP DIVE, as detailed by Open Magazine.
Nineteen-year-old Carmelle secured victory for the Philippines with a fiery performance of her dance-pop song “Sobra-Sobra”, beating 10 other acts in the grand final.
“I made history, since this was the first time,” Carmelle said, according to South China Morning Post. “It’s such a big responsibility for me, because this one is a global stage, so thank you everybody who voted for me.”
Thai duo Mang x Daou placed second with the romantic pop song “Aroma”, while Vietnam’s Tóc Tiên finished third. Malaysia’s Aina Abdul took fourth and Thinla of Laos finished fifth with the playful dance track “Bae”.
| Rank | Artist | Country | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carmelle | Philippines | “Sobra-Sobra” |
| 4 | Aina Abdul | Malaysia | “Bluest Sky” |
