The Philippines have won the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia, with 19-year-old singer Carmelle Collado triumphing at the competition held in Bangkok. Her women's empowerment anthem Sobra-Sobra, which features a catchy rap section, secured victory across 11 participating nations. According to BBC News, Carmelle earned 211 points in total—93 from the jury and 118 from the public vote—finishing well ahead of Thailand's MANG x DAOU in second place with 170 points.
The One Bangkok Arena erupted in celebration as the youngest contestant in the competition claimed the trophy. Rappler reported that the song was composed by Nica del Rosario and Mat Olavides, showcasing a blend of contemporary pop and hip-hop elements that resonated with both juries and audiences across the region.
How did the voting work?
The voting system mirrored the structure of the traditional Eurovision Song Contest, with the public vote accounting for 50 percent of the final result and the remaining 50 percent determined by the 11 national juries, supplemented by votes from a rest-of-the-world category. The EBU reported that votes came from 183 countries and territories, demonstrating the global reach of the inaugural Asian edition.
Which other countries performed strongly?
Vietnam's Toc Tien secured third place with 164 points, delivering a compelling performance that captured audience attention. According to ESC Plus, Malaysia's Aina Abdul finished fourth with 152 points, while Bhutan's Nyendra placed sixth with 126 points.
Thailand's MANG x DAOU earned second place with their emotive duet Aroma, which drew enthusiastic responses from the home crowd. Bangladeshi beatboxers Beatmosphere took an unconventional approach by eschewing traditional backing tracks and instead using their voices to replicate the sounds of drums and basslines. Laos's Thinla performed her crowd-pleasing song Bae dressed in a traditional Lao hilltribe outfit, delivering a culturally significant performance.
A technical issue during the broadcast resulted in Thinla's music video being played unexpectedly, meaning her song was the final piece the audience heard before voting commenced—a positioning that may have influenced the final results.
Who were the special guests?
The broadcast featured performances from international Eurovision personalities. Dara from Bulgaria, who won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, performed both her winning song Bangaranga and her new track Bad Idea. Thai superstar Jeff Satur also made an appearance, delivering a high-note-heavy rendition of Black Tie that delighted the arena crowd.
What is the future of Eurovision Asia?
The concept of Eurovision in Asia had been discussed for decades without materialisation, despite numerous false starts, making this inaugural edition a significant milestone for the contest's expansion. The EBU, Voxovation, S2O Productions and Thailand's Channel 3 announced the Asia edition in March 2026 as Eurovision's first multinational expansion. However, questions remain about the contest's sustainability, as the One Bangkok Arena was not at full capacity following the conclusion of the competition, and regional broadcaster commitment to expanding beyond the current 11 participating nations remains uncertain.
Carmelle is set to carry forward her success on the Eurovision stage. ESC Extra reported that Carmelle is scheduled to perform as an exhibition act at the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, giving her the opportunity to represent her victory on the global Eurovision platform.
Key Facts
- Carmelle Collado from the Philippines won with 211 points, ahead of Thailand's MANG x DAOU (170 points) and Vietnam's Toc Tien (164 points)
- The competition featured 11 participating nations with voting from 183 countries and territories worldwide
- Carmelle, at 19 years old, was the youngest contestant and will perform at the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria
- The inaugural Eurovision Asia took place at the One Bangkok Arena, marking the contest's first multinational expansion beyond Europe
