Philippines teen wins Eurovision's first Asia contest

Nineteen-year-old Filipino singer Carmelle won the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 14, 2026, with her empowerment song Sobra-Sobra.

Eleven countries competed in the debut edition held at the One Bangkok Forum, including South Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Eurovision is the world's biggest televised live music event, drawing 131 million viewers in 2026, and over the past 70 years has helped to launch the careers of global superstars such as ABBA and Celine Dion.