The first ever edition of Eurovision Song Contest Asia has just selected its winner: The Philippines, represented by Carmelle and her song “Sobra-Sobra.”
The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia was held on Saturday, 14 November in Bangkok, Thailand. 11 Asian countries competed: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. All 11 entries were selected via a National Selection; no performers were selected internally. Malaysia’s Aina Abdul and her song “Bluest Sky” was the projected winner with an impressive 60% chance of victory, although Malaysia was tied with the Philippines for the top spot in Eurovision World’s “Who should win Eurovision Asia 2026?” poll.
After winning the Jury vote with 93 points, Carmelle needed to win 78 points from the Public in order to overtake Thailand’s Mang & Daou with their love ballad “Aroma,” which had been at the top of the leaderboard with 170 points. Carmelle comfortably surpassed that requirement with an impressive 118 points, thus winning not only the overall competition but also both the Jury AND Public votes. Bulgarian singer Dara accomplished the same feat this past May at the Eurovision Song Contest, which had been the first time since Portugal’s Salvador Sobral in 2017 that the contest’s winner swept all three categories.
It has not yet been officially confirmed whether or not Eurovision Song Contest Asia will return for a second edition in 2027; however, the contest’s Executive Producer Assaf Blecher claimed that Japan and China had been potential competitors for 2026 but negotiations “had not concluded in time” for the inaugural contest, so they have expressed interest in competing in 2027 instead. Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, and Taiwan are also rumored to be considering participating in the hypothetical second edition. It has also been stated that unlike the parent contest, Eurovision Song Contest Asia’s host country will be determined by a bid rather than the previous year’s winner, so if a sophomore contest does happen in 2027, it will not necessarily take place in the Philippines.
Following her victory, Carmelle will be invited as a guest performer at the the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria next May.
