Philippines Wins Inaugural Asian Eurovision Song Contest in Bangkok

The Philippines has won the inaugural edition of the Asian Eurovision Song Contest, held on Saturday evening in Bangkok, Thailand. The landmark competition featured representatives from 11 countries across the continent and was broadcast live in Israeli media. Host nation Thailand secured second place, while Vietnam claimed the third spot.

The winning performance was delivered by singer Carmel, who represented the Philippines with a vibrant and energetic pop track blending Latin rhythms, rap interludes, and an infectious chorus titled "Sobra-Sobra" ("Too Much"). Carmel is no stranger to the spotlight, having previously finished as runner-up on The Voice Kids in the Philippines, won a local singing competition, and participated in the local version of Big Brother.

This marks the first successful attempt to bring the legendary European musical format to Asia after years of delays. Plans for an Asian spin-off were first announced roughly a decade ago, but the project faced repeated postponements before finally materializing this year at the One Bangkok Forum. Eleven nations participated in the historic debut, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Bhutan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, South Korea, Nepal, and Malaysia.

Unlike its European counterpart, the contest bypassed semifinal rounds due to the smaller roster, with all participants performing in a single evening. The victory does not include a cash prize or the automatic right to host next year's event. Instead, the winner will perform as a guest at Eurovision 2027, scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, with semifinals on May 11 and 13, and the grand final on May 15, all broadcast locally via Kan.