BANGKOK, Thailand — The Philippines has secured a landmark victory in international music after singer CARMELLE was crowned the first-ever winner of the Eurovision Song Contest Asia, taking the inaugural title with her energetic entry, “Sobra-Sobra.”
The 19-year-old performer emerged victorious at the competition’s grand final at One Bangkok Forum in Bangkok on Saturday, November 14, giving the Philippines the distinction of becoming the first country to win the Asian edition of the Eurovision format.
According to the European Broadcasting Union’s official results, CARMELLE collected 211 points, comprising 93 points from national juries and 118 from the public vote. She topped both voting segments, finishing ahead of 10 competing acts.
Philippines Leads Inaugural Eurovision Asia Final
Thailand’s duo MANG x DAOU finished second with “Aroma,” earning 169 points, while Vietnam’s Tóc Tiên placed third with “EM TIÊN” on 165 points. Malaysia and Laos completed the top five, according to the official Eurovision results.
The inaugural contest brought together performers from 11 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Artists performed in a mix of local languages and English under the event’s “United by Music” theme.
The result combined national jury scores with audience voting, with the public vote accounting for half of the final outcome. Eurovision organisers said votes were received from 183 countries and territories, highlighting the event’s reach beyond the participating nations.
“Sobra-Sobra” Brings Filipino Songwriting To The Global Stage
“Sobra-Sobra” is an upbeat pop performance built around confidence, self-worth and women’s empowerment. The song was written by Gianina Camille “Nica” del Rosario and Mart Sam Emmanuel “Mat” Olavides, whose work helped shape the Philippines’ first entry in the new competition.
In earlier comments reported by Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN, the songwriters described the track as a way to introduce international audiences to Filipino musical influences while communicating a message that listeners from different cultures could understand.
CARMELLE’s path to the international stage has included several televised talent competitions. She finished as a runner-up on “The Voice Kids,” won “Tawag ng Tanghalan” and also appeared on “Pinoy Big Brother,” according to the official Eurovision profile.
CARMELLE Set For Eurovision 2027 Appearance In Bulgaria
The victory is also expected to give CARMELLE another international platform. She is set to appear as a guest performer at the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, connecting the new Asian competition with the long-running European event.
The invitation offers the young singer an opportunity to introduce “Sobra-Sobra” to Eurovision’s wider European audience and extend the visibility of Original Pilipino Music beyond Southeast Asia. The 2027 event will take place in Burgas, with further programme details to be announced by organisers.
A New International Platform For Asian Music
Beyond the result, the first Eurovision Song Contest Asia represents a significant expansion of the Eurovision brand into a region with a wide range of languages, music industries and performance traditions. Its 11-country debut brought those different sounds together in one televised final, while giving participating artists access to a broader international audience.
For the Philippines, CARMELLE’s win provides an early milestone for the new competition and a high-profile moment for Filipino performers and songwriters. Her 211-point result gives the country the inaugural trophy and places “Sobra-Sobra” at the centre of Eurovision Asia’s opening chapter.
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Sources
- European Broadcasting Union: Official Eurovision Asia results and winner announcement
- Associated Press: Filipino singer Carmelle wins inaugural Eurovision Asia
- ABS-CBN: Philippines brings Filipino sound to Eurovision Asia with CARMELLE