The Philippines claimed victory at the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia on Saturday, November 14, after CARMELLE’s performance of Sobra-Sobra secured the highest scores from both the national juries and the public, while Bangladesh was represented by a cappella group Beatmosphere.
The contest, held in Bangkok, brought together performers from 11 countries across Asia. Thailand emerged as the Philippines’ closest competitor in a closely fought contest.
Bangladeshi audiences were able to watch the grand finale live from 7:30pm through Bongo and NTV, with Beatmosphere taking the stage as the country's representatives.
The group delivered a performance combining beatboxing, choreography and audience engagement. Wearing coordinated black-and-white outfits, its members brought an energetic presence to the stage and expressed their pride in representing Bangladesh at the regional event.
The participating countries were Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
The performances began with Vietnam’s Tóc Tiên singing Em Tiên, followed by Cambodia’s Monetrey with I Let You Go. Laos representative Thinla performed Bae, while Mongolia’s Beck presented Chamugigeer (Without You) and Bhutan’s Nyendra sang Lhayi Semo.
The Philippines’ CARMELLE followed with Sobra-Sobra, combining choreography and rap elements. Thailand’s MANG X DAOU performed Aroma, while South Korea’s JUNHEE brought a dance-driven rap performance of Deep Dive. Nepal’s Pratik Himal Rai sang Ananta Maya, and Malaysia’s Aina Abdul closed the contestants’ performances with Bluest Sky.
The programme also included a montage of the national winners from the participating countries and video messages from supporters across the region.
Dara, Bulgaria’s winner of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, appeared as a guest performer, sharing her experience as a champion before returning to the stage with Bangaranga and Bad Idea. Thai singer Jeff Satur also performed Black Tie and Grief Eaters.
The winner was determined through a voting system that gave equal weight to national jury assessments and public votes, with each accounting for 50 per cent of the final result. Eleven national juries took part.
International viewers could also vote through the Rest of the World category, although they were not allowed to support their own country's entry. Voters were required to select at least three songs and could choose performances from any of the participating countries.
The Eurovision franchise has faced criticism over Israel’s participation, with activists, critics and some participating musicians calling for the country’s exclusion over human rights concerns and its military actions in Gaza. Those opposing its participation have also cited the decision to exclude Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.