Philippines wins Eurovision Asia, making history

KUALA LUMPUR: As the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026 commences at One Bangkok Forum in Bangkok, Malaysia's Aina Abdul is poised to represent her nation on the global platform. As the final performer of the evening, she will face competitors from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Bhutan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, South Korea, and Nepal.

Aina, a devoted fan of Eurovision who has followed the contest since Celine Dion's historic appearance, is set to perform her original composition, 'Bluest Sky.' The empowering ballad, written by Aina herself, incorporates Nusantara instruments like the gambus and flute. She will be supported by vocal coach Datuk Syafinaz Selamat and adorned in a custom-made gown by Melinda Looi.

Aina recently experienced a minor mishap during a pre-performance soundcheck when a prop malfunctioned, leaving her momentarily trapped. Despite the unexpected obstacle, she attributed it to a positive sign, believing that such mishaps are commonplace during her previous competitions, and optimistically foreseeing no impact on the actual contest.

Malaysian viewers can watch Aina's live performance on TV3 and stream it via Tonton starting at 9.30pm, with additional coverage on Melodi Exclusive at 9.15pm.