KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian vocal powerhouse Aina Abdul has flown the national flag high on the regional stage, securing a commendable fourth-place finish at the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, last night.
Performing as the 11th and final act of the evening at the One Bangkok Forum, Aina dazzled the crowd with her self-penned power ballad, Bluest Sky.
She scored 82 points from the professional jury and 70 points from the public vote, finishing with a respectable total of 152 points.
The Philippines’ Carmelle clinched the coveted crown with 211 points following an energetic rendition of Sobra-Sobra.
The trophy was presented by Eurovision Song Contest 2026 winner Dara of Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Mang x Daou finished second with 170 points for Aroma, and Vietnam’s Tóc Tiên placed third with 164 points for Em Tiên.
Despite stiff competition from 11 participating nations—including South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal—Aina’s stirring performance drew roaring applause from the audience. Arranged by legendary Malaysian musician Mac Chew, Bluest Sky was inspired by Aina’s pet cat, Hiro, and explores themes of deep, overwhelming love that is hard to let go of.
Visually, the staging was a triumph. Dressed in a striking, ethereal gown by longtime collaborator Melinda Looi—featuring shimmering white, turquoise blue, and translucent tones—Aina brought a water-themed concept to life. Supported by a giant water-droplet prop and dramatic LED visuals, the stage transformed from a single droplet into surging waves, mirroring the song’s emotional build-up.
“When I found out Eurovision was finally coming to Asia, I immediately wanted to perform. I am overjoyed that this dream has come true,” said Aina, who has followed the iconic contest since her idol Céline Dion competed. “As for my dress, it’s once again something magical, and I always know that Melinda works wonders.”
Having earned her spot to represent Malaysia after her standout win at the 40th Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL40), Aina was cheered on by fans back home via live broadcasts on official broadcaster TV3 and the streaming platform Tonton.
Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia (Karyawan) president Datuk Freddie Fernandez praised Aina’s world-class showing, noting that the top four acts put up a fierce fight.
“While she didn’t win, we should all be proud of Aina for a commendable, world-class performance that set the benchmark really high for all Malaysian artistes,” he said.
His views were shared by the five Malaysian jurors: chief juror AG Coco, Justin Seow, Iman Tang, Bobby Husaini, and Shamshul Azree Samshir.
During the three-hour spectacle—co-hosted by Thai television personalities Woody Milintachinda and Cindy Bishop—the panel had accurately tipped Aina as a frontrunner, while predicting tough competition from the Philippines and Thailand.