Aina Abdul to close inaugural Eurovision Asia contest in Bangkok
Malaysia’s entrant will sing Bluest Sky, a ballad inspired by her cat, with an arrangement featuring the gambus and flute.
Malaysian singer Aina Abdul will take the last performance slot at the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026 at Bangkok’s One Bangkok Forum. She will face entries from 10 other countries.
Her preparations included a setback when a prop became stuck during her penultimate soundcheck, briefly trapping her inside. Aina said she considered it a sign of good luck, recalling similar rehearsal mishaps before her Anugerah Juara Lagu appearances. She would rather encounter a problem in preparation than during the contest, she said.
Aina wrote her entry, Bluest Sky, drawing inspiration from her pet cat Hiro. Mac Chew’s arrangement incorporates the gambus and flute. She will perform in an outfit created by Melinda Looi and said the staging would feature liquid elements and shimmering accents.
After arriving in Bangkok on Nov 9, Aina began vocal training, technical rehearsals and soundchecks. Datuk Syafinaz Selamat is supervising her singing and stamina. Aina said she immediately told her team she wanted to perform when she learnt that Eurovision was coming to Asia.
TV3, the contest’s official Malaysian broadcaster, will carry the event live, with streaming available through Tonton from 9.30pm. Backstage coverage on Melodi Exclusive starts at 9.15pm.
