SM Little Stars 2026 Crowns Its First Grand Shining and Dazzling Stars
Gratiela Thresse M. Urmeneta
of SM City Manila and Amiah Kaea Yzobel Quimzon of SM City Butuan capture SM
Little Stars 2026's highest honors
The Grand Shining Star, Grand Dazzling Star, and
runners-up pose with the SM Little Stars 2026 judges and organizers following
the Grand Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
MANILA, Philippines, 11
August 2026 — Out of thousands of hopefuls from Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao, thirty of the country's brightest young performers made it to the SM
Little Stars 2026 Grand Finals, held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. More
than a talent search, the annual competition is SM Supermalls' way of
spotlighting young Filipino talent from every corner of the country — and
giving these kids a shot at the biggest stage of their young lives.
Six Weeks, 68 Malls, 41,000 Kids
Getting to the finals took six
weeks of auditions across 68 SM malls nationwide. More than 41,000 children
between ages 4 and 7 showed off their singing, dancing, and other talents, with
only 30 finalists making the cut for the country's biggest kiddie talent
competition. Every one of them brought real passion to the stage — but two
performers ultimately walked away with this year's top honors.
Gratiela showcases her dance moves, while Amiah
serenades the audience with her rendition of the classic Disney song "When
You Wish Upon a Star" during the SM Little Stars 2026 Grand Finals.
The Winners
Gratiela Thresse M. Urmeneta of
SM City Manila took home this year's Grand Shining Star title, while Amiah Kaea
Yzobel Quimzon of SM City Butuan was named Grand Dazzling Star — their
performances winning over both the judges and the crowd.
Urmeneta brought high energy
with her dance routine, while Quimzon won hearts with a heartfelt rendition of
the Disney classic “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
For the mothers watching from
the sidelines, seeing their daughters take the top honors capped off weeks of
preparation with real emotion.
“Sobrang proud ako sa kanya.
Nakita ko kung gaano siya nagsikap at nagtiwala sa sarili niya. Bukod sa
pagkapanalo, masaya akong makita siyang lumabas sa stage na mas confident,”
said Sheilamay P. Mojuntou, mother of Grand Shining Star winner Gratiela Urmeneta.
Vanessa Ysmaela D. Quimzon,
mother of Grand Dazzling Star Amiah Quimzon, shared a similar sentiment: “Gusto
lang namin na ma-enjoy niya ang experience, kaya napakalaking bonus na makita
siyang manalo. Thankful kami sa SM Little Stars sa pagkakataong ito.”
A Celebration Beyond the Competition
The Grand Finals turned into
something bigger than a contest — families, friends, and supporters filled the
venue with cheers and applause for every child who took the stage.
“Watching these young dreamers
perform reminds us that every big journey begins with one brave step. SM Little
Stars has always been more than a competition; it is a place where children
discover confidence, families create lifelong memories, and dreams begin to
take shape. We are proud to continue providing that stage for Filipino children
year after year,” said Hanna Carinna T. Sy, SM Supermalls Senior Assistant Vice
President for Marketing and Leasing.
The Judges
This year's finalists were
evaluated by singer, actress, and host Karylle Yuzon; award-winning filmmaker
Antoinette Jadaone; OPM hitmaker and ABS-CBN Music Assistant Vice President
Jonathan Manalo; “Gala To The Max” choreographer Angel Datanagan; and SM Little
Stars 2016 Grand Winner Marcus Cabais — a panel whose combined expertise helped
identify the performers who best captured the talent, confidence, and stage
presence the competition looks for.
Urmeneta and Quimzon were joined by 1st Runner-Up Amara
Jade F. Sabino of SM City Lipa, 2nd Runner-Up Seth Nicolas B. Jacinto of SM
City San Jose del Monte, and 3rd Runner-Up John Rouie S. Dizon of SM City
Pampanga.
Prizes and Recognition
As this year's grand winners,
Urmeneta and Quimzon each take home a prize package that includes ₱100,000 in
cash and SM Gift Certificates, a National University college scholarship, a
brand-new car, an all-expense-paid trip to Hong Kong, and more.
Beyond the two grand titles, SM
Little Stars 2026 also recognized three runners-up, finalists placing sixth
through tenth, and special award recipients across the People's Choice Award,
Little Style Stars, Little Sparkling Stars, and Little Pop Star categories.
Past the titles and prizes, every finalist walked away with
something harder to quantify — the confidence to dream bigger and memories with
their families that will likely outlast the competition itself. It's that
lasting impact that's kept SM Little Stars going for 17 years, with more
editions still to come.
Comments