Emerald Hill, the follow-up to 2009’s The Little Nyonya and the hit drama of 2025, unsurprisingly won big at the Star Awards this year, taking six awards including Best Drama and Best Original Song.
Leading lady Jesseca Liu took home her first Best Actress award for her role as the long-suffering Second Young Mistress in the drama, while other Emerald Hill actors Tyler Ten and Chen Liping were named Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Child actress Ivory Chia also took home the Young Talent Award for her work in the show.
A tearful Liu likened her 22-year acting career to “riding a unicycle”, with falls and injuries along the way. In the end, she said, “I know this is not through my effort alone”.
In the Best Actor category, Desmond Tan beat out hot favourite Chen Hanwei, clinching the trophy for his work as troubled twin brothers in Devil Behind The Gate. Tan’s last Best Actor win was for 2018’s When Duty Calls.
Held on Sunday night (Apr 19) at the Mediacorp TV Theatre, the Star Awards 2026 took the theme “Born to Glow”, with a total of 19 awards given out.
Chinese actor and singer Luo Yunxi at Star Awards 2026. (Photo: Mediacorp)
Hosted by Guo Liang, Zhang Zetong and Cheryl Chou, the awards ceremony was graced by international guests including Hong Kong’s Bowie Lam, Julian Cheung and Ada Choi; Taiwan’s Kevin Tsai, Jasper Liu and Hsieh Ying-xuan; and Chinese actor Luo Yunxi, who performed a song on stage.
Guo Liang had his hands full as he also took home the Best Programme Host award for his on-stage skills at last year’s Star Awards ceremony, celebrating his second win in the category after being nominated “20 times, I think”. In his speech, he acknowledged the rise of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry, telling his fellow artistes to “believe in yourselves. Even if AI comes for us, we have real vitality”.
It was a good night for the veteran host as he also clinched his 10th Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes award. He was joined by Ya Hui, Paige Chua and Desmond Tan, who also got their 10th popularity trophies, confirming their All-time Favourite Artiste status at next year’s awards ceremony.
Two All-time Favourite Artistes, Carrie Wong and Romeo Tan, were minted this year.
Carrie Wong and Romeo Tan receive their All-Time Favourite Artiste awards at Star Awards 2026. (Photo: Mediacorp)
Wong, 32, became the youngest in Star Awards history to take home the All-time Favourite Artiste trophy, having won 10 Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes awards since she broke into showbiz at the age of 19. In her acceptance speech, she spoke about coming to an understanding of “real growth” and the importance of pressing on when she felt like giving up.
Tan, meanwhile, recalled his days of waiting in the wings for his big break. Because of that, simple affirmations like meeting “uncles who tell me I acted well” mean a lot to him, he said, adding: “I’d like to tell chubby little six-year-old me, who loved watching television, to go ahead and dream big.”
Young performers also received encouragement at the ceremony, with the Best Rising Star award going to Gladys Bay for her work in Under the Net, and Tyler Ten, Juin Teh and Zhang Zetong named Most Popular Rising Stars.
In the Top 10 Most Popular Artistes categories, first-time award winners were Hazelle Teo, who went on stage brandishing a hongbao from her mum; and a teary Nick Teo, who thanked his equally teary wife, Hong Ling. In addition, Ayden Sng, nominated for a popularity award for the first time, also clinched his first trophy.
Other award winners included The Breakfast Quartet for Best Radio Programme, Dennis Chew for Best Audio Personality and YES 933 Comedy Series for Best Short-form Entertainment Programme. And, in newly introduced category Best Microdrama, Woke Up In The 60s In My Grandma’s Apron starring Regine Lim and Raynold Tan took the top spot.
Best Drama Serial: Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story
Best Actor: Desmond Tan (Devil Behind The Gate)
Best Actress: Jesseca Liu (Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story)
Best Supporting Actor: Tyler Ten (Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story)
Best Supporting Actress: Chen Liping (Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story)
Best Programme Host (Entertainment & Infotainment): Guo Liang (Star Awards 2025 Award Ceremony)
Most Popular Rising Stars: Tyler Ten, Juin Teh, Zhang Zetong
Best Rising Star: Gladys Bay (Under The Net)
Young Talent Award: Ivory Chia (Emerald Hill– The Little Nyonya Story)
Best Audio Personality: Dennis Chew (Love 972 Mr. Zhou's Ghost Stories)
Best Microdrama: Woke Up In The 60s In My Grandma’s Apron
Best Entertainment Programme: Emerald Hill – Our Hillside Moments
Best Short-form Entertainment Programme: Yes 933 Comedy Series
Best Infotainment Programme: Pedal On For Love
Best Original Song: Echoes of Petals (Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story), Li Si Song and Kit Chan
Best Radio Programme: Love 972 The Breakfast Quartet
***
All-Time Favourite Artistes: Romeo Tan, Carrie Wong
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes: Marcus Chin, Richie Koh, Benjamin Tan, Xu Bin, Nick Teo, Shaun Chen, Desmond Tan, Jeff Goh, Ayden Sng, Guo Liang
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes: Chantalle Ng, Chen Biyu, Chen Ning,Denise Camillia Tan, Gao Mei Gui, Ya Hui, Tasha Low, Paige Chua, Hong Ling, Hazelle Teo
***
My Pick! Awards
Favourite CP: Tasha Low & Zhang Zetong (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
The Show Stealer: Ivory Chia (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
Most Emotional Performance: Jesseca Liu (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
The Most Hated Villain: Chantalle Ng (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
***
Chan Brothers My Star Guide Award: Dennis Chew
Chan Brothers Favourite DJ Group: Mediacorp Yes 933’s The Daka Show
Bioskin Most Charismatic Award: Tyler Ten
BYD Favourite Male Character Award: Desmond Tan (Devil Behind The Gate)
BYD Favourite Female Character Award: Tasha Low (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
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Leading lady Jesseca Liu took home her first Best Actress award for her role as the long-suffering Second Young Mistress in the drama, while other Emerald Hill actors Tyler Ten and Chen Liping were named Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Child actress Ivory Chia also took home the Young Talent Award for her work in the show.
A tearful Liu likened her 22-year acting career to “riding a unicycle”, with falls and injuries along the way. In the end, she said, “I know this is not through my effort alone”.
In the Best Actor category, Desmond Tan beat out hot favourite Chen Hanwei, clinching the trophy for his work as troubled twin brothers in Devil Behind The Gate. Tan’s last Best Actor win was for 2018’s When Duty Calls.
Held on Sunday night (Apr 19) at the Mediacorp TV Theatre, the Star Awards 2026 took the theme “Born to Glow”, with a total of 19 awards given out.
Chinese actor and singer Luo Yunxi at Star Awards 2026. (Photo: Mediacorp)
Hosted by Guo Liang, Zhang Zetong and Cheryl Chou, the awards ceremony was graced by international guests including Hong Kong’s Bowie Lam, Julian Cheung and Ada Choi; Taiwan’s Kevin Tsai, Jasper Liu and Hsieh Ying-xuan; and Chinese actor Luo Yunxi, who performed a song on stage.
Guo Liang had his hands full as he also took home the Best Programme Host award for his on-stage skills at last year’s Star Awards ceremony, celebrating his second win in the category after being nominated “20 times, I think”. In his speech, he acknowledged the rise of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry, telling his fellow artistes to “believe in yourselves. Even if AI comes for us, we have real vitality”.
It was a good night for the veteran host as he also clinched his 10th Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes award. He was joined by Ya Hui, Paige Chua and Desmond Tan, who also got their 10th popularity trophies, confirming their All-time Favourite Artiste status at next year’s awards ceremony.
Two All-time Favourite Artistes, Carrie Wong and Romeo Tan, were minted this year.
Carrie Wong and Romeo Tan receive their All-Time Favourite Artiste awards at Star Awards 2026. (Photo: Mediacorp)
Wong, 32, became the youngest in Star Awards history to take home the All-time Favourite Artiste trophy, having won 10 Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes awards since she broke into showbiz at the age of 19. In her acceptance speech, she spoke about coming to an understanding of “real growth” and the importance of pressing on when she felt like giving up.
Tan, meanwhile, recalled his days of waiting in the wings for his big break. Because of that, simple affirmations like meeting “uncles who tell me I acted well” mean a lot to him, he said, adding: “I’d like to tell chubby little six-year-old me, who loved watching television, to go ahead and dream big.”
Young performers also received encouragement at the ceremony, with the Best Rising Star award going to Gladys Bay for her work in Under the Net, and Tyler Ten, Juin Teh and Zhang Zetong named Most Popular Rising Stars.
In the Top 10 Most Popular Artistes categories, first-time award winners were Hazelle Teo, who went on stage brandishing a hongbao from her mum; and a teary Nick Teo, who thanked his equally teary wife, Hong Ling. In addition, Ayden Sng, nominated for a popularity award for the first time, also clinched his first trophy.
Other award winners included The Breakfast Quartet for Best Radio Programme, Dennis Chew for Best Audio Personality and YES 933 Comedy Series for Best Short-form Entertainment Programme. And, in newly introduced category Best Microdrama, Woke Up In The 60s In My Grandma’s Apron starring Regine Lim and Raynold Tan took the top spot.
STAR AWARDS 2026 WINNERS LIST
Best Drama Serial: Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story
Best Actor: Desmond Tan (Devil Behind The Gate)
Best Actress: Jesseca Liu (Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story)
Best Supporting Actor: Tyler Ten (Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story)
Best Supporting Actress: Chen Liping (Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story)
Best Programme Host (Entertainment & Infotainment): Guo Liang (Star Awards 2025 Award Ceremony)
Most Popular Rising Stars: Tyler Ten, Juin Teh, Zhang Zetong
Best Rising Star: Gladys Bay (Under The Net)
Young Talent Award: Ivory Chia (Emerald Hill– The Little Nyonya Story)
Best Audio Personality: Dennis Chew (Love 972 Mr. Zhou's Ghost Stories)
Best Microdrama: Woke Up In The 60s In My Grandma’s Apron
Best Entertainment Programme: Emerald Hill – Our Hillside Moments
Best Short-form Entertainment Programme: Yes 933 Comedy Series
Best Infotainment Programme: Pedal On For Love
Best Original Song: Echoes of Petals (Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story), Li Si Song and Kit Chan
Best Radio Programme: Love 972 The Breakfast Quartet
***
All-Time Favourite Artistes: Romeo Tan, Carrie Wong
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes: Marcus Chin, Richie Koh, Benjamin Tan, Xu Bin, Nick Teo, Shaun Chen, Desmond Tan, Jeff Goh, Ayden Sng, Guo Liang
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes: Chantalle Ng, Chen Biyu, Chen Ning,Denise Camillia Tan, Gao Mei Gui, Ya Hui, Tasha Low, Paige Chua, Hong Ling, Hazelle Teo
***
My Pick! Awards
Favourite CP: Tasha Low & Zhang Zetong (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
The Show Stealer: Ivory Chia (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
Most Emotional Performance: Jesseca Liu (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
The Most Hated Villain: Chantalle Ng (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
***
Chan Brothers My Star Guide Award: Dennis Chew
Chan Brothers Favourite DJ Group: Mediacorp Yes 933’s The Daka Show
Bioskin Most Charismatic Award: Tyler Ten
BYD Favourite Male Character Award: Desmond Tan (Devil Behind The Gate)
BYD Favourite Female Character Award: Tasha Low (Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story)
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