Star Awards 2026: Best moments of the show

If you grew up watching homegrown Chinese television programmes, you’ll know that Star Awards is undoubtedly the annual affair to look out for. Since its inception in 1994, the glitzy extravaganza has served up a buffet of unforgettable moments, making it the must-watch event of the year.  

Take last year’s edition as an example: its biggest highlight was undeniably Chow Yun Fat’s (aka “Fa-ge”) legendary wefie moment that stole the show. Even the biggest royalties in Singapore showbiz—Zoe Tay, Fann Wong and Lee Nanxing—couldn’t resist turning into eager fans, grabbing their chance to take selfies with Chow on stage. It was definitely a chaotic and cute moment. 

This year’s Star Awards saw a star-studded overseas presenter lineup that included Luo Yunxi (Till The End of The Moon), Hsieh Ying-xuan (Born for the Spotlight), Ada Choi (Empresses in the Palace), Julian Cheung (The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng), Bowie Lam (War and Beauty), Jasper Liu and (Take Me to the Moon) Kevin Tsai (Kangxi Coming). 

In case you missed the spectacle, fret not. Below, we round up some of the best moments from Star Awards 2026.

Tasha Low and Zhang Ze Tong Won Favourite CP (instead of Tyler Ten)

Plot twist alert! Tasha Low and Zhang Ze Tong snatched the [My Pick! Awards] Favourite CP trophy for their sparkling chemistry in Emerald Hill. The win turned out to be unexpected, even for Tasha herself, who was also nominated in the same award alongside Tyler Ten. “Honestly, I’m very shocked [of the results],” she exclaimed. 

Ivory Chia snags Young Talent Award

The child actress’s performance as young Xinniang (Tasha’s mini-me) in Emerald Hill proved to be show-stopping. Even before the main event, Ivory nabbed the [My Pick! Awards] The Show Stealer. Later, she doubled down by bagging the Young Talent Award during the show. When she went on stage to receive the award, Ivory charmed the audience by quipping about the trophy’s weight. “Wah [it’s] very heavy,” she enthused. 

Chen Liping Wins Best Supporting Actress

The Best Supporting Actress race at this year’s Star Awards was so stacked, it could’ve doubled as a Hall of Fame reunion. According to award presenter Ying-xuan, the oldest nominee boasts 40-plus years on screen while the youngest has over 20 years of experience in the industry. 

In the end, Liping snagged the trophy. Although the veteran actress wasn’t there to accept the trophy, she recorded an acceptance speech pre-show, thanking the team behind Emerald Hill for their hard work. 

Emerald Hill wins Best Drama Serial

Honestly, no one was placing bets against Emerald Hill snagging Best Drama Serial. As the hotly anticipated spin-off of the legendary The Little Nyonya, it had the spotlight from the get-go. And when it came to racking up wins at Star Awards 2026, this show was collecting trophies like they were meant to be.

 Ada Choi is this year’s answer to Chow Yun Fat

Last year, “Fa-ge” who single-handledly made the ceremony extra memorable. This year, Ada brought her own comedic and playful sparkle, turning the highly anticipated Top 10 Most Popular Female and Male Artistes segments into a feel-good highlight.

When host Guo Liang probed Ada for what it takes to be a popular artiste, she didn’t miss a beat: “[Just like me] I’m a Miss Hong Kong, and still rocking it as a mum of three.” Ada’s playful flex had the audience in stitches.

Paige Chua, Ya Hui, Desmond Tan and Guo Liang have “graduated”

The Top 10 Most Popular Female and Male Artistes presentations? Always pulse-pounding TV gold. For those artistes chasing their tenth trophy and a golden ticket to the All Time Favourite Artistes club, every announcement is a nail-biter.

This year, Paige, Ya Hui, Desmond, and Guo Liang finally “graduated”, collecting their tenth trophy and earning a lifetime pass to the All Time Favourite Artistes club. Cue confetti cannons and a standing ovation for these new hall-of-famers!

 Desmond Tan wins Best Actor

Desmond’s role as twins with polar personalities in Devil Behind The Gate had the judges hooked—earning him this year’s Best Actor crown. Taking the stage, Desmond quipped with humble disbelief: “I really didn’t expect myself to win this award because of the intense competition this year.”

“The last time I won Best Actor was eight years ago. After that win, I’ve always wanted to win it and get recognised once more. To give your best performance and produce a good drama isn’t easy. Importantly, you need a good production team so thank you to the team behind Devil Behind The Gate!”  

Desmond bagged not one but three awards for the night: Best Actor, Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste and BYD Favourite Male Character Award. 

Jesseca Liu wins Best Actress

After seven nominations, Jesseca made her way to a Best Actress win for her role in Emerald Hill. Teary-eyed but beaming, she charmed the crowd with a bicycle metaphor in her acceptance speech: “My acting journey feels like I’m riding a bicycle and I felt like giving up initially.”

“And when you fall, there’s always someone to bring you back up. Thank you to all who’ve helped me. Now, 22 years later, I’m still riding this bicycle. To travel this far, it’s never about a person’s sole effort.” 

Jesseca is proof that perseverance and dedication deserve to be seen—no matter how long it can take.