Nene Royal wins America’s Got Talent 2026 crown in historic victory
Phuket teenager Nene Royal makes history as she wins America’s Got Talent Season 21 after a powerful final performance.
- Nene Royal, a 16-year-old rock singer from Thailand, has been crowned the winner of America's Got Talent 2026.
- Her victory is historic as she is the first-ever Thai contestant to win the competition.
- During the finale, she performed the song 'The Emptiness Machine' alongside the rock band Linkin Park.
Phuket-born rock star Nene Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy, won the America’s Got Talent (AGT) Season 21 title, turning her childhood dream into a historic achievement and bringing pride to people across Thailand.
The 16-year-old became the first Thai contestant to claim the AGT crown, earning widespread praise after a memorable journey filled with powerful vocals, electric guitar performances and rock classics.
Nene Royal was among the final three acts alongside card magician Geno Ploeger and the South Korean magic duo Hundred Fingers. The Thai teenager was announced as the winner, leaving her overwhelmed as she sank to the stage in tears of joy.
Special performance with Linkin Park
The AGT 2026 finale featured collaborations between the finalists and special guests, including world-famous DJ Steve Aoki, who performed with dancing Unitree robots. DJ Goja also joined forces with acrobatic performer Veronika Goroshkova for a spectacular rendition of “Skyfall”.
Nene Royal delivered one of the night’s biggest moments by performing with legendary rock band Linkin Park on “The Emptiness Machine”, a track from the band’s latest album, “From Zero”.
Linkin Park gave the young singer the spotlight by allowing her to open the performance with the first verse. Nene impressed the audience with a confident and powerful delivery that showcased her professional-level stage presence.
When the song ended, the crowd rose to its feet in a standing ovation amid loud cheers, creating an atmosphere more like a rock concert than a talent competition finale.
Asked about Nene Royal after the performance, Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda praised her as “amazing” and “incredible”, while lead vocalist Emily Armstrong wished her success in the competition.
Before the finale aired, expectations had already grown among fans after Nene shared photos with Linkin Park on her Facebook page, including an image of herself holding a Linkin Park sign, hinting that she would perform alongside her favourite band.
