The 2026 Miss Grand International pageant has not concluded yet, but the organizers are already gearing up for the 15 edition happening next year, with Thailand as the host country yet again.
Reigning queen Emma Tiglao made the announcement during the pre-final swimsuit competition of this year’s pageant held at Lebua State Tower in Bangkok on Tuesday morning, Sept. 29.
Although technically not yet its 15th anniversary, the Miss Grand International pageant has dubbed next year’s competition as its ’15th Grandniversary’ celebration. The pageant was founded by Thai businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil in 2013, with its first edition held in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok.
‘We are getting bigger and grander as we celebrate here in Thailand for the MGI 2027, the 15th ‘Grandniversary.’ Are you excited?’ Tiglao said after the video announcement was played. The competition was streamed live on the pageant’s official YouTube channel.
The same video may now be seen on the Miss Grand International social media pages. ‘THAILAND is officially the host country of Miss Grand International 2027, as we return to where the journey began for a milestone unlike any other,’ the caption read.
‘Fifteen years of history have led us to this moment. Now, something extraordinary awaits, new possibilities, new experiences, and a celebration created for this once-in-a-generation milestone,’ the post continued.
The competition was held outside Thailand for four straight years starting in its fourth edition in 2016 which took place in the United States. In 2017, Vietnam hosted the pageant.
In 2018, the international pageant stayed in Southeast Asia when Myanmar hosted the sixth edition, followed by Venezuela’s hosting in 2019, the first time the competition was held in South America.
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the staging of the 2020 pageant to March 2021, with the competition taking place in the Miss Grand International pageant’s home country, Thailand.
It was staged outside Thailand again in 2022 and 2023, with Indonesia and Vietnam hosting the Miss Grand International pageant, respectively. India was supposed to host the competition this year, but the organizers decided to move it back to Thailand just weeks before the delegates were expected to arrive in New Delhi.
The 2026 Miss Grand International pageant’s ‘Grand Final’ will be held at MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 10. Seventy-six delegates are competing for the ‘golden crown,’ including Reina Filipinas Angelica Lopez.