Mister Cosmopolitan 2026 names winner despite final awaiting approval from Vietnam authorities

The grand finale of this year’s international male pageant was held on an outdoor stage at Tien Beach in the province on Saturday night to seek its highest title, according to the event’s official Facebook account.

However, earlier that afternoon, an official from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said the application for permission to organize the pageant’s final night was still being completed.

Activities taking place at that time were considered internal events of the organizing board, the official said.

The grand finale was originally scheduled for September 12 at the Do Theater in Bac Nha Trang Ward.

According to the authorities, it would have to be postponed until later this month after the organizing board obtains approval from the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee.

Despite the regulatory uncertainty, elements normally associated with a men’s pageant final went ahead, including performances and the announcement of the winner and runners-up.

Reports of the results subsequently appeared in foreign media outlets, international pageant websites, and beauty-pageant forums.

The Philippines’ Daily Tribune reported that model John Bonifacio had made history by becoming the first Filipino to win the Mister Cosmopolitan title, adding to the country’s growing record in international pageants.

Philippine news site CONAN Daily likewise reported Bonifacio as the newly crowned Mister Cosmopolitan.

South Africa’s Nkosikhona Roro was named first runner-up, while Thailand’s Tong Sanchai Manimon finished as second runner-up.

Turkey’s Enes Çetinkaya and Spain’s Fran Caceres were named third and fourth runners-up, respectively.

Vietnamese representative Nguyen Hai Anh finished in the top 8.

The organizing board also announced that Mister Cosmopolitan 2027 will be held in Thailand.

Mister Cosmopolitan was founded and is run by Malaysians.

Vietnamese representatives have previously achieved notable results in the competition.

In 2024, model Dinh Duong Bao Huy was named fourth runner-up.

In 2025, Vietnam’s Dinh Sy Tu finished as third runner-up.