MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala and singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list, joining some of the region’s rising stars in entertainment and sports.
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM/ALEX.EALA
The annual list, now on its 11th edition, recognizes young entrepreneurs, artists, athletes and innovators across the Asia-Pacific region who are making waves in their respective industries.
“The 11th edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list highlights the brightest young sparks across the region,” Forbes said.
“This year’s listees are pushing the boundaries in their respective fields at a time when AI is fast becoming ingrained in work and play,” it added.
Eala earned a spot under the Entertainment and Sports category after a breakthrough run in international tennis that saw her become one of the Philippines’ most celebrated athletes.
Singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM/ZACK.TABUDLO
Forbes highlighted how the 21-year-old “got Filipinos fired up about tennis” after breaking into the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Top 50 last year. She climbed to as high as No. 29 in March 2026, becoming the highest-ranked Filipina player in modern history.
The publication also cited several milestones in Eala’s career, including becoming the first Filipina to defeat two Top 10 players during the Miami Open in 2025, the first Filipina to reach a WTA Tour final at the Eastbourne International, and the first Filipina to win a Grand Slam singles main-draw match at the U.S. Open.
Eala likewise captured the women’s singles gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, ending a title drought for the Philippines that stretched back to 1999.
Joining Eala on the list is Filipino pop artist Zack Tabudlo, who was also recognized under Entertainment and Sports.
Forbes credited Tabudlo’s breakout hits “Pano” and “Give Me Your Forever” for propelling him to become the most-streamed Philippine artist of 2022 based on Spotify data.
The singer first rose to prominence after joining “The Voice Kids” in 2014. Forbes noted that he later signed with Mercury Records under Universal Music Group in 2025 and mounted a Southeast Asia tour in 2024.
The publication also highlighted his return to “The Voice Kids” in September as a coach, where his contestant Sofia Mallares eventually emerged as champion.
Also included in this year’s Entertainment and Sports category are K-pop groups Cortis, Nmixx and I-dle, Indonesian girl group No Na, South Korean choreographer and dancer Leejung Lee, and Singaporean artist Regina Song, among other.
Apart from Entertainment and Sports, the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list also covers categories such as Retail and E-Commerce, Consumer and Enterprise Technology, Industry, Manufacturing and Energy, Social Media, Marketing and Advertising, The Arts, Social Impact, AI, Healthcare and Science, and Finance and Venture Capital.
Last year, Filipino pop girl group BINI was also recognized by Forbes as part of the 30 Under 30 Asia list under the Entertainment and Sports category.
