Who Won The Voice? All About Season 26 Champion Sofronio Vasquez

Sofronio Vasquez was crowned ‘The Voice’ champion on Dec. 10, making Michael Bublé the winning coach on his debut season

‘The Voice’ season 26 winner Sofronio Vasquez. Photo:Griffin Nagel/NBC via Getty

The Voice has crowned a season 26 winner: Sofronio Vasquez!

The Philippines native made history as the first Filipino singer to win the U.S. version of The Voice and marked a debut victory for first-time coach Michael Bublé.

Vasquez took home the title after performing The Miracles’ “Who’s Lovin’ You” with Bublé. Just before host Carson Daly declared him champion, the “Spicy Margarita” singer told Vasquez, “My Filipino brother, you are the hope of so many people… it has been such an unbelievable journey to be here with you.”

In an interview with PEOPLE a few days before the finale, Vasquez reflected on the experience, saying that he and his castmates would “celebrate that this was a very, very good run for The Voice.”

A Complete Guide to Every Winner of ‘The Voice’

“We really felt that we are loved by the production and no one is superior… we are all loved,” Vasquez added.

The singer was previously on a path to a dentistry career when his father — who instilled in him a love of music — tragically died. He felt inspired to make his dad proud and moved to the United States to pursue his passion. Now, with a $100,000 cash prize and a recording contract, Vasquez’s dream is coming true.

So who is the winner of The Voice season 26? Here’s everything to know about Sofronio Vasquez and his emerging stardom.

He was born in the Philippines but lives in New York

Sofronio Vasquez at Amanpulo Hotel in the Philippines.Sofronio Vasquez/ Instagram

According to his NBC bio, Vasquez is from Mindanao, Philippines, where he grew up with “virtually nothing, including no bed or indoor plumbing.”

Following Vasquez’s performance of Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” during the Dec. 2 episode, Bublé gave him some especially heartfelt feedback, touching on Vasquez’s “strength” for all that he has overcome.

“The fact that through all of this adversity, you walk out here on a night like tonight, when it probably matters more than anything has in your whole life career-wise,” Bublé said. “You walk out here in the moment and you take the brass ring and I’m just so happy for you.”

According to the Utica Observer Dispatch, the singer has lived in Utica, N.Y., since 2023.

However, he told the outlet ahead of the finale that “it feels like I was really born and raised in Utica.”

He and his father shared a passion for music

Sofronio Vasquez performs during part 1 of ‘The Voice’ finale.Trae Patton/NBC via Getty

Despite a challenging upbringing, music always brought Vasquez’s family joy, according to his NBC bio.

Although his father was his original mentor, Vasquez had to adjust to a new music scene once he came to America. In December 2024, he told PEOPLE that “they are not looking for the big belters here,” and recalled noticing early on in the season that the audience was interested in “souls.”

“That’s what I need to overcome during that time. And I overcame,” he said. “I think I was just like, ‘Come on, Sofronio, settle in. You have your voice, you have your heart. Just sing it.’ “

He was going to be a dentist

‘The Voice’ season 26 winner Sofronio Vasquez.Sofronio Vasquez/ Instagram

According to his NBC bio, Vasquez didn’t think he was as musically talented as those around him, so he instead began to pursue to a career in dentistry. He decided to give music a chance while preparing for his dental boards in the Philippines — just before his father tragically died.

Driven by a desire to honor his late father and their shared love of music, he moved to the U.S. in 2022 to pursue his passion on a more serious level, per his NBC bio.

He previously auditioned for The Voice of the Philippines

Sofronio Vasquez during part 2 of ‘The Voice’ finale.Griffin Nagel/NBC via Getty

Ahead of the December 2024 finale, Vasquez told Utica Observer Dispatch that he auditioned for The Voice of the Philippines nearly a decade ago, but nobody turned their chair around — a stark contrast from his victory years later.

He attributed the change in luck to his life experiences over the past few years.

“I was just a happy kid and not a dreamer before,” he said. “But now with all the adversities in life, I got to be just me, me.”

Vasquez told the outlet that this time around, win or lose, he was excited to finish the journey and “finally” say, “I did it.”

Following his win, Vasquez wrote on Instagram, “Dreams really do come true.”

He received a four-chair turn during the blind auditions

Sofronio Vasquez during Episode 2617 “The Playoffs Part 3” on The Voice. Casey Durkin/NBC via Getty

For his blind audition, Vasquez chose to perform Mary J. Blige’s cover of “I’m Goin’ Down” which led to a four-chair turn by all the judges, including Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg and Bublé.

The panel turned almost immediately after Vasquez hit his first note and fought for him to choose their team after he concluded.

“I could not hit my button fast enough,” McEntire said. “Your voice is like butter, it is so easy on the ears. But your soulfulness touched my heart.”

When it came to Bublé’s turn, he started off by thanking him in Filipino.

“Your people are such beautiful people,” he said. “I can’t even imagine how proud you’re going to make them.”

The “Feeling Good” singer said that he thought Vasquez would “help [him] win this competition” — and, together, they did.

He got close with his fellow contestants and mentor

Sofronio Vasquez and Michael Bublé during part 2 of ‘The Voice’ finale.Griffin Nagel/NBC via Getty

Vasquez previously told PEOPLE that the hardest part of the journey was “being away from my family,” before adding that the most beautiful aspect of the experience was “the [Voice] family” he gained.

Although he was far from both the Philippines and New York, Vasquez shared that Bublé made sure he was “home with him” throughout the season.

“Michael as a coach and as a mentor is so genuine and that makes me feel that I am home even if I am super super far away from home,” the champion said. “He loves us.”

When asked during the finale what Bublé’s mentorship has meant, Vasquez said it was “a blessing” to him, his family and “to all the dreamers out there.”

“You open the doors for everyone,” Vasquez said. “Thank you so much.”