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The Top 40 candidates of Miss Universe Philippines 2026. MUPH/Facebook

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776050986695669858742_18173533369397868_8068661168254157010_n.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Top 40 candidates of Miss Universe Philippines 2026. <em>MUPH/Facebook </em></span></span></span></div><p>Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) has released the closed-door interviews of the candidates who have advanced to the second round of the competition. </p><p>The preliminary interviews of the MUPH 2026 Top 40, which was chosen during the evening gown round both by online voting and a selection committee, can now be viewed on the Empire Philippines YouTube channel. </p><p>Watch it below:</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NniGhC8pKzU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Fans can now support their favorites from the preliminary interview via the Maya app until April 18. </p><p>The roster will then be trimmed to 30, which will include an equal mix of leaders from online voting and judges&#x27; scores.</p><p>This will be followed by the swimsuit round, which will further narrow down the candidates to the Top 20.</p><p>Explaining its new format, MUPH said it wanted &quot;more delegates to shine at every stage of the competition.&quot;</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DW-jbEtDxDG/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A19054439.600000024%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="879" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2026/4/10/miss-universe-philippines-2026-coronation-night-moved-to-may-2-1327">The MUPH 2026 coronation night will be held on May 2</a> at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.</p><p>The winner will represent the Philippines in this year&#x27;s Miss Universe pageant, set to be held in Puerto Rico in November.</p><p>She will succeed Ahtisa Manalo, who finished as third runner-up to Mexico&#x27;s Fatima Bosch in Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand.</p>

<p>Miss Universe Philippines has released the closed-door interviews of the candidates who have advanced to the second round of the competition.</p>

Miss Universe Philippines has released the closed-door interviews of the candidates who have advanced to the second round of the competition.

WATCH: Preliminary interviews of Miss Universe Philippines 2026 bets

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Published April 13, 2026 11:30 AM PHT

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