Miss Nepal 2026 Finalist: Who will carry the crown and represent Nepal on the global stage?
The crown journey has officially begun. The Hidden Treasure introduced and sashed the Top 24 contestants of Miss Nepal 2026 during the opening ceremony held at The Plaza, Pulchowk, on June 23, 2026, marking the formal start of this year’s pageant activities.
The official sashing event gave pageant followers a first formal look at the 24 contestants, who represent different regions, professions and personal journeys. From healthcare, law, technology and entrepreneurship to art, advocacy, sports and social work, this year’s lineup reflects a diverse and modern face of Nepali womanhood.
The event followed the social media reveal of the contestants, where Miss Nepal/The Hidden Treasure shared individual contestant images featuring contestant number, name, age and location. The official sashing now gives the Top 24 their first formal identity in the competition, as they prepare for grooming, training, public appearances, advocacy work and the final pageant stage.
Miss Nepal 2026 is being held under the theme “Top of the World,” a title that connects Nepal’s mountain identity with the ambitions of young women preparing to represent the country nationally and internationally. This year’s competition will crown three titleholders: Miss Nepal World, Miss Nepal Cosmo and Miss Nepal International.
The newly announced Top 24 contestants come from different parts of Nepal and abroad, including Kathmandu, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Achham, Pokhara, Kavrepalanchowk, Dharan, Kanchanpur, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Jhapa, Sindhupalchowk, Bhairahawa, Gorkha, Hong Kong, Solukhumbu, Nawalparasi, Birgunj and Sarlahi. Their profiles reflect a diverse mix of professions, dreams and personal stories.
Contestant No. 01 Esha Subedi, 25, from Kathmandu, returns home with gratitude after years of moving from place to place. Contestant No. 02 Pranisha Khanal, 22, from Arghakhanchi, brings creativity shaped by painting and architecture.
Contestant No. 03 Yukta Paudel, 23, from Syangja, believes that courage, audacity and a little bit of “delusion” can take a person far in life. The lineup also includes powerful stories of leadership and self-belief. Contestant No. 04 Anshu Kunwar, 25, from Achham, Sudurpashchim, is a business graduate, entrepreneur, MMA athlete and youth empowerment advocate.
Contestant No. 05 Sangita Paudel, 23, from Pokhara, has already made a bold prediction: one day, she wants to walk the Cannes red carpet representing Nepal. Contestant No. 06 Shraddha Adhikari, 25, from Kavrepalanchowk, describes herself as a dark horse and a jack of all trades.
Contestant No. 07 Kashis Subba, 25, from Dharan, believes every new experience reveals another layer of who she can become. Contestant No. 08 Manasvi Sharma, 22, from Kathmandu, brings together coding, social causes and a spirit of adventure.
Contestant No. 09 Sushma Bhandari, 25, Kanchanpur, Sushma Bhandari represents Kanchanpur in the Top 24 lineup of Miss Nepal 2026.From Bhaktapur, Contestant No. 10 Pratistha Acharya, 20, believes in learning, growing and becoming a voice of change through compassion and resilience.
Contestant No. 11 Arya Nishant, 24, from Lalitpur, is an artist at heart who sees every challenge, opportunity and outfit as a chance to create something meaningful. Healthcare and service also have strong representation this year. Contestant No. 12 Aayushma KC Khatri, 24, from Jhapa, is a social activist and clinical research nurse. Her journey has taken her from hospitals to remote communities, where she has worked on disease prevention and early screening.
Contestant No. 13 Shitanshu Dhakal, 25, from Kathmandu, balances hospital work, public speaking, fitness and runway practice with confidence. Contestant No. 14 Pratima Khadka, 26, from Sindhupalchowk, is a social worker and mental wellbeing advocate who believes resilience is life’s greatest superpower.
Contestant No. 15 Prema Lamgade, 26, from Bhairahawa, enters the competition with a phoenix-like story of self-worth and strength. Contestant No. 16 Mahima Panta, 20, from Gorkha, believes in moving forward step by step and making both her present self and inner child proud.
One of the notable global Nepali stories in the lineup is Contestant No. 17 Deepmala Dhakal, 24, born and raised in Hong Kong. She is introduced as the youngest ever to be elected to the NRNA, an ambassador of Nepal Cancer Hospital, and someone inspired by her mother, who participated in the first Miss Nepal pageant in 1994. Contestant No. 18 Sezja Shrestha, 22, from Kathmandu, is grounded in her Newar roots while exploring creativity through technology and music.
Contestant No. 19 Bibhusha Bhattarai, 22, from Solukhumbu, may or may not be among social media hot picks yet, but she aims to own the stage with her fearless and charismatic personality. Contestant No. 20 Swikriti Gyawali, 25, from Nawalparasi, is an IT professional and MBA graduate whose journey has taken her from classrooms in Nepal to the global stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Contestant No. 21 Chadani Shrestha, 23, from Bhaktapur, believes every dream begins with courage and that ordinary girls can create extraordinary journeys. Contestant No. 22 Shreeyashi Shrestha, 25, from Birgunj, sees digital literacy as a superpower and is on a mission to help more people unlock it.
Contestant No. 23 Arbisha Thapa, 23, from Sarlahi, believes in serving others, growing through challenges and embracing every opportunity. Contestant No. 24 Rachana Bhattarai, 26, from Sindhupalchowk, is a lawyer who believes change begins with listening to communities, stories and people.
With the official sashing ceremony now completed, Miss Nepal 2026 has moved from contestant introduction to competition journey. The coming weeks are expected to bring grooming sessions, official activities, public engagement, media attention and early fan discussions around potential frontrunners.
As the Top 24 begin their pageant journey, the big question now is clear: who among these young women will carry the crown and represent Nepal on the global stage?
Image Credit for all contestant images:
Wardrobe: @arzooofficial_ | Photography: @creatived.studio | HMUA: @glam.empire.beauty, @syanipradhan | Production: @mp.productions.np
