Phuket singer-guitarist Nene Royal has been chosen as Best New International Artiste 2026 by The Phil Lynott Convention in Ireland. The 16-year-old, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy, received the honour on Saturday, August 22.

The award follows her appearances on America's Got Talent Season 21, where her vocals and guitar playing brought her international attention and earned her a place in the competition's Live Shows.

Nene is due to compete in the second live quarter-final of America's Got Talent Season 21 on August 25.

Dublin ceremony celebrates Thin Lizzy legacy

The award presentation will took place at the Button Factory in Temple Bar, Dublin.

The event celebrates Phil Lynott, singer and bassist of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, and this year's convention marks 40 years since his death.

Organisers introduced two special awards for the 2026 event. Nene's Best New International Artiste honour recognises her potential as an emerging performer on the international stage and is intended to encourage a new generation of rock artists.

From Phuket busking to a global TV audience

Nene began teaching herself guitar at about six or seven years old. She developed her live performance experience by busking at markets in Phuket before gaining a much wider audience through America's Got Talent.

Her first appearance on the programme featured a rock-based version of The Cranberries' "Zombie". She later performed Muse's "Hysteria" during the Judges' Callbacks.

Those performances helped carry her from local market stages in Phuket to one of television's best-known talent competitions. Her latest recognition in Ireland is another overseas milestone as she continues to develop her music for audiences beyond Thailand.

Picture courtesy of The Nation

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23 August 2026

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You'd expect the AN population to appreciate the kind of music Nene performs, since most of it hit radio waves decades before she was even born... 0 responses kind of show the opposite.