PASADENA, California, USA, September 23, 2026 — Magician Geno Ploeger finished second and the magic ensemble Hundred Fingers placed third Wednesday night in the America’s Got Talent Season 21 finale. The $1 million prize went to Nene Royal, a 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket, Thailand.

Two magic acts in the top three made this magic’s strongest AGT finale in years. Ploeger’s runner-up finish matches Anna DeGuzman’s in Season 18, which had been the best result for a magic act since Dustin Tavella won in 2021. Last season, no magic act reached the finals at all.

Host Terry Crews narrowed the 10 finalists to five by calling acts to the stage in pairs, and America’s vote sent one act from each pair through. Hundred Fingers advanced over dog trainer Olivia Befus. Ploeger took the last Top 5 spot over Acro Canine Crew, which echoed the semifinal results on September 16, when he was the last act named to the finale. Aerialist Veronika Goroshkova finished fifth and light-up dance group Royal Lasers fourth. Hundred Fingers was then named third, which left Ploeger and Royal as the final two.

For Hundred Fingers, the finish comes with a standing offer. After the group’s performance Tuesday night, Mandel called it “the best magic show I’ve ever seen.” He said that if America didn’t vote the group the winner, it deserved its own room in Las Vegas, and that if no one else offered one, he would put up his own money and produce the show. When Mel B tried to point out moments she thought were out of sync, Mandel told the group not to listen and took her microphone. Guest judge KSI and Sofía Vergara also praised the routine, and Vergara said the group could win.

Mandel twice used his Golden Buzzer on the 10-man ensemble this season, first at the auditions and again in the quarterfinals, when he sent it straight to the finale. The group is led by Yu Hojin, the 2012 FISM Grand Prix winner, who reached the Season 17 finale as a solo act. His third-place finish improves on that run. On Wednesday’s results show, Hundred Fingers performed with classical pianist Chloe Flower.

Ploeger’s final routine made photos of the judges appear in a deck of cards and merge into a single picture. It ended with cards drawn by KSI completing a puzzle that had been assembled on stage before he chose them. Mel B told him, “I believe in magic, you are magic.”

The Arizona State University senior, who graduates in December, entered the live shows as one of five magic acts and was the only solo magician left at the end. He outlasted mentalist duo Mind2Mind, Kameron Marshall, and Young & Strange.

On Wednesday, Ploeger shared the stage with his mentor, Season 9 winner Mat Franco, for a close-up set.

Royal reached the finale when Mel B gave her a Live Golden Buzzer for her quarterfinal performance of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.” Mandel predicted Tuesday that she would win. On Wednesday she performed with Linkin Park.

Simon Cowell missed the finale while recovering from back surgery and sent a message that Crews read on air. KSI sat in with Mandel, Mel B, and Vergara for both finale nights.

Magic has won AGT three times: Franco in 2014, Shin Lim in 2018, and Tavella in 2021. The season is available to stream on Peacock.

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Geno Ploeger Finishes Second, Hundred Fingers Third as Nene Royal Wins AGT Season 21

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