Academy Fantasia (or True Academy Fantasia, formerly UBC Academy Fantasia) is a reality show held in Thailand.
Began to air in June 2004, it is a 24-hour reality show based on singing contest, judged through popular votes. The show is most recognized as the first Thai reality show in the format of 24-hour live broadcast, where the audiences can watch and follow life activities of the selected contestants. It is also one of two most popular reality show in mid-2000s to mid-2010s, along with The Star. A number of winners and runners-up from the contest have continued to become mainstream singers and/or actors, most notably including Pongsak Rattanapong (Aof), Patcha A-nekayuwat, Thanakrit Panichwit (Wan), Pissanu Nimsaku (Boy), Kietkamol Lata (Tui), Mintita Wattanakul (Mint), Nalin Hohler (Zara), Nat Sakdathron, Nat Thewphaingram (Natthew), Assadaporn Siriwatthanakul (Green), Nipaporn Thitithanakarn (Zani), Annop Thongborisut (Por), Benjamin Joseph Varney (Ben), Thanasit Jaturaput (Ton), Nontanun Anchuleepradit (Kacha), Sattaphong Piengpor (Tao), and Nisachol Sewthaisong (Nest).
Academy Fantasia has originally terminated its broadcast season with season 12 in 2015. However, in August 2025, it was announced that the show will return for its 13th season, scheduled to premiere on June 7, 2026.
Overview
Created by cable TV provider TrueVisions, formerly known as United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), Academy Fantasia is a franchise of La Academia, a popular reality TV show from Mexico. The contestants are selected through nationwide auditions, as well as through online audition clips. The live auditions take place in major cities in every part of Thailand to search for those who dream about becoming superstars. Four judges will eliminate thousands of people down to top 100 then last twelve or more finalists into the Academy House for study.
The contestants live in the same house with hundreds of hidden cameras. Audiences can watch them 24 hours live on TV and online. Each week the contestants are assigned individual songs and sometimes group songs to perform on stage every Saturday until the last week of the show. The contestants attend voice class, dance class, and acting class to practice the songs that they perform.
The audiences can vote for their favorite contestants through cell phones and land phones. The show usually airs 24 hours on True Reality Channel and the concerts will be broadcast live on True Inside Channel and True Music Channel under True Visions network, while on national television, the weekly concerts will be broadcast on ModernNine TV (public channel 9) (seasons 3-10), and later on True 4U (seasons 11-12), every Saturday night.
After each performance the commentators will evaluate the performance. At the end of the concert, the contestant(s) who received the lowest percentage of audience votes will have to leave the show, unless there is a special rules or "surprise" occurs, such as the Immunity Doll.
The winners of the first five seasons were all male and was the first female in the season 6, while as of 2026, there are nine male winners and four female winners. The 12 finalists from the first twelve seasons will automatically receive record deals with True Fantasia record label, while the 12 finalists from season 13 onwards will receive record deals with Ennead record label. From seasons 1-9, after the end of each season, there is a nationwide concert tour starring the top 12 finalists.
Seasons SeasonPremiere dateThe WinnerRunner-upFinalistsContestants in order of eliminationNumber of ContestantsNumber of ConcertsAF1June 21, 2004Vit (V2)Jeen (V1)Aof (V6), Z-Nam (V9), Namtarn (V7), & K (V4)Joomjim (V5), Por (V10), Nan (V3), Noon (V12), Mam (V11), & Top (V8)129AF2July 18, 2005Aof (V4)Pat (V6)Boy (V8), Pas (V9), & Preaw (V2)Joe (V12), Loogtarn (V1), Kookkai (V7), Wan (V3), My (V11), Mew (V5), & Ao (V10)1212AF3July 3, 2006Tui (V12)Ta (V1)Boy (V8), Mint (V5), & Zara (V4)Koh (V9), Dong (V7), Tune (V6), Apple & Cherry (V3), Bruna (V11), Pett (V2), & Louktarn (V10)12 + 110AF4June 18, 2007Nat (V1)Tol (V9)Papang (V3), Music (V8), Lookpong (V17), & Pong (V19)Cat (V11), Tee (V12), Eingeing (V6), Puifai (V18), Jack (V2), & Joe (V16) Bomb (V5), Eiaw (V7), Man (V13), Dew (V15), Ae (V4), Namfon (V10), Anntie (V14), Dear (V20)2013AF5May 12, 2008Natthew (V13)Ron (V12)Pump (V8), Good (V10), & Kee (V14)Green (V16), Micky (V6), Beau (V5), Tab (V3), Prink (V1), Wahn (V15), & Nim (V9) Beer (V2), Benz (V4), Nan (V7), Dear (V11)1612AF6June 28, 2009Zani (V6)Ann (V10)Tee (V5), & Mac (V8)Koonjae-Sal (V3), Nooknick (V9), Newty (V4), Aof (V2), Ich (V1), Itch (V12), Tabby (V11), & Krit (V7)1212AF7June 27, 2010Por (V12)Ton (V13)Boss (V10), New (V4), Namkhang (V6) & Grape (V2)Pum (V7), Ben (V3), Natty (V5), Paprae (V9), Green (V8), & Meen (V1) Mark (V11), 87 other contestants who were eliminated at the final audition round12 (13, 100)12AF8June 26, 2011Ton (V9)Praew (V15)Kacha (V3), Frame (V21), Tao (V23) & James (V10) Joy (V24), Praewa (V2), Lynn (V7), Tide (V1), Ann (V12) & Dew (V22) Yuki (V4), Potay (V6), Weiwei (V16), Aon (V20), Pik (V5), Earng (V14), Beer (V18), Team (V19), Poysian (V8), Tum (V11), Waew (V13), Friendship (V17)2412AF9June 3, 2012 Ice (V8) Zo (V1) Bright (V5), Nest (V7) & Kat (V4) K (V6), Sunny (V11), Earth (V10), Kong (V2), Opol (V12), Baimonh (V3) & Bombay (V9) Sony, Dew, Baitong, Pla, Tung, Earth, Pamm, None, Tewich, Fluke, Nook, Mind24 (12 V)15AF10June 23, 2013 Tungbeer (V20) Tayme (V6) Tuey (V21), Beam (V15), Belle (V24), CoNan (V22), Mook (V4), Nan (V11), Hongyok (V23), Hernfah (V14), Tong (V8) & Nene (V18) Tung (V13), Taengthai (V10), Fluke (V3), Taengmo (V2), Ten (V1), Benz (V9), Ton (V16), Aee (V7), Prim (V19), Ryu (V17), Mangpor (V12) & Lisa (V5)2412AF11July 20, 2014 Aim (V12) Mac (V6) Poom (V2), Nam (V11) & Q (V10) Pond (V4), Jukkajun (V3), Poon (V8), May (V5), Mook (V1), Muayli (V9) & Way (V7) 1211AF12June 28, 2015Max (V12)Benz(guy) (V9) Mariew (V7) & Boat (V10) Praew (V1), Benz(girl) (V4), Focus (V2), Joker (V3), Ploysai (V5), Jaoh (V11), May (V6) & Joon (V8) 1212AF 2026June 7, 2026Jayjay (V1)Yuri (V5) Ohm (V10) & Beem (V6) Namo (V11), Music (V3), Fogus (V7), Jackie (V12), Pang (V4), San (V8), Phone (V2) & Ginggam (V9)1210 Male Female
Season 1 (2004) 21 June - 21 August 2004 (9 Weeks)
Week 1 theme: Trainers' Choices Week 2 theme: Trainers' Choices Week 3 theme: Trainers' Choices Week 4 theme: Trainers' Choices Week 5 theme: Duets Week 6 theme: Easy Listening Week 7 theme: International Soundtracks Week 8 theme: Rock n' Roll Week 9 theme: Contestant's Favourites (Finale)
Number Contestant Number ContestantV1 JeenV7 NamtarnV2VitV8 TopV3 NanV9 Z-NamV4 KV10 PorV5 JoomjimV11 MamV6 AofV12 Noon
Season 1: Elimination chart + Season 1 Female Male Top 12 Top 6 Runner-Up Winner
Bottom Eliminated None-Elim
Stage:FinalsGrand FinaleWeek:123456789PlaceContestantResult1VitBtmWinner2Jeensaved3AofBtmFinalist4Z-namBtmNone Elim1BtmFinalist5NamtarnBtmBtmBtmFinalist6KNone ElimBtmBtmBtmFinalist7JoomjimBtmBtmBtmElim8PorElim9NanBtmBtmElim10NoonBtmElim11MamElim12TopElim
1None elimination week due to a failure of system supported the votes.
Season 2 (2005) 18 July - 8 October 2005 (12 Weeks)
Week 1 theme: Songs from Audition Round Week 2 theme: 80's Week 3 theme: Duets Week 4 theme: #1 Hits Week 5 theme: Rock n' Roll Week 6 theme: Voting Back Week 7 theme: World Musics Week 8 theme: Songs of "The Soontaraporn" Week 9 theme: Dance & Remixes Week 10 theme: Thai Local Musics Week 11 theme: Movie Hits Soundtracks Week 12 theme: Contestant's Favourites (Finale)
Number Contestant Number ContestantV1 LoogtarnV7 KookkaiV2 PreawV8 BoyV3 WanV9 PasV4AofV10 AoV5 MewV11 MyV6 PatchaV12 Joe
Season 2: Elimination chart + Season 2 Female Male Top 12 Top 5 Runner-Up Winner
Bottom Eliminated Returned
Stage:FinalsGrand FinaleWeek:123456789101112PlaceContestantResult1AofBtmWinner2PatchaBtmBtm3BoyBtmElimReturn1BtmBtm3rd Place4PasBtmBtmBtm4th Place5PreawBtmBtmBtmBtm5th Place6JoeBtmBtmElim7LoogtarnBtmElimReturn1BtmElim8KookkaiBtmElim9WanBtmBtmElim10MyBtmElimReturn1Elim11MewElim12AoElim
1Contestants were voted back and returned to competition once again. The ranking would be reset, but the rewards still were the same.
Season 3 (2006) 3 July - 9 September 2006 (10 Weeks)
Week 1 theme: His Majesty The King's Songs Week 2 theme: Duets Week 3 theme: Songs of Contestant's Idols Week 4 theme: #1 Hits Week 5 theme: Animals Songs Week 6 theme: Songs for Mother Week 7 theme: Dance n' Hip Week 8 theme: Thai Country Week 9 theme: Hits Soundtracks Week 10 theme: Contestant's Favourites (Finale)
Number Contestant Number ContestantV1 TaV7 DongV2 PettV8 BoyV3 Apple & CherryV9 KohV4 ZaraV10 LouktarnV5 MintV11 BrunaV6 Tune V12 Tui
Season 3: Elimination chart + Season 3 Female Male Top 12 Top 5 Runner-Up Winner
Bottom Eliminated None-Elim
Stage:FinalsGrand FinaleWeek:12345678910PlaceContestantResult1Tui1st1Winner2TaBtmBtmTop3Btm3BoyBtmBtm3rd Place4MintBtmBtmTop3Btm4th Place5ZaraBtmBtmBtm5th Place6KohBtmBtmElim7DongBtmElim8TuneElim9Apple & CherryBtmBtmElim10Bruna None ElimBtmElim11PettElim12LouktarnElim
1Contestant had the most popular vote on the special week and get the special prize, a trip to Hong Kong with his mother for one week.
Season 4 (2007) 18 March - 15 October 2007 (12 Weeks & 1 Extra Week)
Week 1 theme: Audition Songs Week 2 theme: Best of Me Week 3 theme: Thai Contemporary Week 4 theme: Boy Band & Girl Group Week 5 theme: Thai Country Week 6 theme: Cover Hits Week 7 theme: Superstars Superhits Week 8 theme: Tele Songs Week 9 theme: Cheer Week 10 theme: Karaoke (Surprised) Week 11 theme: Dance Week 12 theme: Contestant's Favourites (Finale) Week 13 theme: Contestant's The Best of AF4 & His Majesty The King's Songs (The Extra Week)
Number Contestant Number Contestant V1 NatV11 CatV2 JackV12 TeeV3 PapangV13 ManV4 AeV14 AntieV5 BombV15 DewV6 EingeingV16 JoeV7 EawV17 LookpongV8 MusicV18 PuifaiV9 TolV19 PongV10 NamfonV20 Dear
Season 4: Elimination chart + Season 4 Female Male Top 20 Top 12 Top 6 Runner-Up Winner
Bottom Eliminated Returned
Stage:Semi-finalsFinalsGrand Finale Extra WeekWeek:12345678910111213PlaceContestantResult1NatBtm1st1Winner2TolBtmBtmTop23PapangBtm3rd Place4MusicBtmBtmBtmBtmTop34th Place5LookpongBtmBtmBtm5th Place6PongElim Return2Btm6th PlaceTop37CatBtmBtmElim Return2Elim Return8TeeElim ReturnTop29EingeingBtmBtmBtmElim Return10PuifaiElim Return11JackElim Return1st312JoeBtmElim Return13-16BombElim ReturnEaw ReturnMan ReturnDew Return17-20AeElim ReturnNamfon ReturnAntie ReturnDear Return
1Contestant have the most popular vote of the week and can choose two contestants (within top12) back to the competition once again. 2Contestants were selected by the most popular vote contestant of the week to come back into the competition once again, their ranking would be reset. 3Contestant have the most popular vote of the week and receive a special prize, trip to any country in the world.