Keisha Buchanan unmasked as Moth and crowned winner of The Masked Singer 2026
Keisha Buchanan, best known as an original member of the early-2000s girl group, was unveiled as Moth and named the champion of this year's edition of The Masked Singer on the night of 14 February 2026 ET. The final three — Moth, Conkers and Toastie — performed a string of high-stakes numbers before the panel and audience voted, bringing the series to a close with a surprise winner.
Final performances and the big reveal
The programme closed with dramatic sets and three distinctive performances from the finalists. Moth delivered a series of standout moments that left the panel and viewers debating identities until the very end. When the time came to remove the mask, the pop star revealed herself as Keisha Buchanan, prompting cheers and disbelief from the studio crowd.
Conkers finished in second place, later unmasked as television presenter Ben Shephard, while Toastie took third and was revealed as soul singer and broadcaster Mica Paris. The line-up of guest and returning masked performers added to the finale’s theatre, with former masked acts joining the finalists for unique duet showcases that underscored the series’ blend of spectacle and showmanship.
Contestant reflections and judges’ reactions
Buchanan reflected on the experience as gruelling but rewarding, saying the competition pushed her to tackle songs she had not previously performed. She singled out renditions of Whitney Houston and Aerosmith as particularly daunting choices, describing the Whitney number as especially emotional given her admiration for the late singer and confessing that attempting an Aerosmith track challenged her rhythmic comfort.
The judging panel swung between confident guesses and surprised admissions. One panellist had been convinced Moth was another well-known singer for much of the run-up, while another expressed delight at having correctly identified Buchanan. The guest judge for the final joined the panel in applauding the finalists’ courage in performing under layers of costume and secrecy.
Series highlights and legacy notes
The season featured a wide range of celebrity reveals across its eight-week run. Early unmaskings included household names from music, television and comedy, with some performances bringing unexpected vocal turns and playful misdirection in clue packages. The show maintained its mix of elaborate costumes, tongue-in-cheek clues and competitive staging, sustaining audience curiosity from the opening episode through to the finale.
For Buchanan, the win reintroduced her to a broad primetime audience and showcased a vocal versatility that contrasted with her pop-group origins. For the programme, the conclusion reinforced its format’s ability to turn nostalgia and secrecy into appointment viewing, while delivering moments of genuine surprise when identities were finally revealed.
As the confetti settled, the series left viewers with one clear memory: a masked moth that turned out to be a familiar voice from the noughties, stepping back into the spotlight with a trophy and a renewed public showcase of talent.
