Eurovision Song Contest Expands: Asia Edition to Debut in Bangkok

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The Eurovision Song Contest is taking a major step beyond its traditional borders. After the brief experiment of the American Song Contest and years of discussion about an Asian counterpart, the vision is finally becoming reality.

On 14 November, Bangkok will host the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced from its headquarters in Geneva. Ten countries have already confirmed their participation, and the event will be produced in cooperation with regional partners.

A New Stage for a Pan‑Asian Music Community

According to the EBU, the new contest aims to build on Eurovision’s long-standing mission of uniting nations through music under the motto “United by Music.”
The organization emphasized that Asia currently lacks a comparable cross‑border entertainment platform—something the new contest hopes to change by creating a shared cultural stage and fostering creative exchange across the region.

Ten Countries Already Confirmed

10 countries are so far confirmed with more to be announced:

Bangladesh – NTV
Bhutan – Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)
Cambodia – TV5 Cambodia
Laos – Vientiane Capital Television (VTE9)
Malaysia – Media Prima (TV3)
Nepal – Himalaya TV
Philippines – ABS-CBN
South Korea – ENA (SK Telecom / KT Group)
Thailand (Host) – Channel 3
Vietnam – Vietnam Television (VTV3)

More countries are expected to join in the coming months, potentially expanding the competition into a major regional event.

A Familiar Format, a New Audience

The Bangkok show will follow the classic Eurovision structure—live performances, national entries, and a grand final—designed to feel instantly recognizable to long‑time fans.
And for those who can’t make the trip to Thailand, there’s good news: the entire event will be streamed on the official Eurovision YouTube channel, making it accessible to global audiences.

With Vienna hosting the European edition this year, Bangkok’s debut ensures that 2026 becomes a landmark year for the Eurovision brand—one that brings its spirit of musical unity to a whole new continent.