Recommendations of the Editorial team
The exuberant pop euphoria of Eurovision is moving to Asia. The first Asian edition of the famous music competition will take place this fall – the final is scheduled for November 14th in Bangkok. National selection shows will be held in the participating countries; ten have already confirmed their participation and more are to follow. The ten countries currently include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Other countries are also expected to join the competition.
Significant step into Asia
The expansion comes in a special year: Eurovision will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2025. Against this backdrop, Eurovision director Martin Green said in a statement that it felt “particularly meaningful to start this next chapter together with Asia – a region brimming with culture, creativity and talent.”
He continued: “This is what it’s about: evolving Eurovision together with Asia, creating something that reflects the voices, identities and ambitions of the region – while staying true to what has always made the contest special. Eurovision Song Contest Asia will be shaped by the artists, broadcasters and audiences who make it their own and continue our journey together: United by Music.”
It is not Eurovision’s first attempt to expand internationally: the “American Song Contest” was launched in 2022. However, the show, which featured contestants from all 50 states and was hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, struggled to gain traction and was not renewed for a second season.
Eurovision 2026: boycotts and exclusions
As far as Eurovision 2026 is concerned: the final and semi-finals are planned for May, the host country is Austria. However, several countries are boycotting this year’s competition – including Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands – in protest against Israel’s participation amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Russia is also not taking part, as the country has been banned since 2022 because of its war against Ukraine.
