The globally renowned Eurovision Song Contest is set to expand beyond Europe with the launch of its first-ever Asian edition, marking a historic milestone for the world’s longest-running international music competition.
Broadcasters from 10 Asian countries have already confirmed their participation in the inaugural contest, including South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. According to the official contest website, additional countries may still join the lineup.
The participating nations, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam, will first hold national selection competitions to choose their representatives. Winners from each country will then advance to the grand final, scheduled to be broadcast live from Bangkok on November 14.
First launched in 1956, Eurovision has grown into one of the world’s most influential music competitions. With 2026 marking the contest’s 70th anniversary, organizers say expanding into Asia carries special significance.
Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), described the move as a meaningful step forward. He said opening this new chapter in Asia reflects the region’s rich cultural diversity, creativity, and musical talent.
News of the Asian edition has already sparked excitement across social media platforms. Fans from across the region are predicting potential winners and debating which countries will dominate the competition. Some users have confidently predicted that the Philippines could win regularly, while others questioned why major Asian markets such as China and Japan have not yet joined the event.
Eurovision has previously experimented with expanding its format beyond Europe. In 2022, organizers launched the American Song Contest featuring performers representing all 50 U.S. states. Despite high-profile hosts including Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, the show struggled with viewership and was not renewed for a second season.
Organizers appear optimistic that the Asian version will perform better, given the region’s rapidly growing music industry. Rising incomes, the influence of social media, and the immense popularity of genres such as K-pop and karaoke culture have fueled strong growth in Asia’s entertainment sector.
Global record labels have increasingly invested in Asian markets, and collaborations between Asian artists and Western musicians have become more common. K-pop remains the region’s most globally recognized export, but other cultural waves are also emerging, including Thailand’s growing “T-Wind” pop movement and the enduring global influence of Bollywood, although India has not yet confirmed participation.
Traditionally, Eurovision rules require songs to be original compositions with live lead vocals. Performances are judged through a combination of expert panels and fan voting. While it remains unclear whether the exact format will be replicated in the Asian edition, organizers say audience participation will remain central to the event.
The contest’s official website promises that every vote will count and describes the show as a celebration of original pop music.
Winning Eurovision has historically launched the careers of major international stars, including Swedish pop group ABBA and Canadian singer Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland in 1988.
Despite being nearly seven decades old, the competition continues to draw massive global audiences. Last year’s Eurovision final attracted around 163 million viewers worldwide, featuring performances ranging from high-energy pop anthems to emotional ballads.
At the same time, the contest has occasionally been entangled in geopolitical tensions. Some countries are boycotting this year’s competition in Vienna over Israel’s participation, while Russia has been banned since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Moscow later launched its own international contest, Intervision, as an alternative.
Attempts to create an Asian version of Eurovision date back to the early 2000s, but previous plans never materialized until now.
Thai officials are enthusiastic about hosting the event. Chuwit Sirivajjakul, a senior official at the Thailand Tourism Authority, said Bangkok is the natural choice for the contest’s host city.
He noted that Bangkok has long been a meeting point for cultures, a city where music fills the streets and celebrations are part of everyday life.
The Asian edition of Eurovision is being organized by the European Broadcasting Union in partnership with Los Angeles-based entertainment company Voxovation and Thailand’s S2O Productions.