Eurovision Hits Asia: 10 Countries Ready to Rock Bangkok's Stage!

The Eurovision Song Contest, which began in 1956, is the world’s longest-running international music competition. Known for its dazzling costumes and unique performances, Eurovision is now expanding to Asia for the first time. Ten countries from the region, including South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, have confirmed their participation, and more countries are expected to join. Each country will hold its own national selection to choose a representative, and the grand final will take place in Bangkok on November 14, broadcast live for viewers across Asia.

Eurovision’s director, Martin Green, said that launching the contest in Asia is especially meaningful as the event approaches its 70th anniversary in 2026. He praised Asia’s rich culture, creativity, and musical talent. The announcement has sparked excitement on social media, with fans already supporting their home countries and wondering why major markets like China and Japan are not yet involved.

This is not Eurovision’s first attempt to expand beyond Europe. In 2022, the American Song Contest was held in the United States, featuring artists from all 50 states. However, it did not attract enough viewers and was not renewed for another year. Organizers hope the Asian edition will be more successful, as music is extremely popular in the region. Rising incomes, active social media use, and a young population that loves K-pop and karaoke have helped Asia’s music industry grow. Global music companies are investing more in Asia, and there are more collaborations between Asian and Western artists.

K-pop is the most famous pop culture export from Asia, but there are many other music styles in the region. Thailand has its own music wave called T-Wind, and India is known for Bollywood music, though India has not confirmed if it will join Eurovision Asia. The ten countries participating so far are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Eurovision rules require that songs must be original and performed live. Winners are chosen by a mix of expert judges and fans. It is not clear if the Asia edition will use the same rules, but the event’s website promises that every vote will count and that the contest will celebrate original pop music.

Eurovision has helped launch the careers of famous artists like ABBA and Celine Dion. The contest remains popular, with about 163 million people watching last year’s show, which featured a variety of music styles.

However, Eurovision has also faced political challenges. This year, some countries are boycotting the contest in Vienna because of Israel’s participation. Russia has been banned since 2022 due to the war in Ukraine and has started its own contest called Intervision.

There have been several attempts to create an Asian version of Eurovision in the past, but none succeeded. Now, with the support of the European Broadcasting Union, Los Angeles-based Voxovation, and Thailand’s S2O Productions, the contest will finally take place in Bangkok. Chuwit Sirivajjakul from the Thailand Tourism Authority said Bangkok is the perfect host city because it is a place where cultures meet and music is always present.

Fans are already preparing for the new contest, with many planning to dress up and celebrate together. The first Eurovision Asia promises to be an exciting event that brings together music lovers from across the continent.