Eurovision expands to Asia: The first edition will take place in 2026 in Bangkok

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced the launch of an Asian version of the international music competition Eurovision, in collaboration with two Asian production houses. The final of the first edition will take place on November 14 in Bangkok, Thailand.

So far, ten countries have confirmed their participation, including South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, along with the host country, Thailand. The organizers hope to attract an audience of over 600 million viewers for the final. Peter Settman, the director of Voxovation, emphasized the ambition to create a show that reflects the identity and creative energy of Asia, encouraging interaction between artists and fans through a digital platform called Zoop. This is the first expansion of Eurovision beyond its traditional borders in its 70 years of existence, following several failed attempts to organize an Asian edition since 2009.