The world’s longest-running international music contest, the Eurovision Song Contest, which has been held since 1956, has announced its Asian edition, Eurovision Song Contest Asia, set to debut in 2026, the BBC reported.
According to a statement on the contest’s official website, the grand final event will take place on Nov. 14 in Bangkok, Thailand. Broadcasters from 10 countries in the region have already confirmed their participation — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The organizers pledge that more participating broadcasters will be announced later.
Following the model of the original Eurovision Song Contest, the participating countries will select their representatives through their own selection events.
This year’s Eurovision is set to take place in Vienna, Austria, with the grand final scheduled for May 16, 2026. Notably, the event’s organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, has been facing criticism over Israel’s continued participation, including from several countries, including Spain, Iceland and the Netherlands.
