Eurovision expands to Asia with first-ever song contest

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the Eurovision Song Contest, has announced the launch of its first Asian edition, marking a significant expansion of the long-running music competition beyond Europe.

The inaugural Eurovision Asia final is scheduled to take place in Bangkok on November 14, with at least ten countries already confirming their participation. These include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Under the contest’s format, each participating country will first select its representative through national competitions, with the winners advancing to compete in the final event in Bangkok.

In a statement, the EBU underlined that the launch comes ahead of Eurovision’s 70th anniversary in 2026, describing it as “especially important to open a new chapter of the contest—in Asia, a region rich in culture, creativity, and talent.”

The move represents the latest effort to broaden Eurovision’s global reach. A previous attempt to expand the format to the United States resulted in the American Song Contest in 2022, which featured participants from all 50 states but was later discontinued due to low popularity.

By Vafa Guliyeva