Eleven countries from Laos to Mongolia and the Philippines will take part in the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia in Bangkok on November 14. It will be televised live in participating nations and on YouTube, but there is debate over whether anyone will watch.
Eurovision is the largest live music event on TV in the world, attracting 131 million viewers in 2026, and has helped start the careers of stars such as ABBA and Celine Dion over the previous 70 years.
The Asia edition marks its first multinational expansion, while a US version was staged in 2022 and not repeated. The finalists have been picked through national contests and include some already established stars, such as Vietnam's Toc Tien, who is seen as a contender to win with her pop-dance hit.
South Korea will be represented by K-pop singer Junhee, Nepal by Pratik Himal Rai, and Bangladesh by the all-male a cappella beatbox band Be atmosphere.
A woman passes by a monitor with an image of Toc Tien, Vietnam’s entry for the first ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026. Photos: Agence France-Presse
Eurovision celebrates its 70th anniversary under a cloud as the Asia edition lands with viewership estimates for 2026 down 35 million on the year after five nations boycotted over Israel’s participation.
However, the competition has always been characterized by controversy, beginning with demonstrations in the 1960s regarding the participation of Spain under Franco's regime and continuing with Russia's disqualification due to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
