Eurovision expands to Asia: Bangkok to host the first contest in 2026
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has officially announced the expansion of the Eurovision Song Contest to the Asian continent, opening a new chapter in the competition’s history with the launch of the Eurovision Song Contest Asia.
The inaugural edition will take place in 2026, with Bangkok selected as the host city. The Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday, 14 November 2026, while participating entries will be selected through national finals held in each country in the months leading up to the event.
According to the official announcement, ten countries have already confirmed their participation in this first edition. These include Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, with additional countries expected to join in the coming months as the contest continues to expand.
This initiative marks the first multinational expansion of the competition beyond Europe, building on the Contest’s 70-year legacy and its core slogan “United by Music”, which remains at the heart of Eurovision’s identity. The aim is to create a new shared music platform in Asia that showcases the region’s diversity, creativity and cultural identity.
The contest is expected to become one of the most significant television and music events in Asia, with a potential audience exceeding 600 million viewers. As noted, there is currently no comparable pan-Asian event of this scale, further reinforcing expectations for its impact.
Eurovision Song Contest Asia is being developed in collaboration with Voxovation, S2O Productions and Thailand’s Channel 3, while particular emphasis is placed on audience engagement through the digital platform ZOOP, which will introduce new ways for viewers to participate and interact.
The selection of Bangkok as host city is no coincidence, as it is an international cultural hub where tradition and modern creativity coexist. The event is expected to boost the city’s global visibility, while also supporting tourism, economic activity and the growth of Thailand’s creative industries.
The expansion of Eurovision into Asia marks a new era for the Contest, strengthening cultural exchange and cooperation between Europe and Asia through music, creativity and the power of live television.
