Launch of Eurovision Song Contest Asia with Bangkok as host city
Consensus Summary
The Eurovision Song Contest is expanding into Asia with its first-ever regional edition, set to debut in Bangkok on November 14 2025 with ten participating countries including South Korea Thailand and the Philippines. Organized by the European Broadcasting Union the event aims to foster cultural diversity and global reach while addressing past controversies such as boycotts over Israel’s participation in the main contest. Confirmed participants will select entries through national finals with K-pop artists from South Korea expected to dominate the competition. Despite past attempts to launch an Asian contest in 2008 tensions between regional nations like Thailand and Cambodia remain a potential challenge. The move follows the 2022 American Song Contest’s failure and comes amid ongoing debates over Eurovision’s political and cultural inclusivity.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia will take place in Bangkok on November 14, 2025, with a grand final hosted by Thailand
- Ten countries are confirmed to participate: South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan
- Each participating country will select its entry through national finals leading up to the grand final
- Martin Green (EBU Director of Eurovision) stated: 'This is about evolving Eurovision together with Asia, building something that reflects the voices, identities and ambitions of the region'
- The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) previously announced an Asian contest in 2008 titled 'Our Sound-The Asia Pacific Song Contest,' but the plans were later abandoned
- Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain boycotted the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s continued participation amid the Gaza war
- The original Eurovision Song Contest was created in 1956 and is organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The American Song Contest (2022) on NBC drew under 3 million viewers, less than that year’s episode of American Idol
- Thailand and Cambodia experienced a brief war in July 2025 with 48 deaths and 300,000 displaced, followed by deadly clashes in December 2025
- Israel’s broadcaster Kan rejected allegations of political interference in the 2025 contest, with President Isaac Herzog stating Israel 'deserves to be represented on every stage around the world'
- Eurovision’s main gala attracts over 100 million viewers annually, making it the world’s largest live music event
- South Korea’s participation includes global K-pop powerhouses like BTS, Stray Kids, and Jung Kook, with K-pop albums achieving tens of millions of monthly streams
- No additional specific details beyond the core event; only mentions Bangkok hosting and 10+ countries participating
- JJ (Austria) won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, with the 2026 edition scheduled for Vienna on May 16
- The soundtrack to Netflix’s *KPop Demon Hunters* was the second most-streamed album on Spotify in 2025
- Eurovision Song Contest Asia will be 'shaped by the artists, broadcasters and audiences who make it their own, continuing our shared journey of being United by Music' (Martin Green)
- Thailand Tourism Authority representative Chuwit Sirivajjakul emphasized Bangkok’s cultural and musical vibrancy as the host city
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian states the Asian contest is happening in 2025 (November 14), while ABC and SBS do not specify the year but imply it is the current year (2025) without confirming the exact date
- The Guardian mentions the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna is being boycotted, but ABC explicitly states the 2026 contest is in Vienna on May 16, while the Guardian does not provide this exact date
- The Guardian reports the American Song Contest aired in 2022 and was not renewed, but ABC does not mention the American version’s failure or cancellation timeline
Source Articles
Eurovision expands into Asia with 10-nation song contest
As the original event faces discord and boycotts on its 70th anniversary, Bangkok will host the inaugural spin-off Eurovision is seeking to expand into the Asian market by hosting a version of its song contest in Bangkok this year, just as the original annual event is being buffeted by discord and boycotts on the eve of its 70th anniversary edition. The grand final of the inaugural Eurovision song contest Asia will take place in Thailand’s capital on Saturday 14 November, the Switzerland-based o
Everything you need to know about Asia's new Eurovision song contest
The Eurovision Song Contest will launch its first-ever Asia edition this year, with Bangkok set to become the first host city for the 10-country competition.
'A region rich in culture': Eurovision to launch inaugural Asia edition
Bangkok in Thailand will host the first Asian edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, with at least 10 countries taking part.
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