The Eurovision Song Contest is heading to Asia
A decade after it was first announced, the inaugural Eurovision spin-off has now been confirmed that to be held in Bangkok later this year, as EurovisionAsia.com appeared to reveal the first details surrounding the contest.
On Monday, an official website was launched – but then swiftly taken offline.
The competition will take place in the Thai capital on 14 November – with the likes of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam announced as competing.
Eurovision Asia was first announced in 2016 but plans were subsequently dropped.
In 2018, it was reported in the Australian press that discussions had resumed regarding the contest – but to no avail.
Voxovation, which now has the rights to Eurovision contests internationally, has already developed the American Song Contest and has been in discussions for Eurovision Song Contest Latin America.
In the meantime, this year’s controversial Eurovision edition will take place in Vienna in May.
A total of 35 countries will take part in the world's biggest live televised music event, which this year will not include Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland, who have all withdrawn over the maintained participation of Israel.
These nations argue that participation would be "unconscionable" given the civilian casualties in Gaza, stemming from Israel's response to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas.
Despite the slogan “United by Music” and ORF previously confirming it will not prohibit the Palestinian flag or drown out any booing aimed at Israel's performance, the diplomatic tensions and widespread boycotts continue to cast a shadow over the 70th edition of the contest.
Eurovision director Martin Green stated that the song contest "continues to be a place where friendships are forged, languages are learned and new genres and artists are discovered”, adding: “In a challenging world we can indeed be United by Music.”
In a recent twist furthering the fraught nature of this year’s edition, Roland Weissmann, the Director General of Austrian national broadcaster ORF, which will host this year’s already controversial Eurovision, quit over sexual harassment allegations.
Weissmann, 57, has denied the allegations, with his lawyer Oliver Scherbaum saying that his client resigned “to avoid harm to the company”.
Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held in Vienna on 12 and 14 May (semi-finals) and 16 May (final).
