The world-famous television pop spectacle, known not only for its political controversy but also its elaborate costumes and theatrics, is set in the New World.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Asia in 2026, with the competition’s regional off-shoot grand final scheduled to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 14th.
Ten countries, including K-pop giants South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia and Laos, are scheduled to participate in the first edition, with more participants expected to be announced in the coming months, according to the contest website.
Eurovision, which began in 1956, is known as a quirky festival where artists from dozens of countries compete for the annual musical crown. For many years it was held mainly in Europe, but in recent years participants from outside the continent have also begun to be welcomed.
Broadcast stations from each participating country will select an artist to perform an original song of no more than three minutes live on stage. The winner will be determined by a combination of expert judges and public voting. It should be noted that domestic jurors and audience members cannot vote for their country. Geopolitical affinities and rivalries often replace talent.
Martin Green, director of the European Broadcasting Union’s Eurovision Song Contest, the main organizer of the competition, said the Asian version would reflect “the voices, identities and ambitions of the region”.
“In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, it feels especially meaningful to open the next chapter in Asia, a region rich in culture, creativity and talent,” Green said in a statement.
The European version attracted more than 150 million viewers worldwide and skyrocketed the careers of artists such as ABBA, Celine Dion, and Olivia Newton-John.
The competition’s grand final is a defining event on the LGBTQ+ calendar, showcasing Europe’s most talented, quirky and versatile performers and attracting interest across the continent.
But in recent years, this glorious spectacle meant to celebrate unity has been overshadowed by the global conflict that has seeped into the arena. Russia has been banned from participating in the contest since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, and is now running its own rival version of the contest.
Several countries, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands, are boycotting this year’s major tournament, to be held in Vienna in May, after organizers allowed Israel to participate despite calls for the country to be banned over the Gaza war.
Spain is one of the so-called Big Five, along with Britain, France, Italy and Germany, and contributes the most money to the competition, giving them an automatic place in the final.
Member states of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the main organizer of Eurovision, introduced new rules this year aimed at increasing neutrality and limiting governments’ ability to unfairly influence votes.
Last year, Austrian singer JJ won the trophy for his operatic pop anthem “Wasted Love.” Israel’s Yuval Rafael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attack, took second place for his performance of “New Day Will Rise.”
