Eurovision Asia set for Bangkok debut on November 14

Eurovision’s organizers have announced a new Asia-focused competition, with the first event scheduled for November 14 in Bangkok. The move marks the first time the Eurovision format will be staged in the Asian region, according to the organization behind the contest.

Broadcasters from ten Asian countries have confirmed they will take part in the inaugural edition. Organizers said more countries are expected to join beyond the initial group, though no additional participants were named in the announcement.

Under the planned structure, each participating country will run its own national selection process ahead of the grand final. Organizers said this mirrors the approach used in the established Eurovision model, where domestic competitions or broadcaster-led selections determine each country’s representative.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is organizing the Asian edition in partnership with two companies: a Los Angeles-based entertainment firm and a Thailand-based production company. The announcement did not provide further operational details about the roles of each partner, beyond confirming the collaboration.

This launch follows earlier efforts to create an Asian version of Eurovision that did not succeed. Organizers noted that attempts have been made since the 2000s to establish a regional edition, but the format had not previously been implemented in Asia.

The expansion comes at a time when the main Eurovision contest is facing political tensions that have affected participation and public debate. Several countries are boycotting the 2024 event because Israel is taking part, according to the information provided. Separately, Russia has been banned from Eurovision since 2022, and it has since created a separate international song contest.

For global media and entertainment markets, the Bangkok launch signals a new attempt to extend a well-known European television format into a major growth region for broadcasting and live events. The organizers’ reliance on both international and local production partners also highlights the cross-border nature of the project, with coordination spanning Europe, the United States, and Thailand.

Key uncertainties remain, including which additional countries may join, how national selection processes will be structured in each market, and how the new competition will position itself alongside existing regional music and television events. Organizers have not detailed how participation could evolve after the inaugural show, beyond stating that more countries are expected to come on board.