After American song contest (a total flop, one edition)), attempts to create Eurovision like contests to Latin America, Africa, Canada (and who remembers where else?) and the Eurovision dance contest (another flop, two editions) and those on going Eurovision Young musicians, Eurovision Young Dancers, Eurovision Choir that are very marginal, as is Junior Eurovision song contest, it looks like the Eurovision Asia is really happening finally in November 2026 with national selections starting next month across Asia.
But how did we get this far?
It all started already back in September 2008 when Ebu announced that Asian-Pacific Eurovision would take place in 2009. Under title Our sound - the Asia Pacific Song Contest was to feature 16 broadcasters taking part from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It was due to happen in Singapore in late 2009 before it was postponed several times and forgotten.
Then in 2016 the new attempt, to be staged in this time in Australia in 2017 under Eurovision Asia song contest. Hong Kong and Singapore run to host the show as well but months went and it was finally scheduled to take place in Gold Coast Convention center between November 30 and December 7, 2019. And months went by again with postponements and eventually by May 2021 it was shelved. During this process Australia, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, South Korea and Vanuatu were rumored as possible participants while only Australia was confirmed and China, Japan and South Korea as potential ones.
In May 2025 things started moving again when Bhutan stated its intention to take part in Eurovision Asia to be staged in Bangkok. In June Ebu listed Asia-Pacific Eurovision as ongoing development in its Brand Impact report. Bhutan instead again leaked that the contest would take place in Mumbai and started its national final selection. Meanwhile in Vietnam a tv channel's listing had a slot for Eurovision Asia on August 31. All this of course got the Eurovision fandom melt. By the end of the month Ebu stated there are no plans or dates to announce while the Bhutan national selection shows were taken off air and disappeared from internet. In November Marcus Tang was hired by Voxovation to serve as Managing director Asia and in December Christer Björkman - yes, who else? - stated in a podcast there were intense preparations ongoing for Eurovision Asia.
On March 29, 2026 a website was launched and the secret was out: Eurovision Asia 2026 would be taking place in Bangkok on November 14 and nine countries were announced to be taking part so far: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. But hey, the website was taken down after a few hours sending the fandom to confusion again.
Finally March 31, 2026 the official announcement under name Eurovision song contest Asia. Ebu together with Voxovation along with Thailand's Channel 3 were producing the show. South Korea was also listed as the tenth country taking part. The venue will be IdeaLive in Bangkok. The usual Euroviison rules apply and there will be 50/50 jury/televote. The winner gets a ticket to perform in Bulgaria's Eurovision song contest 2027 as a guest act as a bonus.
Over 60 countries could take part in Eurovision Asia according the rules but Ebu has made clear that the countries taking part in the main Eurovision cannot take part in Asia, ruling out Australia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Cyprus, Israel and Turkey. North Korea's and Russia's acceptance to take part is also "not likely".
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