First-ever Asia edition announced
The Eurovision Song Contest is launching its first-ever Asia edition, bringing its signature mix of music, spectacle and international competition to a new region.
Broadcasters from 10 countries, including South Korea, Bhutan, Thailand and the Philippines, have confirmed their participation. According to the contest’s official website, more countries are expected to join.
National selections before Bangkok final
Participating countries will host their own national selection processes before competing in the grand final, which will take place in Bangkok and be broadcast live on 14 November.
First held in 1956, Eurovision has become the world’s longest-running international music competition.
“As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, it feels especially meaningful to open this next chapter with Asia, a region rich in culture, creativity and talent,” Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), said in a statement.
Rules and global success
As with the original contest, songs must be original and performed live. Winners are decided through a combination of jury votes and public voting.
Eurovision has helped launch the careers of globally recognised artists, including Swedish group ABBA and Canadian singer Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland in 1988.
Around 163 million viewers tuned in to last year’s contest, which featured a wide range of musical styles.
Political tensions remain part of contest
Despite its entertainment focus, Eurovision has often reflected broader geopolitical tensions.
Several countries are boycotting this year’s competition, set to take place in Vienna in May, over Israel’s participation.
Russia has been banned from the contest since 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, prompting it to launch its own alternative event, Intervision.
Long-awaited expansion into Asia
Efforts to create an Asian version of Eurovision date back to the early 2000s, but previous attempts were unsuccessful.
The new Eurovision Asia initiative is being organised by the EBU in partnership with Los Angeles-based entertainment company Voxovation and Thailand’s S2O Productions.
Chuwit Sirivajjakul, a senior official at the Thailand Tourism Authority, said Bangkok was a natural choice to host the event.
“This city has always been a place where cultures come together, where music fills the air, and where celebration is part of everyday life,” he said.
Source: BBC
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