Eurovision Asia 2026: Meet Nepal's Pratik Himal Rai
Written by Michael Montenegro
When Pratik Himal Rai takes the stage in Bangkok on 14 November, he will be doing more than performing a song - he will be introducing Nepal to the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia.
He will participate with his song Ananta Maya (अनन्त माया), which translates as Endless Love.
You can find details on the artist, the entry and how the song was selected for the Eurovision Song Contest Asia below.
About the artist: Pratik Himal Rai
Although Eurovision Asia will introduce Rai to many international viewers for the first time, he is not a newcomer to music.
According to his official Eurovision biography, he has spent more than 10 years developing his career as a singer, songwriter and performer. He came to prominence in his native Nepal after appearing on Season 6 of The Voice of Nepal.
He also holds a bachelor's degree in music, combining formal musical education with experience gained through television appearances.
His musical background is notably varied. The official biography identifies ballads, slow rock, Nepali folk and folk-pop among his established styles, reflecting a career that has drawn on both traditional and contemporary influences.
For Rai, Eurovision Asia represents a significant new chapter in a career already spanning more than a decade. For Nepal, it is an opportunity to place a homegrown artist before audiences far beyond the country's borders.
About the song: Ananta Maya
Ananta Maya is a song of huge juxtapositions. While its lyrics concern romantic love, the performance has a rock-oriented character that distinguishes it from a conventional soft-pop love song. The contrast between emotional storytelling and rock expression is an important part of Nepal's musical offering.
The official video on YouTube describes the song as:
"a soulful musical composition that explores deep emotions and meaningful expressions through melody and storytelling."
Rai is listed as the songwriter for Ananta Maya and the song is sung in Nepali, showing Rai's connection to his roots even in this very multinational competition.
In Bangkok, Nepal will perform 10th in the running order, placing Rai second-to-last in the 11-country competition.
How the song was selected:
Nepal's journey to Bangkok began with Himalaya TV, the broadcaster responsible for selecting the country's representative.
After being confirmed as Nepal's participating broadcaster, the station organised Nepal Decides, a televised competition designed to choose both the artist and original song that would represent the country.
Originally scheduled for 19 September 2026, the national selection was postponed and eventually took place on 7 October 2026 following the tragic flash flooding which affected northern Nepal and neighbouring Tibet earlier this year.
Hosted by presenter Roneeshma, the show featured 11 competing acts and was made available to both domestic and international audiences through television and online streaming.
The voting system combined professional juries, viewers in Nepal and international audiences. Professional jurors determined 40% of the result, Nepali viewers contributed another 40%, and voters outside Nepal accounted for the remaining 20%.
By the conclusion of the show, Rai had emerged victorious with Ananta Maya. His victory secured Nepal's first representative for Eurovision Asia and set the stage for a much larger international appearance.
The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia takes place at One Bangkok Forum on 14 November and will be streamed internationally through Eurovision's official YouTube channel.
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