Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026: Everything you need to know
- aussievision
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
After years of development, Eurovision Song Contest Asia will finally make its debut in 2026.
The contest will bring the Eurovision format to Asia for the first time, with broadcasters from across the region competing in a new music competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Voxovation and S2O Productions.
Here's everything we know so far.
When is Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026?
The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia will take place on Saturday 14 November 2026.
The contest will be held approximately six months after the Eurovision Song Contest in Europe.
Where will Eurovision Song Contest Asia be held?
The first edition of the contest will be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Grand Final will take place at IdeaLive in Bangkok.
Thailand's Channel 3 will serve as the host broadcaster.
Which countries are participating?
Ten countries and broadcasters have currently been confirmed:
Bangladesh – NTV
Bhutan – Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)
Cambodia – TV5 Cambodia
Laos – Vientiane Capital Television (VTE9)
Malaysia – Media Prima (TV3)
Nepal – Himalaya TV
Philippines – ABS-CBN
South Korea – ENA (produced by PK Inc)
Thailand – Channel 3
Vietnam – Vietnam Television (VTV3)
How do I get tickets?
Details are yet to be released.
How will artists be selected?
All participating broadcasters are expected to hold national finals to select their Eurovision Asia entry.
National selection shows will begin from August 2026.
Several broadcasters have already announced dates for their selection processes, with Bhutan expected to be among the first countries to choose its representative.
Will there be semi-finals?
No.
The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia will consist of a single Grand Final.
Organisers have said they want to start small before potentially expanding the contest in future years.
How will the voting work?
The winner will be determined using a combination of jury voting and public voting.
The results will be decided by a 50/50 split between professional juries and the public vote, mirroring the system used at Eurovision in Europe.
What are the song rules?
The contest will follow many of the rules familiar to Eurovision fans.
Songs must:
Be no longer than three minutes.
Be performed by no more than six people on stage.
Further rules are expected to be released closer to the contest.
Why is Australia not participating?
Australia is not competing in the inaugural contest.
SBS confirmed it will not participate in Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026. In a previous statement to Aussievision they said: “SBS has long recognised the strong appetite for Eurovision and its unique ability to connect audiences through music and shared cultural moments. While SBS is not competing in this newly announced Eurovision Asia initiative, we’re pleased to see continued interest in celebrating these kinds of connections across the region and will be watching with interest as it develops.”
SBS has said it will be watching the development of the contest with interest.
Could more countries join in the future?
Yes.
Organisers have repeatedly indicated that more countries are expected to be announced.
Kazakhstan has confirmed discussions are taking place regarding potential participation, while broadcasters in other countries continue to assess the opportunity.
Who is behind Eurovision Song Contest Asia?
The contest is being organised by:
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Voxovation
Thai-based S2O Productions
Key figures involved include Eurovision Director Martin Green, Voxovation CEO Peter Settman, Voxovation founder Christer Björkman, Voxocation Asia CEO Marcus Tang, and executive producer Assaf Blecher.
What happens next?
National finals will begin across Asia from August 2026.
The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia Grand Final will then take place in Bangkok on 14 November 2026.
We will continue updating this guide as more information becomes available.
For continued updates on all Eurovision Song Contest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. All the links can be found at: https://linktr.ee/aussievisionnet
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