BANGKOK (AP) 鈥� The music spectacle is holding its first Asian edition in Bangkok later this year.
The Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026 has confirmed artists from at least 10 countries across Asia competing: Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. More are expected to join before the finale in November.
鈥淎s 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,鈥� Martin Green, the director of the contest, said in the announcement Tuesday.
Bangkok is the perfect city to host the contest because it 鈥渉as always been a place where cultures come together, where music fills the air, and where celebration is part of everyday life,鈥� said Chuwit Sirivajjakul, a representative of the Thailand Tourism Authority.
The main gala, run by the European Broadcasting Union, draws more than 100 million viewers every year.
with 35 competing countries is scheduled to be held in Vienna in May. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain are boycotting due to discord over Israel鈥檚 participation.
The contest strives to put pop music before politics but has repeatedly been embroiled in world events. Russia was expelled in 2022 after its .
It also has been roiled by the , stirring outside and forcing organizers to clamp down on .
Similar tensions could emerge in Asia. Thailand and Cambodia engaged in twice last year.
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