Eurovision Asia: No Country Has Said “No Thank You” to Competing
Discussions are ongoing relating to additional nations competing within the Eurovision Song Contest Asia, with no outright nation declining future participation.
Peter Settman, the CEO of Voxovation, has defined that no broadcasters who’ve had discussions with about competing within the contest have outright declined to participate. Mr Settman acknowledged:
“We are not, not talking to anyone any longer. There are ongoing conversations, but there are timing issues, as everyone needs to have a national selection show and we need to squeeze that in before the Grand Final in November. And we do come with a couple of rules, meaning as a show, it is all about “the door is open everybody’s invited”, the core principles are bringing people together a stage, non-political, has to be signed off by anyone participating in the competition.”
Martin Green, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, was additionally clear that for the primary version of the competitors, the EBU has requested to preserve the competition small. Instead, the purpose is to develop steadily yr by yr, “because we want this to be around in 70 years time.”
When requested particularly about whether or not Russia or North Korea may compete, Mr Settman defined that it was “not likely”. Mr Green added that “Eurovision travels with its values, in order to be in part of Eurovision you have to share our values, so if you don’t meet our values you won’t be in Eurovision.”
Members of a few of the competing broadcasters have traveled to Vienna to see the Eurovision Song Contest. Representatives from the Thai, Lao and Nepalese channels are at the moment in Austria because the seventieth version of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place.
Eurovision Asia Song Contest 2026
The first Eurovision Asia Song Contest shall be held on November 14 in Bangkok, Thailand. Like the Eurovision Song Contest, every nation’s participation is organized by a collaborating broadcaster. Each collaborating broadcaster is predicted to choose its entry by means of holding a nationwide closing of their nation. The format of the nationwide alternatives shall be revealed within the coming months, with some nations opting to maintain multi-week alternatives.
The guidelines of the competition will match these of the Eurovision Song Contest, which means {that a} music should not exceed 3 minutes in size and not more than 6 individuals might be on stage. The winner shall be decided by 50% televoting and 50% jury voting.
The nations and broadcasters confirmed to date as taking to the stage in Bangkok are:
- 🇧🇩 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 (SK Telecom / KT Group)
- 🇹🇭 Thailand – Channel 3
- 🇻🇳 Vietnam – Vietnam Television (VTV 3)
Source: ORF
