‘A place where music fills the air’: Bangkok to host Eurovision’s first Asia song contest

Spin-off launched with 10 nations, as original event remains mired in protests and boycotts over Israel’s involvement Eurovision is seeking to expand into the Asian market by hosting a version of its song contest in Bangkok this year, just as the original annual event is being buffeted by discord and boycotts on the eve of its 70th anniversary edition. The grand final of the inaugural Eurovision song contest Asia will take place in Thailand’s capital on Saturday 14 November, the Switzerland-based organisation announced on Tuesday. Broadcasters from 10 countries have confirmed their participation. The countries taking part – South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan – will each choose their entries via national finals in the months leading up to the event. “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”, said Martin Green CBE, director of the Eurovision song contest at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). “This is about evolving Eurovision together with Asia, building someth