The music spectacle Eurovision is holding its first Asian version in Bangkok later this 12 months.
The Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026 has confirmed artists from not less than 10 nations throughout Asia competing: Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. More are anticipated to hitch earlier than the finale in November.
“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,” Martin Green, the director of the competition, stated within the announcement Tuesday.
Bangkok is the right metropolis to host the competition as a result of it “has always been a place where cultures come together, where music fills the air, and where celebration is part of everyday life,” stated Chuwit Sirivajjakul, a consultant of the Thailand Tourism Authority.
The fundamental gala, run by the European Broadcasting Union, attracts greater than 100 million viewers yearly.
This 12 months’s fundamental competitors with 35 competing nations is scheduled to be held in Vienna in May. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain are boycotting because of discord over Israel’s participation.
The contest strives to place pop music earlier than politics however has repeatedly been embroiled in world occasions. Russia was expelled in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
It additionally has been roiled by the Israel-Hamas struggle in Gaza, stirring protests outdoors the venues and forcing organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving.
Similar tensions may emerge in Asia. Thailand and Cambodia engaged in lethal border clashes twice final 12 months.
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