The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced the launch of the first international expansion of the Eurovision Song Contest format. The new competition, titled Eurovision Song Contest Asia, will be held in 2026 in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. According to information published on the contest's official website, the final will take place on Saturday, November 14.

To date, broadcasters from ten Asian countries, including Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, have confirmed their participation. These countries will select their representatives through national selections, similar to the process of the main European contest. EBU data indicates that the list of participants is planned to be expanded in the coming months.

In the year of the contest's 70th anniversary, this new project opens a new chapter in Asia while maintaining the key principle of "uniting through music." The project is designed for countries with a combined audience of over 600 million people and could become one of the most talked-about entertainment events in the region.

EBU Contest Director Martin Green noted that launching the project in Asia is particularly symbolic in the anniversary year of the contest. He emphasized that the contest will develop considering the cultural characteristics of the region while preserving the spirit of Eurovision.

Source: kun.uz