The world-famous TV pop spectacle known as much for its elaborate costumes and theatrical performances as it is for its political controversies is setting up stage on a new continent.
The Eurovision Song Contest is coming to Asia in 2026, with the Grand Final for the regional off shoot of the competition set to be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand on November 14.
Ten nations, including K-pop giant South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia and Laos are set to compete in the inaugural competition, with more participants to be announced in the coming months, according to the contest’s website.
Eurovision, which started in 1956, is a famously eccentric festival in which artists from dozens of countries battle for the annual musical crown. It has long been centered in Europe although in recent years has begun to welcome participants outside the continent.
A broadcaster in each of the participating countries picks an artist to perform an original song, no longer than three minutes, to perform live on stage. The winners are decided by a combination of professional juries and public votes. The caveat is jurors and audiences at home are not allowed to vote for their own country; geopolitical affinities or rivalries often supersede talent.
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