11 Nations Expected for Eurovision Asia Debut

Eurovision Song Contest Asia is set to make its debut in Bangkok on Nov. 14, with 11 countries competing in the contest’s first multinational expansion beyond Europe. The lineup ranges from South Korean K-pop star Junhee and Vietnamese pop singer Toc Tien to Bangladeshi beatbox group Beatmosphere, while India, Japan and China are not participating. Organizers hope the show will introduce audiences to music and culture from across the region, but sluggish ticket sales and limited early social-media followings raise questions about its reach. Eurovision scholar Dean Vuletic said the format may struggle to capture local attention, noting that the original contest’s appeal is closely tied to European television and postwar integration; a U.S. spinoff also ended after one season. The Asian launch comes as Eurovision faces controversy and lower viewership following a boycott by five countries over Israel’s participation.