Eurovision's Asia Expansion: New Contest Kicks Off

0:00It's March 31st. This is Music News Today, powered by AI, your daily sound check. I'm Cory with the story. Eurovision's expanding its empire with the first-ever Asia edition, kicking off in 2026. Ten countries are locked in, from Bangladesh and Bhutan to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. They'll run their own national contest leading to a big finale on November 14th in Bangkok. More nations are expected to jump on board soon, but details on the rules are still fuzzy. We'll stick to original songs, live vocals, and fan voting like the European version. No word yet, and heavy hitters like India, China, and Japan haven't signed up. This spinoff echoes past tries, like the United States version in 2022 that featured all 50 states hosted by Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg, but got canned after one season due to low ratings. Games for an Asia contest first bubbled up in 2016, with Australian help, hit delays,

1:04and fell apart in 2021. Now it's revived, with Thailand's tourism folks hyping Bangkok as the perfect spot where cultures and music collide daily. As Eurovision hits its 70th year, this Asia push keeps the beat going strong, uniting new voices across the continent while the original contest navigates its own drama.