The inaugural Eurovision Asia song contest is set to take place in Thailand this Saturday. Unlike its expansive European counterpart, this event is a more compact affair featuring only 11 competing nations, representing a distinct cultural adaptation rather than a direct import. Organizers have confirmed that the broadcast will be available on SBS in Australia and via the official Eurovision YouTube channel for European audiences, starting at 14.30 CET (13.30 GMT).
The competition notably avoids the more flamboyant elements often associated with the European series, such as singing turkeys or banana-eating wolves. Due to restrictive attitudes toward homosexuality in some of the participating nations, the overt campness and LGBTQ+ representation synonymous with the original contest have been toned down, ensuring a different atmospheric experience for viewers. For better or worse …, here is what to look out for.
Despite the regional shift, nearly half of the entries continue the tradition of incorporating English lyrics for the international audience. Among the favorites is Aina Abdul from Malaysia, who performs the dramatic, string-infused ballad Bluest Sky. Having won The Masked Singer Malaysia, she will perform in the final slot with a pared-back stage design. Another top contender is the Philippines’ representative, Carmelle, with her feminist anthem Sobra-Sobra. The track combines contemporary pop sounds with a middle section featuring an increasingly strident rap. And it mixes a contemporary Philippine pop sound with a middle section in which Carmelle raps in an increasingly strident tone, it is a feminist anthem stating that women are neither “‘too much” nor “not enough”. This dramatic, string-swept power ballad from the former Masked Singer Malaysia winner has landed the coveted final slot in the running order, hotly tipped by fans and bookies to win the inaugural tournament.
Other performances range from the experimental to the unconventional. Laos entry Thinla will present the song Bae, which draws sonic inspiration from Tarkan’s Şımarık. Meanwhile, the host nation’s representatives, Mang x Daou, will perform the ballad Aroma. Cambodia’s Monetrey has also opted for a ballad titled I Let You Go, though critics have noted that the delay of his vocal entrance for the first 30 seconds of the three-minute song creates a puzzling experience for the live audience. Which, given the three-minute time limit on Eurovision songs, makes the decision not to have his vocal come in for the first 30 seconds frankly biza, cambodia’s Monetrey has also taken the ballad route with I Let You Go. Thinla, meanwhile, is representing Laos with Bae, a track whose chorus revolves almost entirely around repeating the word “Bae”. Sonically, it occupies similar territory to Tarkan’s Şımarık – better known in the English-speaking world via the now Maga-aligned Holly Valance ’s cover Kiss Kiss. It is hard to see this ballad tugging much on the heartstrings of the audience, although the jury may like its overcomplicated structure, even though they hail from the host nation. People in the arena will surely be thinking his mic has failed. He has also stood for election, with careers in music and acting already under way. In other words, nepal’s answer to Kneecap. Though his unwelcome forays into falsetto arguably warrant a trigger warning and might be tricky for him live, it is a pleasant enough slice of guitar-driven Eurovision fodder.
Mongolia’s selection features an artist named Beck, though this is a different individual than the western performer. Ganbatyn Munkhbayar, who uses the stage name, is a multi-talented actor and musician who has also previously campaigned for political office. He will perform the track Chamguigeer, which replaced his original entry after that song was found to have been released prior to the competition. But if you are expecting something akin to his recent Ride Lonesome album, think again, as it is an entirely different Beck, mongolia are sending Beck. Tóc Tiên got her early industry break by reportedly exaggerating her age to meet competition entry requirements.
Nepal will bring a distinct rock aesthetic to the stage with Pratik Himal Rai, who is performing Ananta Maya. While his qualifying rounds featured a tent and balaclava-clad performers, the grand final will trade these for a heart-shaped arch and mesh masks. Vietnam’s Tóc Tiên, a 37-year-old veteran, will perform Em Tiên, a track that shifts from synthpop to a higher tempo in its final 30 seconds. She is one of the lineup’s veterans, no need for that now: at 37. First, it’s essentially two songs stitched together – a moreish synthpop track that suddenly hikes up the bpm for the final 30 seconds, morphing into something off the Vengaboys’ cutting-room floor. Nepal, in contrast to some of these acts, definitely got the staging memo. Second, at the national final, the performers all appeared to be wearing their nanas’ lampshades.
Hosting duties in Bangkok will be handled by Woody Milintachinda and Cindy Bishop. To bridge the gap with the European contest, the event will feature an interval performance by the 2026 Eurovision winner, Dara, who is expected to perform Bangaranga. Organizers have also provided a compilation video to help viewers familiarize themselves with the contestants ahead of the final. In Bangkok, hosting duties fall to Woody Milintachinda and Cindy Bishop, but the show should at least avoid the kind of tone-deaf skit about “gays taking over Eurovision” that Austrian broadcaster ORF dished up in Vienna.
