The inaugural Eurovision Asia Song Contest takes place in Thailand this Saturday, launching a streamlined regional adaptation of the long-running European music event. Featuring 11 participating nations, the smaller-scale competition presents a distinct setup compared to its European predecessor, with restricted LGBTQ+ representation and less overt campness reflecting local broadcast regulations across member countries. Even so, almost half of the participating entries rely on English lyrics to reach an international audience. And with only 11 countries competing, it isn’t a straightforward cultural import, the event is a more compact affair than the European version has become. None of the entrants have gone near wacky Eurovision vibes such as having a singing turkey or banana-eating wolves. Restrictive attitudes to homosexuality in some of the countries where the show will be broadcast have also tempered the overt campness and LGBTQ+ representation with which Eurovision has come to be associated – there will certainly not be an equivalent of Olly Alexander getting sweaty in a grubby gym changing room.
Former Masked Singer Malaysia winner Aina Abdul has secured the final performance spot in the lineup with her dramatic power balladBluest Skywhich is considered a top contender by fans and oddsmakers. Rather than replicating the fire-filled beach scene of her official music video, Abdul’s team has selected a scaled-back live stage setup. Fellow frontrunner Carmelle represents the Philippines withSobra-Sobraa contemporary pop and rap anthem delivering a message that women are neither “‘too much” nor “not enough”. For better or worse …, here is what to look out for.
Staging and musical styles vary wildly across the remaining roster of contenders. Thinla represents Laos with the repetitive pop trackBaewhich shares stylistic similarities with Tarkan’sŞımarık. Meanwhile, host nation Thailand is represented by Mang x Daou performing the complex duet balladAromaand Cambodia’s Monetrey performs the three-minute balladI Let You Gowhich unusually keeps his vocals silent for the opening 30 seconds. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Nepal, in contrast to some of these acts, definitely got the staging memo. In other words, nepal’s answer to Kneecap.
Mongolia’s entry features performer Ganbatyn Munkhbayar under the moniker Beck. A former political candidate with a background in acting and music, Beck is singing the runner-up trackChamguigeer (Without You)after the country’s original national final winner was disqualified for being previously released. Representing Nepal, Pratik Himal Rai performs the guitar-driven love songAnanta Mayawhile wearing an ornate ruffled top, featuring backup performers wearing mesh masks and a heart-shaped stage arch in place of the tent and balaclavas used during early rounds. He has also stood for election, with careers in music and acting already under way.
Vietnam’s 37-year-old veteran performer Tóc Tiên, who entered the music industry early by exaggerating her age, bringsEm Tiênto the Bangkok stage. The entry transitions from a synthpop track into a high-tempo finish, though the oversized lampshade headwear seen during her national selection was discarded for the final performance. She is one of the lineup’s veterans, no need for that now: at 37.
The broadcast at the One Bangkok Forum will be hosted by media personalities Woody Milintachinda and Cindy Bishop. Upgrading the interval show, 2026 European Eurovision winner Dara is scheduled to perform her hitBangarangalive. International viewers can watch the live broadcast globally on the official Eurovision YouTube channel at 14.30 CET (13.30 GMT), while Australian audiences can tune in via SBS. 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.
