Australia dreamed up a Eurovision for Asia nearly a decade ago. Tonight it finally goes live in Bangkok, without Australia on stage

Eurovision’s long-promised Asian edition is finally here, and the country that started the idea will be in the audience rather than on the scoreboard.

The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia is staged tonight, Saturday 14 November, at the One Bangkok Forum in Thailand’s capital, with Thai broadcaster Channel 3 as host. Eleven countries are competing, and the show is presented by Thai television personalities Woody Milintachinda and Cindy Bishop, the long-time host of Asia’s Next Top Model.

Who is singing?

The running order opens with Vietnam and closes with Malaysia:

1. Vietnam: Tóc Tiên, “EM TIÊN”
2. Cambodia: Monetrey, “I Let You Go”
3. Laos: Thinla, “BAE”
4. Mongolia: Beck, “Chamguigeer (Without You)”
5. Bhutan: Nyendra, “Lhayi Semo”
6. Philippines: CARMELLE, “Sobra-Sobra”
7. Bangladesh: Beatmosphere, “Tumi Ele”
8. Thailand: MANG x DAOU, “Aroma”
9. South Korea: JUNHEE, “DEEP DIVE”
10. Nepal: Pratik Himal Rai, “Ananta Maya”
11. Malaysia: Aina Abdul, “Bluest Sky”

South Korea arrives as the obvious pop superpower in the field, but the line-up is striking for who else made it: Bhutan, Mongolia, Laos and Nepal, countries rarely seen on a global music stage, sit alongside the region’s biggest markets. China, Japan and India are not taking part.

Why is Australia not competing?

Australia has been a full Eurovision competitor in Europe since 2015, and SBS was the driving force behind the original proposal for an Asia-Pacific version. The first edition was planned for 2017 but was delayed again and again, and SBS stepped away from the project in 2021, citing the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SBS has confirmed Australia is not in tonight’s contest. It is still broadcasting the show, and Australian viewers can vote.

How does the voting work?

Half the result comes from five-member national juries made up of music and creative industry figures from each competing country. The other half comes from viewers in the 11 countries plus a “Rest of the World” vote, which is where Australians come in.

Viewers must vote for at least three countries, get up to eight free votes plus extra “booster” votes, and cannot vote for their own country. Points follow the familiar Eurovision scale, with 12 for first place, 10 for second and 8 for third.

How can I watch it in Australia?

• Live: SBS On Demand, with SBS’s Eurovision commentator Courtney Act, from midnight AEDT (9pm AWST Saturday, 11pm AEST, 11.30pm ACDT). The contest itself starts at 12.30am AEDT.
• Replay: SBS Two at 8.45am AEDT on Sunday 15 November (5.45am AWST).
• Elsewhere: the show streams live worldwide on YouTube without commentary, and it is also being carried by broadcasters in Poland and Israel, which are not competing.

What else is on the bill?

The show opens with “Bangkok Sounds and Senses”, a celebration of the host city created by Thai creative director Pul Hui. Bangkok-born singer and actor Jeff Satur performs in the interval, alongside DARA, who will sing a special version of her Eurovision-winning “Bangaranga”.

Why does it matter beyond one night?

Eurovision has tried for years to turn its formula into a global franchise. Asia is the biggest prize: the region’s music industries, led by K-pop, already export to the world. If tonight works, the contest gives Southeast and South Asian artists a stage with a built-in international audience, and Australia, still a Eurovision nation in Europe, a front-row seat. Australia’s own sights are on Eurovision 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria, for which SBS is now choosing an entry through an internal selection.