Eurovision Asia reveals a new voting format that could influence the future of Eurovision, raising questions about possible 2027 reforms, online voting changes, and the potential impact on participating countries.
The official Eurovision Asia website has officially launched, revealing important details about the upcoming competition, including the schedule of several national selections and the voting format that will be used both during the preliminary rounds and the first-ever Eurovision Asia final.
The newly published information has already raised questions among Eurovision fans and observers: could this be an early sign of the direction the Eurovision Song Contest may take in 2027?
According to the details shared on the Eurovision Asia website, viewers from anywhere in the world will be able to participate in the voting process during Bhutan’s national final, scheduled for 11 August. The voting will not be restricted by location, allowing international fans to take part through the official voting application. Each user will receive eight free votes, but in order for them to be counted, the votes must be divided between at least three different entries. A similar voting principle is currently used in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, where viewers are encouraged to support multiple participants rather than a single favorite.
In addition to the free votes, users will also have the option to purchase ten extra votes. These additional votes will follow the same rule and must also be distributed among at least three different songs.
The voting format revealed by Eurovision Asia appears to support previous reports regarding discussions within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about possible changes to the Eurovision voting system. During the EBU General Assembly last June, potential reforms were reportedly discussed with the aim of reducing factors that may influence voting results beyond the musical performances themselves.
One of the main issues frequently mentioned in recent years has been so-called “political voting,” where audiences may support certain countries due to external circumstances or national identity rather than the quality of the competing song.
The EBU has already introduced changes to Eurovision’s televoting system ahead of the 2026 contest, reducing the maximum number of votes each viewer can submit from 20 to 10. Based on the information currently available, Eurovision 2027 could potentially represent another step in this process. A new voting model could include online-only voting and a requirement for viewers to spread their votes across multiple entries instead of concentrating them on one country.
Such a system would encourage a wider distribution of points, potentially reducing the influence of political voting and limiting the advantage traditionally enjoyed by countries with large diaspora communities, as viewers would no longer be able to dedicate all of their votes to a single entry.
However, it is important to note that no official changes have been confirmed for Eurovision 2027 at this stage. The EBU is expected to publish further details in the future, clarifying whether these voting rules will become part of the Eurovision Song Contest or remain exclusive to Eurovision Asia.
Eurovision Asia – All the Details
Eurovision Asia 2026 will be the first event of the new song contest, based on the European Eurovision format and taking place in collaboration with the EBU. The competition is expected to be held on November 14th in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, marking the beginning of a new initiative designed to unite countries from across Asia through music, similar to the model that made Eurovision one of the biggest television events in the world. The participating countries will send one representative with an original song, who will compete for the win in an international show that will include live performances and voting by the public and juries.
So far, ten countries have confirmed their participation: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. However, the organizers clarified that the list is not yet final, and that additional countries may join in the coming months. The competition is produced by Voxovation, which holds the franchise to hold Eurovision Asia in cooperation with the EBU, with the aim of creating a new musical platform that will provide a stage for artists, creators, and cultures from across the continent. In recent weeks, the contest has garnered much interest, especially following the publication of the first details about the participating countries and its future connection to the European Eurovision.
Eurovision Asia is expected to be a more scaled-down competition compared to the familiar European version, but it marks a significant step in expanding the Eurovision brand to another continent. The organizers hope that in the coming years, more countries will join the contest, and that the new stage will allow showcasing the cultures, musical styles, and uniqueness of the Asian region to an international audience.
The first “Eurovision Asia” 2026 contest will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 14th. The competition, which brings the beloved Eurovision brand to the Asian continent, is expected to include between 12 and 14 participating countries in its first year and will be managed under the direction of Israeli lead producer Assaf Blecher.
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Aviad Berger – Israeli editor, reporter, and content creator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has been working with the EuroMix editorial team for about a year and a half. Since 2024, he has provided continuous Eurovision coverage from the host city, delivering live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth commentary.
Aviad is also a video editor and filmmaker active in the Israeli media industry.
