Weeks before the Bangkok premiere, a 25% budget cut forced the EBU to replace the international crew with locals, jeopardizing the new voting system trial.
With less than a month to go before the kickoff of Eurovision Asia 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, the production seems to be facing significant hurdles. According to a report by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) ambitious venture is in the midst of a severe financial crisis, leading to dramatic behind-the-scenes changes at the eleventh hour.
A $1 Million Cut and Crew Dismissals
According to the report, the EBU has approved an immediate budget cut of $1 million from the competition’s initial $4.5 million budget, representing a drop of nearly a quarter of the total funds. Due to these drastic cuts, the production could no longer afford to fly the international technical and production crew to Bangkok. The world-class professionals who were supposed to handle set design, lighting, sound, and graphics were told to stay home.
Instead, the production will rely on a local Thai crew and utilize simpler, more cost-effective technical solutions. Despite the upheaval, the contest’s producers, Christer Björkman and Peter Settman, remain involved in the project.
The New Voting System Trial in Jeopardy
The financial crisis affects more than just the visual scale of the show; it also impacts the EBU’s future plans. Eurovision Asia was intended to serve as a testbed for a brand-new online voting system, with the goal of testing it in real-time before eventually integrating it into the original Eurovision Song Contest in Europe. Now, in light of the cutbacks and reduced technical resources, concerns are mounting over whether this new system can be tested successfully and with the required level of reliability.
The EBU’s Response
Despite the alarming reports from Sweden, the EBU is trying to maintain a “business as usual” facade. Eurovision Executive Producer Martin Green told the newspaper that the EBU trusts the experience of the Asian team. Green did not deny the budget cuts or the crew replacements but noted that Asia has a very strong tradition of hosting major events. He added that the producers are proud to work with a large and experienced local team, and that they feel confident the current budget matches the ambition level for the first Asian contest.
All You Need to Know About Eurovision Asia
Eurovision Asia is an official expansion project of the Eurovision brand outside the borders of Europe, launched in collaboration with the European Broadcasting Union to mark the 70th anniversary of the original contest. The first-ever competition will take place on November 14, 2026, at the One Bangkok Forum arena in Thailand, hosted by media figures Woody Milintachinda and Cindy Bishop. This historic edition will feature 11 countries: Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal, Laos, Bhutan, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Unlike the European format, the contest in Asia operates under a centralized production model in collaboration with Voxovation, which subsidizes the selection process in various countries to allow participation for nations with limited budgets. Additionally, the winning country will not automatically host the contest the following year but will instead be invited to perform as a guest artist at the traditional Eurovision. The voting system has also been adapted for the continent and is based entirely on a unified, free digital platform that combines televoting with professional juries, giving unprecedented decisive power to the international audience through the “Rest of the World” voting.
The Participating Songs in Eurovision Asia 2026 (running order yet to be determined):
(Click on the song title to listen)
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Bhutan: Nyendra with “Lhayi Semo“
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Bangladesh: Beatmosphere with “Tumi Ele“
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Philippines: Carmelle with “Sobra-Sobra“
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Vietnam: Tóc Tiên with “Em Tiên“
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Laos: Thinla with “BAE“
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Mongolia: Beck with “Without You“
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Malaysia: Aina Abdul with “Bluest Sky“
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Nepal: Pratik Himal Rai with “Ananta Maya“
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South Korea: Junhee with “Deep Dive“
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Cambodia: Monetrey with “I Let You Go“
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Thailand: Mang x Daou with “Aroma“
You Decide the Winner!
Which song is your favorite from the Eurovision Asia lineup? Mark your favorite in the poll attached to this article and vote on our social media pages. We will publish the full and weighted results in about two weeks, so do not miss the opportunity to make an impact!
Eurovision Asia 2026: The first Eurovision Asia contest will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 14. The host arena of the contest is the “One Bangkok Forum”, which has a capacity of about 6,000 seats. This is an official expansion project of the Eurovision brand outside the borders of Europe, launched ahead of the original contest’s 70th-anniversary celebrations.
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Writer and content creator at EuroMix, providing cultural insights into the world of Eurovision. Talor is a second-generation Eurovision enthusiast who grew up attending family viewing parties. The 1999 Eurovision, at just five years old, was the event that shaped his love for the contest. He holds a BA degree in Culture – Creation and Production, and his articles combine academic knowledge with a passion for pop and trash, appreciating humor and clever references in the competition’s songs. He specializes in cultural and social analysis, offering in-depth commentary.
Outside the Eurovision world, Talor works as an independent content and media manager.
