'Waiting so long': Fans gather for Eurovision's first Asia show

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Performers from 11 countries including Laos, the Philippines and South Korea are battling it out for the first Asia crown, in a contest featuring Bangladeshi beatboxing,…

Performers from 11 countries including Laos, the Philippines and South Korea are battling it out for the first Asia crown, in a contest featuring Bangladeshi beatboxing, Vietnamese pop and a love song by a Mongolian economist.

BANGKOK: Eurovision fans sporting flags and bright outfits gathered on Saturday (Nov 14) in Bangkok for its first Asia edition, featuring Bangladeshi beatboxing, Vietnamese pop and a love song by a Mongolian economist.

Performers from 11 countries also including Laos, the Philippines and South Korea are battling it out for the first Asia crown of a contest famed in Europe for its lavish outfits, soaring vocals and sometimes tricky geopolitics.

"I'm very pleased it's come to Asia. We've been waiting so long!" said Malaysian mega-fan Fauzan, 37, one of the first in the queue to enter the concert hall in the Thai capital.

He was wearing a blue corset over a white trouser suit in honour of his nation's entry Aina Abdul, who is wearing similar colours to perform her song "Bluest Sky".

Eurovision is the world's biggest televised live music event, drawing 131 million viewers in 2026, and over the past 70 years has helped to launch the careers of artists such as ABBA and Celine Dion.

It is a cultural phenomenon in Europe, but the big question is whether it takes off in Asia, the world's most populous region with more than enough music shows of its own.

Fauzan, who declined to give his family name for privacy reasons, cited Eurovision's advocacy of LGBTQ rights as one reason he loves it, saying the 2014 victory of Austrian bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst was a turning point.

The contestants are largely stars in their own countries, from Malaysia's Aina to Vietnamese pop star Toc Tien, but some have a less typical background.

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