Eurovision Asia to proceed in Bangkok despite reported budget cuts

The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia will proceed as planned in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 14, despite reports of significant budget reductions. While Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported a US$1 million cut from an original US$4.5 million budget and noted that much of the international production team would no longer travel to Thailand, organizers have denied any plans to cancel or postpone the event.

The contest will instead rely on an experienced local Thai production team to manage technical elements such as staging, lighting, and sound. Eurovision director Martin Green expressed confidence in the local team's ability to deliver a high-quality show, stating that the budget matches the ambition for the competition.

Eleven countries are set to participate in the Grand Final. Recent fan voting for national selection songs has highlighted favorites from South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.