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Sequins, off-key changes and a frankly wild amount of pyrotechnics are heading east as Eurovision finally makes its Asia debut in Bangkok, after years of failed attempts
The contest launches with national selections across participating countries before everyone gathers in Thailand's capital for the big showdown on November 14. You can watch it broadcast live, naturally, because what's Eurovision without millions of people simultaneously losing their minds over a particularly dramatic costume reveal.
10 countries have signed up so far including South Korea, Bhutan, Thailand and the Philippines, with more joining the party soon. The format stays true to the original with one crucial rule that keeps things honest: all songs must be brand new originals and lead vocals have to be sung live. No miming your way through this one.
Votes come from a mix of music experts and fans, the same system that's launched some proper megastars over the decades. Abba famously won for Sweden whilst Celine Dion took the trophy for Switzerland back in 1988, and look how that turned out for them.
Last year's European Song Contest pulled in 163 million viewers who witnessed everything from absolute belters to tear-jerking ballads. Now, as the European Broadcasting Union teams up with LA-based Voxovation and Bangkok's S2O Productions, the Asian edition is finally happening, bringing decades of glittery chaos to a whole new continent of fans.
Watch this space on how to buy tickets and get involved, with details coming later this year.