Standing center stage at the official launch of Eurovision Song Contest Asia, Director Martin Green made it clear that the EBU’s expansion is about growth, not geopolitics. Addressing recent speculation that the move was a strategic maneuver against Russia’s proposed Intervision contest, Green offered a sharp dismissal that has since defined the event's narrative.
“We wouldn’t ever do anything in response to whatever that is,” Green stated, according to reporting from The New York Times.
For Green, the foray into the Asian market is a long-awaited milestone for the 70-year-old brand. By dismissing rival formats as irrelevant to the EBU’s mission, Green is attempting to insulate the new contest from the same political tensions that have historically shadowed its European counterpart.
Key Details of the Launch meeting:
- The Mandate: Green emphasized that Eurovision Asia is the result of years of planning—not a reactionary "tit-for-tat" move.
- The Venue: The inaugural Grand Final is confirmed for November 14, 2026, at IdeaLive in Bangkok.
- The Vision: Under Green’s direction, the contest aims to unite ten confirmed nations, including South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines, under the "United by Music" banner.
By positioning Eurovision Asia as a standalone cultural powerhouse, Martin Green has set a firm tone for the competition’s future: the EBU is looking forward to its own legacy, rather than looking over its shoulder at "whatever" else is on the horizon.
Written by Manios Themis
Intervision Song Contest specialist. Combines a Computer Science background with exhaustive knowledge of every edition (1965 Golden Clef, 1977–1980 Sopot era, 2025 revival, and Saudi Arabia 2026). Author and curator of the most complete independent Intervision archive online.
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