MNB has confirmed it will host the ABU TV Song Festival 2025 in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia will be the host nation for the 14th edition of the ABU TV Song Festival. The event is set to be held in Ulaanbaatar with between 14 and 16 countries expected to compete, according to tender documents released by the Mongolian broadcaster MNB.
The venue for the show has not been chosen, with a tendering process underway for a production company to organise the event. The chosen venue must be in central Ulaanbaatar with the capacity for at least 2,000 people to watch the event. The exact date for the ABU TV Song Festival 2025 has not been announced.
Mongolia will make its debut appearance in the event, after several past attempts at participation. Mongolia has been signed up to participate previously, but has withdrawn before the event has taken place. In 2012, Naran was due to represent Mongolia with “Nudnii shil (Shades)” but withdrew one month before the event. Mongolia again signed up in 2016 to be represented by Naran, they then changed artists to Sweetymotion, and subsequently pulled out.
Changes to the ABU TV Song Festival’s format in 2025 are also likely, after it was confirmed that discussions were held about expanding the event. The Programme Committee met in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss opening the event up to its radio members.
The ABU TV Song Festival was held for the first time in 2012 and is a non-competitive showcase from across the Asia-Pacific region. Each participating broadcaster chooses acts to showcase their nation, with a mix of genres and languages to feature in tonight’s show.
The following nations have taken part in the event:
- Afghanistan (2012 to 2013, 2015 to 2018)
- Australia (2012 to 2014, 2019)
- Benin (2018)
- Brunei (2013 to 2014, 2020 to 2021)
- China (2012 to 2014, 2016 to 2017, 2019 to 2020, 2023 to date)
- Hong Kong (2012 to 2019, 2023 to date)
- India (2015, 2017 to date)
- Indonesia (2012 to 2022, 2024)
- Iran (2013)
- Japan (2012 to date)
- Kazakhstan (2015 to 2019, 2021 to 2022)
- Kyrgyzstan (2013, 2018)
- Macau (2014 to 2021, 2023 to date)
- Malaysia (2012 to 2013, 2015, 2017 to 2018, 2020 to 2021, 2023 to date)
- Maldives (2014 to 2018, 2022)
- Nepal (2020)
- Russia (2018)
- Singapore (2012 to 2013)
- South Korea (2012 to date)
- Sri Lanka (2012 to 2013, 2016, 2023)
- Thailand (2013 to 2014)
- Tunisia (2016)
- Turkey (2014 to 2015, 2018 to date)
- Turkmenistan (2017 & 2018, 2020, 2022 to date)
- Uzbekistan (2018, 2020, 2024)
- Vanuatu (2020)
- Vietnam (2012 to 2023)
- Zambia (2017)
Source: MNB
