Bhutan's preparations for Eurovision Asia 2026 have entered their final stage, with the organisers revealing the complete format of Rhythm of Bhutan, the national selection that will determine the country's first representative for the inaugural contest.
In a guide published on 7 August, the official Eurovision Asia website confirmed the running order, the presenters, the jury members and the voting arrangements for the live show, scheduled for Tuesday, 11 August.
The programme will be produced by Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) and broadcast from its studios in Thimphu.
Five acts and the official running order
Five competing entries will take to the stage, with the winner earning the right to represent Bhutan at Eurovision Asia 2026 in Bangkok.
The running order was announced as follows:
Karma Drupchu – “Pha Yuel” (The Homeland)
The Sangay Lhaden Band – “Pemi Tshewang Tashi” (The Legend)
Nyendra – “Lhayi Semo” (The Angel)
Pelden Wangchuk – “Jo'druel” (The Journey)
Baeyul301 – “Drenpa” (The Memories)
The five entries bring together different musical styles and established names from Bhutan's music scene. The winning song will become the country's entry for the Grand Final in Bangkok on 14 November.
Two presenters for the national selection
The show will be hosted by Phub Tshering and Kelzang Dolkar, with the programme presented in both Dzongkha and English.
Phub Tshering will address viewers in Dzongkha. He has more than ten years of experience at BBS, having presented a variety of programmes, including award ceremonies, National Day celebrations and election coverage.
Kelzang Dolkar will present the English-language parts of the show. An experienced television presenter specialising in entertainment and sports programming, she previously hosted the earlier edition of Druk Dra.
The bilingual presentation is intended to make the national selection accessible to audiences in Bhutan and international Eurovision fans watching online.
Four-member professional jury announced
The professional jury will consist of four representatives from Bhutan's entertainment and music industry:
Choeying Jatsho
Pema Samdrup
Sonam Dorji
Ugyen
The jury will contribute 40% of the final result, with the remaining 60% coming from public voting.
International fans will be able to vote
One of the most notable features of Rhythm of Bhutan is the opportunity for viewers outside the country to participate directly in the selection.
The final result will be determined through three voting components:
40% – Professional jury
40% – Bhutanese public vote
20% – Rest of the World vote
Voting will take place through the official Eurovision Asia website and will be open for the duration of the live broadcast.
Each user will receive eight free votes, which must be distributed across at least three different songs. Viewers will also have the option to purchase ten additional votes.
This system gives international Eurovision fans a direct role in deciding which song will represent Bhutan in Bangkok, while ensuring that the domestic audience and professional jury retain the largest combined share of the result.
When and where to watch
Rhythm of Bhutan will take place on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, at 19:00 Bhutan Time (15:00 CEST).
The approximately two-hour programme will be broadcast domestically on BBS 1 and the broadcaster's digital platforms. International viewers will be able to watch the show live through the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel.
With the running order, presenters and voting arrangements now confirmed, all the details are in place for Bhutan's first Eurovision Asia national selection.
Just four days remain before the country chooses the artist and song that will make history as its inaugural representative in the competition.
Written by Manios Themis
Themis Manios is the founder of escasia.news and song contest analyst. He has a Computer Science background and years of experience documenting international musical competitions including Eurovision's 70-year legacy. He provides a specialized perspective on the intersection of pop culture and regional identity. Through his dedicated coverage, he tracks the evolution of the contest format as it expands toward the historic Bangkok 2026 stage.
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