The Intervision International Music Contest made its highly anticipated return in September 2025 in Moscow, Russia, marking the revival of the Soviet-era competition after a three-decade hiatus. Conceived as a geopolitical and conservative rival to the Eurovision Song Contest, the event showcased a diverse range of talent from around the world.
The Winner: Vietnam's Đức Phúc
The top prize and crystal trophy were claimed by Vietnamese pop star Đức Phúc with his powerful song "Phù Đổng Thiên Vương" (The Heavenly King of Phu Dong Village).
Winning Performance: Đức Phúc captivated the audience and international professional jury with his strong vocals and a slickly-produced performance featuring pyrotechnics. The song itself was an energetic mix of pop, rap, and dubstep, drawing on historical themes and the traditional Vietnamese folktale of the legendary Saint Giong.
Significance: His victory was a moment of national pride for Vietnam, earning him 422 points—49 points higher than the runner-up—and a cash prize of 30 million rubles (approximately $360,000). 6Đức Phúc was also noted for his friendly gestures, which included gifting traditional conical hats and speaking Russian phrases.
Participating Countries and Top Finishers
The 2025 contest featured 23 artists from 23 countries, bringing together acts from across Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe. The event was explicitly intended to promote cultural identity, unity, and "traditional family values."
| Place | Country | Artist | Song Title (Translated) | Points |
| 1st | Vietnam | Đức Phúc | Phù Đổng Thiên Vương | 422 |
| 2nd | Kyrgyzstan | Nomad | Jalgyz saga (Only for You) | 373 |
| 3rd | Qatar | Dana Al Meer | Huwa dha anta (This Is Exactly You) | 369 |
| 4th | Colombia | Nidia Góngora | En los manglares (In the Mangroves) | 347 |
| 5th | Tajikistan | Farrukh Hasanov | Gori! (Burn!) | 344 |
Notable Participants
Kyrgyzstan's Nomad: The trio secured a strong second place with "Jalgyz saga," a song performed in Kyrgyz and Russian, demonstrating a modern take on Eurasian music.
Qatar's Dana Al Meer: Finishing third, her Arabic-language song "Huwa dha anta" impressed both the audience and the jury with its captivating melody and vocal performance.
Colombia's Nidia Góngora: Her fourth-place entry, "En los manglares," was a mesmerizing blend of Pacific folklore with a modern twist, showcasing the richness of her nation's musical heritage.
Russia's Shaman: The popular, ultra-patriotic singer (Yaroslav Dronov) performed "Pryamo po serdtsu" but made the unexpected move of asking the international jury to disregard his performance, stating that Russia had already "won" by successfully hosting so many international friends. His performance was thus not ranked.
South Africa's Mzansi Jikelele: This group's performance of "Home," sung in English and Zulu, showcased the unique and vibrant sounds of African music, ensuring they stood out with a memorable act.
Brazil's Luciano Calazans and Tais Nader: Their entry, "Pipoca com amor," added a distinct Latin American flavor to the competition.
Kyrgyzstan's Nomad: The trio secured a strong second place with "Jalgyz saga," a song performed in Kyrgyz and Russian, demonstrating a modern take on Eurasian music.
Qatar's Dana Al Meer: Finishing third, her Arabic-language song "Huwa dha anta" impressed both the audience and the jury with its captivating melody and vocal performance.
Colombia's Nidia Góngora: Her fourth-place entry, "En los manglares," was a mesmerizing blend of Pacific folklore with a modern twist, showcasing the richness of her nation's musical heritage.
Russia's Shaman: The popular, ultra-patriotic singer (Yaroslav Dronov) performed "Pryamo po serdtsu" but made the unexpected move of asking the international jury to disregard his performance, stating that Russia had already "won" by successfully hosting so many international friends. His performance was thus not ranked.
South Africa's Mzansi Jikelele: This group's performance of "Home," sung in English and Zulu, showcased the unique and vibrant sounds of African music, ensuring they stood out with a memorable act.
Brazil's Luciano Calazans and Tais Nader: Their entry, "Pipoca com amor," added a distinct Latin American flavor to the competition.
The diverse lineup, featuring countries like China, India, Cuba, Venezuela, South Africa, and the UAE, reflected the contest's expansive global ambition and its focus on cultural identity through original, nationally representative music. The competition also announced that Saudi Arabia had agreed to host the contest in 2026.
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