The question of whether the Intervision Song Contest is merely the "Russian Eurovision" is one that requires a look back at Cold War history and a keen eye on modern geopolitics. Unveiled in 2025 as a grand, star-studded event in Moscow, the newly resurrected contest is undeniably a cultural counterweight to its European rival, yet its origins and current scope suggest a much more complex, and frankly, ambitious identity.
A Cold War Echo
The concept of Intervision is not new, nor was it originally a purely Russian initiative. The contest was first launched in the 1960s by the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT)—the Eastern Bloc's answer to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Staged initially in Czechoslovakia and Poland, it served as a socialist-era cultural bridge. It was intended to be an alternative for countries in Central and Eastern Europe and was eventually discontinued in 1980.
The 2025 revival, ordered by a decree from Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a direct and strategic response to Russia’s indefinite exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The message is clear: if the West closes one door, Russia will build its own stage.
Geopolitics
While the format of an international competition of musical acts performed under national flags mirrors Eurovision, the underlying objectives differ sharply.
Where Eurovision has evolved into a spectacle often associated with liberal, progressive, and LGBTQ+ values, the revived Intervision is promoted by its organizers as a showcase for "traditional, universal and family values." Russian officials, while claiming the event promotes "international cultural and humanitarian cooperation," have framed it as an antidote to the perceived "decadence" of the West. The contest functions as a powerful tool of cultural soft power, designed to solidify new political and cultural alliances.
A Multipolar Stage
The most significant difference from its European counterpart is the distinctly non-European line-up. The 2025 inaugural event, held at the Live Arena in Moscow, brought together representatives from 23 countries, focusing heavily on nations from the BRICS group, the CIS, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Countries like China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Kenya, and Vietnam participated, transforming the competition into a platform for what is often termed the "Global South."
The winner of the 2025 contest was Vietnam’s Đức Phúc. In a move underscoring its commitment to being a global brand, organizers announced that Saudi Arabia would host the 2026 competition.
The Verdict
So, is Intervision the "Russian Eurovision"? Yes, in the sense that it is structurally a song contest and serves as Russia’s official, state-backed replacement after its ban from the EBU.
However, its focus on "friendly" countries, its emphasis on "traditional values," and its explicitly non-European/non-Western participant roster mean it is fundamentally distinct. It’s not just an alternative; it is positioning itself as a geopolitical and cultural counterweight, using music and nostalgia to project a vision of a new, multipolar world order.
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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