Initial Artist Withdrawal: The first announced US representative was R&B artist B. Howard. Just days before the competition, organizers stated he withdrew due to "unforeseen family circumstances."
Replacement Artist and Second Withdrawal: The replacement artist was the Australian-born singer, songwriter, and producer Vassy (Vasiliki Karagiorgos), who is a dual citizen of both the United States and Australia. Vassy was confirmed to represent the US, and the nation remained a participating country.
Final Non-Performance: Crucially, Vassy was unable to perform in the final show. During the live broadcast, the contest organizers announced that Vassy would not take the stage, claiming the decision was due to "unprecedented political pressure from the Australian government" regarding her participation, as she is an Australian citizen.
The organizers stated that the Australian government issued an "official note addressed to the artist" on the day of the final, September 20, 2025, which prevented the dual US/Australian citizen from taking the stage. They emphasized the contest was "outside politics."
In a statement to the press, Vassy said she was "still in shock" and was reluctant to give further details until she spoke with the Australian government. She noted that she was committed to "doing the right thing and following proper guidance," suggesting a serious advisory or directive had been issued.
A spokesperson for the Australian federal government claimed the government had "no engagement" with the Intervision Song Contest, thus denying the allegation of issuing an official note or applying "unprecedented political pressure."
Despite the non-performance, the United States was still considered a full participant in the contest and was represented on the international jury by legendary vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (formerly of Deep Purple). The contest was ultimately won by Duc Phuc from Vietnam.
Surrounding News and Context
The lead-up and execution of Intervision 2025 were heavily framed by its political context, as Russia launched the revival after its ban from Eurovision in 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Political Framing: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed the contest promoted "traditional universal, spiritual and family values" and suggested it would be free of "perversion" and "abuse of human nature," in what many viewed as a direct jab at Eurovision's progressive inclusivity.
Propaganda Allegations: The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the event, viewing it as an "instrument of hostile propaganda" and a means of "whitewashing the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation."
Participant Base: The event featured representatives primarily from BRICS, CIS, Latin American, African, Middle Eastern, South, and Southeast Asian countries. The US and one other European artist were the only entries from their respective regions.
Contest Finances: The competition was sponsored by a decree from President Vladimir Putin, with 750 million rubles allocated from the state budget.
What is Going to Happen in 2026?
The inaugural event's political nature has cast a shadow of uncertainty over future participation, especially for Western-aligned nations like the US.
2026 Host City: Organizers announced at the close of the 2025 final that the Intervision 2026 contest is set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia.
USA Participation: As of now, there is no official confirmation regarding the United States' participation in Intervision 2026. The political circumstances surrounding the 2025 withdrawal, particularly the claims of government pressure, suggest that future involvement remains highly dependent on shifting geopolitical factors and domestic political decisions in
the US and the host nation. Future participation is likely to remain a controversial and politically charged topic.
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