The Intervision Song Contest 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is defined by one key characteristic: its reliance on an expert jury to prioritize cultural merit over popular appeal. While this creates a specific focus, it also risks alienating the passionate global fan base.
The organizers have a revolutionary opportunity to make Intervision the most fan-involved contest in the world—without ever letting the public cast a final vote. By giving fans agency in the selection, the process, and the ultimate judging panel, the contest can be both culturally authoritative and deeply engaging.
Here are five high-impact strategies that could help Intervision Song Contest 2026 engage the fans and go more viral.
Empowering National Selections
Instead of internal selections managed solely by broadcasters and ministries, participating countries can hand the fan community a decisive voice in the acts they send, keeping the power where it belongs: at the national level. A requirement that all participants must be in some form be chosen by the public in their own country they are representing. Participating broadcasters should be strongly encouraged to host a National Final where the public has a significant (at least 50%) say in choosing the act or the song. This creates national buzz and ensures the country is sending a track that the local audience is proud of.
The Fan Delegate
The most revolutionary form of engagement would be to bring the fan's perspective directly into the most critical part of the contest: the judging. The established, multi-member expert jury (which might include cultural ambassadors, musicians, and producers) from each participating country would be required to include one non-professional, dedicated fan each year. This fan would be chosen via an open application process. This "Fan Delegate" would have an equal, binding vote with the professional members, ensuring that every score reflects not just artistic merit, but also popular appeal and cultural accessibility. This legitimizes the fan perspective without ceding control to mass voting.
User-generated content can help the contest
The public doesn't need to be in the arena to be part of the broadcast or the days preceding it. Intervision can integrate millions of viewers into the show's fabric by turning fan submissions into official content.
Video Submissions: Fans could submit short videos on social media of themselves singing a specific traditional phrase from their country (e.g., a folk song snippet, a national greeting, or a traditional rhythmic clap). These clips are compiled and shown before the voting sequence, or on official channels, creating a powerful bond between the audience and the contest itself.
Brainstorming
Organizers should move beyond simple suggestions and create an official mechanism for fans to influence the show's production and format. If the show wants to be innovative and fresh, it should follow its own path (not following an existing model). The ideas might be out there. Organizers should launch a dedicated digital hub where fans can submit ideas and proposals for future shows. This could include suggestions for interval acts, special awards, environmental initiatives, or even design concepts for the Grand Final trophy.
Final Thoughts
Audience involvement should extend throughout the year, making Intervision a continuous cultural dialogue, not just a one-day event. By adopting new ideas, Intervision can prove that a contest can prioritize cultural expertise but still be the most vibrant, inclusive, and fan-involved musical spectacle on the global stage.
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