National Finals: Which countries could follow this direction for 2026?

The Intervision Song Contest (ISC) is at a critical crossroads. After its 2025 successful revival in Moscow, where Vietnam’s Đức Phúc emerged victorious, the contest is preparing for a monumental shift to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for 2026.

However, for Intervision to transition from a regional event to a global cultural phenomenon, we have argued in the past that it needs more public engagement. In the world of international song contests, fame is built on engagement. While internal selections (where a broadcaster chooses an artist behind closed doors) are efficient, National Finals offer key advantages that could make Intervision 2026 skyrocket. 

Today, we examine which countries sound the most likely to follow that path.

Saudi Arabia

As the host of the 2026 edition, Saudi Arabia has the most to gain from a public selection process. Under Saudi Vision 2030, a national final would be more than just a song search; it would be a showcase of the Kingdom's modern cultural identity. A grand final in Riyadh to select the local representative would generate massive domestic hype, ensuring the stadium is packed with passionate local supporters.

India

India’s participation in 2025 was a significant milestone. For 2026, the potential for an Indian National Final is immense. Given India's massive population and love for televised reality shows (like Indian Idol or Sa Re Ga Ma Pa), a dedicated "Intervision India" selection could draw hundreds of millions of viewers. By using a televised final, India could bridge the gap between Bollywood playback singers and independent indie-pop artists, ensuring a high-profile entry that commands the Riyadh stage while making the Intervision Song Contest famous within the country and something people await.

Vietnam

Victory in 2025 has put Vietnam at the center of the Intervision map. To defend their title, VTV is likely to move toward a competitive format. After seeing the success of Đức Phúc, many established Vietnamese stars will want a shot at the 2026 crown, making a televised selection a fair way to choose and draw more attention to the Vietnamese participation and the contest itself.

Brazil

Brazil (which is confirmed on coming back for 2026) is showing increased interest; The Brazilian Ambassador to Moscow, Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos shared the thoughs of Brazil wanting to improve for the next edition. A huge country with a tradition in music could become a powerhouse in the Intervision Song Contest

Kyrgystan

Kyrgyzstan (which finished 2nd in 2025) saw massive engagement from its domestic audiences. For 2026, this "powerhouse" nation is expected to formalize its selection processes. In Kyrgyzstan, where the 2025 result was celebrated as a national achievement, a public selection is seen as the best way to find the perfect successor.

Russia

While Russia used a targeted internal selection for 2025 to ensure a strong relaunch, Channel One has a long history of televised national finals. Russia will be the one who wants the contest to go 'viral.' Although the contest is popular in Russia it could actually do better. Also, as the Organizer and "mentor" host, its national selection will likely serve as the production blueprint for other participating nations. 

The road to Riyadh 2026 is paved with music, but its success will depend on how many people are tuning in. By adopting National Finals, countries like India, Vietnam, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia can turn a simple singing competition into a shared national experience, ultimately making Intervision a global brand.

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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