A lesser-known story of the revised Intervision Song Contest that made a massive impact in 2025, re-establishing itself as a major international music event is the Intervision Flag Tour. A symbolic expedition that traveled across borders to unite the participating nations before the grand finale.
2025: The "Heart of Eurasia" Expedition
The 2025 tour was not a traditional relay; it was a high-profile motorcade (car expedition) titled "Journey into the Heart of Eurasia." The flag traveled thousands of kilometers, serving as a traveling canvas for the signatures of the region's most influential artists.
The Start (July 7, 2025): The tour officially kicked off in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The flag was first signed by the Nomad Trio, the group that eventually represented Kyrgyzstan and took 2nd place in the contest.
The Uzbekistan Stop (July 15–16, 2025): The motorcade arrived in Tashkent. Beyond the music, the participants planted trees in the "Gardens of Friendship," a symbolic gesture of the contest's growth.
The Tajikistan Conclusion (July 22, 2025): The flag reached Dushanbe, where it was met at the Ismail Samani monument by Amirbek Musozoda, the Chairman of the Union of Composers of Tajikistan and a member of the Intervision jury.
The Moscow Arrival (September 12, 2025): After its long road trip, the flag arrived at the National Center "Russia" in Moscow. It was officially presented to all 23 participating delegations in a ceremony led by government officials.
What to Expect in 2026: The Road to Riyadh
As we are now in early 2026, preparations are already shifting toward the next edition, which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Expected Timeline: Following the pattern of last year, the 2026 Flag Tour is expected to begin in the summer of 2026 (likely June or July).
The New Route: Since Vietnam won the last trophy, there is high speculation that the 2026 tour might start in Hanoi before making its way toward the Middle East. The tour will eventually conclude in Riyadh in September or October 2026.
Since the competition wants to go bigger, stops at China and India are very openly considered to promote the contest to a massive audience.
As with the expected participation, the 2026 tour is set to be even larger as well, making the Intervision Flag tour a tradition for the contest.
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.
Full bio
.jpg)
0 Comments