The political earthquake that struck Budapest last month is already sending aftershocks through the world of international broadcasting. Following the historic inauguration of Péter Magyar as Prime Minister on May 9, 2026, effectively ending sixteen years of Viktor Orbán's rule, Hungary is signaling a rapid cultural pivot away from Eastern-aligned projects like the Intervision Song Contest in favor of a grand return to Eurovision.
While the previous administration frequently flirted with the idea of "cultural alternatives," Hungary ultimately remained on the sidelines for the Intervision 2025 contest in Moscow (besides being invited). Despite speculation that the Orbán government viewed the "BRICS+" contest as a better fit for its "Eastern Opening" policy, Hungary did not appear on the final list of participants, but was expected to make a first appearance in 2026. This would mark Hungary as the second country of the European Union to appear in Intervision (Serbia being the first).
Having withdrawn from Eurovision in 2020 due to perceived ideological clashes with the EBU, Hungary effectively was a good candidate for Russia's "Traditional Values" contest.
Return to the West
The victory of Péter Magyar’s Tisza party, which secured a two-thirds supermajority, has provided an immediate mandate for Western reintegration. In a symbolic move just hours after his swearing-in, the European Union flag was restored to the facade of the Hungarian Parliament for the first time since 2014.
This shift is more than symbolic as it directly impacts the state broadcaster, MTVA. Magyar has publicly labeled the current state media apparatus a "propaganda mouthpiece" and has vowed to suspend and overhaul its news and programming services to restore objectivity. Industry insiders suggest that as part of this "cleanup," the move toward an Intervision 2026 appearance in Riyadh has been quietly scrapped.
Road to 2027
Hungarian fans are eager to see their flag back on the Eurovision stage. The new government is expected to begin formal negotiations with the European Broadcasting Union this summer to resolve past tensions. There is talk of reconfiguring the domestic show 'A Dal' to serve once again as a national selection for Eurovision, rather than a standalone domestic festival. A return to the contest is expected as early as 2027.
Sources close to the Tisza party transition team indicate that Hungary will not send a delegation to Riyadh for Intervision 2026, viewing the contest as a remnant of the previous government’s foreign policy.
For Péter Magyar, Eurovision represents more than just a song contest. It is a tool of soft-power diplomacy. By rejoining the EBU community, the new administration intends to signal to Brussels and the world that Hungary is once again a standard Western democracy. A dual participation in both contests could be possible, but a participation as early as 2026 seems impossible now. Hungary is no longer considered a second EE country to make a first appearance in the Intervision 2026 (there are still others, though).
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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