While the official dates of a 2026 contest is still under wraps (given the tentions in the area a push is also being considered) some exciting news emerged. On June 13, 2026, the Syrian online magazine Al Mjhar reported that organizers are considering the implementation of a global televoting system alongside a multi-day festival model titled "Intervision Week," citing sources close to the event's planning committee.
The most notable potential shift centers on how the winner will be decided. While the inaugural 2025 event relied on a professional jury panel to select Vietnam’s Duc Phuc as the winner, the proposed global voting platform would allow viewers around the world to submit digital votes. By enabling public participation through online platforms, organizers aim to expand international engagement and build a broader worldwide audience across both participating and non-participating nations.
In tandem with the voting reform, organizers are weighing plans to transform the contest from a single-evening broadcast into "Intervision Week". Rather than concentrating the event entirely on a final competitive show, this expanded framework would encompass a series of special side concerts, music industry conferences, diplomatic social gatherings, and large-scale public cultural festivals hosted throughout Riyadh.
These reported additions align with Saudi Arabia’s broader Saudi Vision 2030 framework, which emphasizes positioning the Kingdom as an international destination for major entertainment and cultural exchanges. To date, neither the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia nor the Russian co-organizing bodies have issued an official public response regarding the Al Mjhar report.
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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