Lead

Organizers of the Intervision international song contest have confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the 2026 edition, while noting that the exact date and venue are still being finalized. The confirmation comes amid conflicting reports about the event's certainty, with a TASS source in Riyadh suggesting that key organizational matters remain unresolved.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, has published multiple reports on the status of Intervision 2026. In one report dated August 5, organizers stated that Saudi Arabia will be the next host country, as announced during the 2025 final in Moscow. They emphasized that the Art Traditions foundation and organizers continue working on the next contest, with discussions ongoing about the date, venue, and other organizational matters.

However, a separate TASS report on the same day cited an unnamed source in Riyadh who said that the organization of the contest in Saudi Arabia is "in question" and that there is "no guarantee" the event will take place. The source noted that key matters such as timing, participant list, and program are still uncertain.

A later TASS report, dated August 7, quoted Mikhail Shvydkoy, Russian presidential envoy for international cultural cooperation, as saying that the contest "will definitely take place this year" and that Saudi Arabia remains committed to hosting it. He said organizational issues, such as the host city and exact date, are being discussed. The report also mentioned that the contest's press service had dismissed earlier reports of uncertainty.

While the reports differ in their assessment of the event's certainty, they all agree that Saudi Arabia was announced as the host for 2026 during the 2025 contest final.

Key Claims

  • The Intervision 2026 international song contest will be held in Saudi Arabia, according to organizers, with the exact date and venue still under discussion. This was confirmed by organizers in a statement to TASS, and reiterated by presidential envoy Mikhail Shvydkoy.
  • A TASS report citing a source in Riyadh claimed that the organization of the contest in Saudi Arabia in 2026 is "in question," with no guarantee that the event will take place. The source cited unresolved organizational matters, including timing, participants, and program.
  • The Intervision Song Contest was originally launched by the International Radio and Television Organization (OIRT), which existed from 1946 to 1993. The contest was held in the 1960s and 1980s as an alternative to the Eurovision contest organized by the European Broadcasting Union.
  • Russia was represented by singer Yaroslav Dronov (known as Shaman) in the 2025 competition, which took place in Moscow on September 20, 2025. Over 20 countries, including all BRICS member countries, took part, and the contest was won by Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc.

Perspectives

Organizers and Russian officials

Organizers and Russian presidential envoy Mikhail Shvydkoy maintain that Intervision 2026 will take place in Saudi Arabia. They assert that organizational details, such as the host city and date, are being actively discussed, and they dismiss reports of uncertainty.

Unnamed source in Riyadh

A TASS source in Riyadh expressed doubt about the contest's future, stating that key organizational matters remain in question and that there is no guarantee the event will occur. The source noted that Saudi authorities have not publicly announced the contest or provided details on dates or participants, and suggested that Russian organizers have not yet "clearly passed the baton."