Intervision Music Competition Postponed From 2026 Saudi Arabia to 2027

The Intervision music competition, initially scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2026, has been postponed to 2027, according to a source cited by Russian news agency TASS on October 24, 2026. The source stated that "due to a combination of circumstances, holding it in Saudi Arabia is not currently possible." Saudi Arabia has not yet made an official public announcement about the competition, including confirmed dates or participant details.

Intervision is a revived international music contest based on a Soviet-era competition that ran from 1946 to 1993 under the International Organization of Television and Radio Broadcasting (OIRT). The competition was relaunched in September 2025 in Moscow, featuring over 20 countries including all BRICS member states. Russia was represented by Yaroslav Dronov (stage name Shaman), an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation. The 2025 winner was Vietnamese artist Nguyễn Đức Phúc, who received 30 million rubles (approximately $360,000) in prize money.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope in May 2026 that escalating tensions in the Middle East would not affect plans to organize the competition in Saudi Arabia. However, as early as August 2026, sources in Riyadh indicated to TASS that organizing the 2026 competition was uncertain. Russian and international media outlets have suggested the postponement is linked to regional security concerns, including attacks on Saudi Arabia by Houthi forces backed by Iran. The competition was positioned by Russian authorities as an alternative to Eurovision, emphasizing what they characterized as "traditional values."