The Intervision Music Contest is set to be held in Saudi Arabia this year.
As reported by the Operative Information Center-OMM, this announcement was made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in an interview with TASS.
According to Pankin, the next edition of the international music competition will not take place in Moscow or elsewhere in Russia, but will instead be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
“The competition is planned, but it will not be held in Moscow or in Russia,” Pankin stated.
The Deputy Minister noted that the exact dates for the event have not yet been finalized. He emphasized that partners in Saudi Arabia are continuing preparations and that organizational matters are currently under discussion. Pankin also expressed hope that Russia would participate in the upcoming contest.
It should be noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on February 3, 2025, establishing the Intervision International Music Contest. The inaugural edition of the revived competition took place on September 20 of that year in Moscow. Russia was represented in the contest by Honored Artist Yaroslav Dronov (Shaman), while composer Igor Matvienko served on the professional jury. The Intervision contest is widely viewed as a cultural initiative aimed at fostering international cooperation among BRICS nations and other partner countries, serving as an alternative platform for musical exchange.
