Overview

• The 11,000‑capacity Live Arena near Moscow hosts delegations from 23 countries for the final, with all tickets sold out, according to RIA Novosti.
• The show is being broadcast live on Russia’s First Channel and VK Video, with partner broadcasters carrying it in other countries.
• Russia’s entrant Shaman performs the Maxim Fadeev–written song “Pryamo po serdtsu,” and the international jury includes national representatives such as former Deep Purple and Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner for the United States.
• Government documents established the event’s official status, appointed senior overseers Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sergey Kiriyenko, ordered visa facilitation without fees, and allocated 750 million rubles for organization.
• Pre‑show briefings featured South Africa’s Mzansi Jikelele naming Vietnam’s Dik Fuk as the strongest rival, expressing interest in a collaboration with Shaman, a Kenyan juror forecasting strong online viewing, and a Brazilian juror saying it would be welcome to host a future edition in Brazil.