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8h ago

Russia Launches Revived Intervision Final in Moscow With 23 Nations

The Kremlin promotes the jury-run show as a values-driven alternative to Eurovision, drawing denunciations from Kyiv as propaganda.

The Intervision Song Contest countdown clock outside the Kremlin in Moscow on Sept. 17, 2025.

Overview

  • The live final begins Saturday evening at Moscow's Live Arena with a 30 million rouble top prize, airing on Channel One and VKontakte.
  • Acts from China, India and Brazil are joined by a U.S. entry from Australian-born artist Vassy after Brandon Howard withdrew citing family reasons.
  • Results will be determined by a panel of country representatives rather than public voting, with officials touting potential reach into populations exceeding 4 billion despite no full broadcast list.
  • Russia is represented by Shaman (Yaroslav Dronov) performing Straight to the Heart, and hosts include Alexey Vorobyov, Aida Garifullina, Stefy Patel and Meng Lei.
  • Organisers present the contest as celebrating traditional family values, while Ukraine calls it an instrument of hostile propaganda following Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision in 2022.