Intervision returns in 2025 amid politicsCEFR A2
9 Nov 2025
Adapted from Anastasia Pestova, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Sung Jin Cho, Unsplash
Song contests that began as cultural events are now often read as political signals. This trend affects many international festivals, such as Eurovision, the ABU TV Song Festival and Viña del Mar. The revival of Intervision in 2025 is the latest example.
Russia announced the revival in September 2025. An official, Alexander Alimov, told TASS that Intervision is not a counterweight to Eurovision and that the contest carries no political undertones. Observers have noted that the revived show resembles Eurovision in name, hosts, visual style and overall design. Russia has been excluded from Eurovision since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022.
Archive footage has reminded people of Intervision’s past in Sopot, Poland, and of its role in cultural exchange in the Eastern bloc.
Difficult words
- contest — a competition between people or groups.contests
- political — related to politics or government.politics
- music — sounds made by voices or instruments.
- audience — a group of people watching or listening.audiences
- announce — to make something known publicly.announced
- alternative — offering a different choice or option.
- culture — the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a group.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you feel about song contests being political?
- Can music help unite different cultures?
- What are the pros and cons of having multiple music contests?
