The Seaoran nationstate of Queensland has been announced as the host country of the 2025 Global Music Festival, as delegations arrive for this year’s competition in the Syonian city of Angougane, in the Free States Union. The show’s Executive Commissioner Liza Ford said Queensland had put together a ‘compelling vision’ of what the event would look like next year, winning out over at least three other countries, who are expected to take forward their bids into 2026 and beyond.
Over the past few years the World Media Commission, which delivers the show on behalf of the World Broadcasters’ Association (WBA), has taken a more opaque approach to appointing hosts. Just several years ago bidders fought each other in public, and were put to votes in front of WBA delegations meetings. Now, the process is almost entirely conducted behind closed-doors, with the final decision thought to rest largely with Ford herself. In the case of Queensland, the country has proposed two cities, Bishop, its largest, and Alecburgh, on one of its Western Islands, both now in contention to play host to the increasingly popular music festival. The city chosen will be announced at the final of this year’s show in Angougane, on Saturday 28th.
Bishop is ultimately expected to be announced by Ford as having been victorious, and will bring the show back to Seora for the first time since Montellimar hosted in Tours several years ago in 2022, and Potzena’s hosting in Lamiga ten years prior in 2012. Other countries thought to have been in close contention for 2025 include Yujin, which itself hosted in 2014, as well as South Savannah and Midrasia. Polasciana, who saw its bid with the northern city of Ukhyny rejected last year in favour of the Freestates Union, is expected to compete for the 2026 competition.
Heading into this year’s show, delegations are expecting a highly organised affair, with Angougane following in the footsteps of Brandon in the United Republic last year as a city well capable of holding international events. Around 40 countries will compete as Global Festival starts this week, ultimately with just one entry becoming a likely worldwide hit and anthem. Having won on home soil last year, the pressure is on the United Republic to retain its title, but fans are thought to highly favour the entries from Ostry and Gunnland, with the latter bringing one of their biggest stars – Poppy – who has made a name for herself in Northern Gallia, including in neighbouring Saria, where she sits at the top of the charts with her song for the show – ‘New Way Out’. Polasciana will be represented by JONY with the song ‘Do You Believe Me’.
GlobeFest™ 2024 begins Friday.
