Sao Mai 2026 announces final round judges and contestants

The final round of the singing competition ‘Sao Mai 2026’ has announced its judging panel. The core jury will consist of three permanent members: People's Artist Tấn Minh, Associate Professor Dr. Tân Nhàn, and music producer Nguyễn Hải Phong. They will be joined by various guest judges who will change weekly to provide diverse professional perspectives.

Following a nationwide selection process, 16 contestants have advanced to the final round. The competition is structured into 10 programs, including direct elimination rounds, a Gala, and a final award ceremony. The series is scheduled to broadcast on VTV3, with the first episode airing at 21:00 on September 27.

Judge Tân Nhàn emphasized that the competition aims to preserve national cultural identity by valuing folk music while encouraging contestants to become versatile artists. She noted that modern performers must balance traditional roots with the ability to perform chamber, folk, and light music to adapt to the current musical landscape.