Thanh Hóa province and Vietnam Television (VTV) will stage the Sao Mai 2026 gala on the evening of 15 November 2026 at Sầm Sơn beach square, and entry will be free and open to residents and visitors, Thanh Niên reported. It is the first time the gala has been held in Thanh Hóa. The show brings together well-known singers who made their names through the Sao Mai singing programme.
The beach square holds 10,000 people, and the province’s tourism sector hopes to draw about that many.
Key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Evening of Sunday 15 November 2026 |
| Venue | Sầm Sơn beach square, Thanh Hóa province |
| Capacity | 10,000 people |
| Organisers | Thanh Hóa People’s Committee and VTV |
| Entry | Free, open to the public |
| Funding | Non-state (socialised) contributions |
Lê Văn Trung, director of the Thanh Hóa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the event is funded from non-state sources. The provincial People’s Committee has told his department to work closely with VTV so the show is of the best possible quality for residents and tourists.
Thirty years of Sao Mai
According to Nguyễn Đức Hòa, deputy head of VTV’s arts department, many musical talents have matured over the 30 years of Sao Mai, and a number of them come from Thanh Hóa and have become popular names. He also hopes the 2026 edition of the contest will find new talent for the country, as earlier editions did.
The organisers want the gala to be a stage for every generation of Sao Mai artists, a place to present and honour singers, and a meeting point for former contestants and established performers. They also hope it spreads the value of Vietnamese music and meets local demand for cultural events.
More than a concert
Alongside the gala, Thanh Hóa plans a series of events at the same square showcasing the province’s image, culture, food, signature farm produce, OCOP products, tourism and people, giving visitors to Sầm Sơn a wider look at the province beyond the music.
What comes next
The gala takes place on the evening of 15 November 2026. Thanh Niên’s report did not give a start time or name the singers in the line-up.