Miss Universe Organization says preparations for the competition's 75th edition in Puerto Rico in November 2026 are continuing. Its statement, released on the morning of September 9 Vietnam time, sought to clarify the event's status amid disputed claims about governance and finances.
According to the organisation, Nawat Itsaragrisil is a franchise rights holder and does not occupy an executive, operational or legal position within Miss Universe. It said he is not authorised to speak or make decisions on behalf of the international organisation.
Miss Universe Organization rejected his recent statements concerning finances and the host location, and asked him to produce legal documents supporting the authority he claimed. It also said it was reviewing his franchise status. These are statements from one party to the dispute, rather than a determination by a court.
For contestants and partners, the practical position is that the Puerto Rico plan remains unchanged according to the organisers. The organisation said it had no intention of postponing or cancelling the anniversary edition and urged stakeholders to rely on communications from authorised representatives. The governance dispute has therefore not translated into an announced change of venue or cancellation.