Tieng hat Ha Noi announced its new season on October 15, with organisers setting the highest prize at VND700 million. Tuoi Tre reported that applications and performance videos are accepted from October 12 through November 12, allowing initial selection without travelling to Hanoi.
Remote entry and additional contestant support
Organisers said the new edition retains the competition's foundations while revising its format, rules and round structure. Video submissions provide a different route into the first selection stage.
Contestants progressing through the rounds will also receive support for developing their social-media content. The stated aim is to strengthen audience experience and interaction alongside vocal performance.
Organising committee head Nguyen Thanh Liem described an ambition to discover and nurture successive generations of artists and develop a nationally respected music platform. That is a development objective rather than a result already achieved by the new season.
December competition schedule
The semi-finals are scheduled for December 1–3, with three recording nights expected to become six broadcast episodes from December 4–10. Genre finals follow for classical singing on December 16, folk music on December 18 and expanded contemporary music on December 20.
The overall final and awards ceremony are planned for December 28. The announced top prize has not yet been awarded to a 2026 winner.
Founded in 1994, the competition helped introduce singers including Anh Tho, Ho Quynh Huong, Khanh Linh and Hoang Quyen. Addressing its timing alongside Sao Mai, organisers said the two events have different styles and criteria rather than a direct competitive objective.