India no longer hosting Miss Grand International 2026 finals in October

With just weeks to go before the delegates of the 2026 Miss Grand International pageant are expected to arrive in India, the organizers announced that the competition is moving back to Thailand.

The Bangkok-based international pageant organization announced on social media that the 2026 competition will still run from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10, but India’s supposed hosting will no longer push through.

“This decision has been made following the host country’s failure to fulfill the contractual commitments and standards agreed upon with Miss Grand International,” the organization said in a statement.

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“Under the terms of the agreement, the host country is required to provide five-star hospitality and maintain five-star production standards throughout the competition. These requirements are essential to ensuring the safety, comfort, and overall experience of our contestants, as well as maintaining the professional standards and integrity of Miss Grand International,” continued the statement.

The delegates are expected to arrive in India on Sept. 18, with the “Grand Final” set to take place at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi on Oct. 10. The full calendar of activities in India, including the national costume competition and the preliminary competition, have already been released.

“[D]espite discussions and efforts to address the situation, the agreed contractual standards have not been met. As a result, Miss Grand International has determined that continuing the competition under the current circumstances would not be in the best interests of the contestants, staff, partners, or the organization,” the organizers said.

“After careful consideration, Miss Grand International has therefore made the decision to end all activities in India and proceed with the competition in Thailand,” the statement added.

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The updated 2026 Miss Grand International Organization schedule of events in Thailand will be released soon, the organizers said.

Reigning Filipino queen Emma Tiglao will relinquish her title to her successor at this year’s competition. Reina Filipinas Angelica Lopez, an international pageant veteran, hopes to inherit her crown to give the Philippines at “three-peat.” /edv