Miss Universe 2026 to feature 120 contestants, but Vietnam’s spot remains uncertain

On Tuesday, the official Miss Universe organization website announced that up to 120 contestants are expected to compete in the pageant's 75th anniversary edition.

Vietnam’s slot at Miss Universe 2026 remains uncertain

Contestants are expected to begin arriving in Puerto Rico on November 8 for training sessions, group activities and cultural and tourism experiences ahead of the competition.

Three major events will take place at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico: the national costume competition on November 21, the semifinals on November 22 and the grand finale on November 24, when the new Miss Universe will be crowned.

The expected number of contestants highlights Miss Universe’s international reach and the participation of national franchise holders in marking the pageant’s 75th anniversary, a milestone in its history.

María José Unda, the Miss Universe Organization’s vice president for international relations, said: “We are working closely with national franchise holders to finalize preparations for the contestants’ arrival in Puerto Rico."

“Our top priority is to ensure that every contestant has an exceptional experience worthy of the pageant’s 75th anniversary," she said.

The organization is coordinating with national franchise holders to complete travel documentation, visa procedures and arrangements for welcoming contestants.

Fans worldwide can vote for their favorite contestants. The contestant who receives the most votes will secure a place in the top 30 at the Miss Universe finale.

As of now, six contestants from Southeast Asian countries whose national franchises are held by Nawat are still absent from the official Miss Universe 2026 contestant roster and voting platform in Puerto Rico. They are representatives from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Laos and Malaysia.

Miss Universe CEO Ronald Day previously emphasized that the decision not to recognize the six countries’ representatives remained in effect.

The exclusion stems from a dispute between JKN Universe LLC, the owner of the Miss Universe brand, and Nawat, head of Miss Universe Eastern (MU East).

The Miss Universe Organization maintains that Nawat has no legal standing or authority to license the use of the Miss Universe brand in the six Southeast Asian markets. 

As a result, it does not recognize franchise agreements signed through the businessman.

Nawat’s side quickly rejected that position, citing a 50-50 co-ownership structure for the Miss Universe brand to argue that it retains management rights across 95 territories in the eastern region.

The organization said it would pursue all available legal measures to protect the six contestants’ right to compete, maintaining that the representatives from Vietnam and neighboring countries remain eligible to travel to Puerto Rico for the pageant.