vˈaɪtbsk wʌz tʃˈoʊzən tə hˈoʊst ðə fˈɛstɪvəl ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə ðɪ ɐɡɹˈiːmənts wɪð pˈoʊlɪʃ sˈɪɾi ziːlˈoʊnə ɡˈoːɹə wˈɛɹ "sˈoʊviət sˈɔŋ fˈɛstɪvəl" wʌz hˈɛld sˈɪns nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈaɪv.
Vitebsk was chosen to host the festival according to the agreements with Polish city Zielona Góra where "Soviet Song Festival" () was held since 1965.