Forty-five European songwriters gathered at a unique songwriting camp in Luxembourg, aiming to create the country’s next Eurovision 2026 entry. Will one of these new songs represent Luxembourg in Austria?
While Eurovision 2025 has barely cooled down, Luxembourg is already polishing potential entries for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria. Forty-five creators and artists from across Europe are participating in an intensive songwriting camp currently taking place at Rockhal in Luxembourg, where songs are being born that could find their way to Europe’s grandest stage.
Luxembourg, which recently confirmed its participation in the 2026 Eurovision edition, is solidifying its status as a serious player on the Eurovision scene. The country returned to the contest after an absence of more than 30 years with the song “Fighter” by Tali Golergant in 2024, and participated again in 2025 with “La poupée monte le son” by Laura Thorn. The current camp highlights Luxembourg’s investment in early preparation, international collaborations, and a continuous search for the next big hit that could sweep across Europe—this time, perhaps, with an even better result.
A Songwriting Camp With a Clear Purpose: A Song for the Eurovision Stage
The songwriting camp began last Friday and will continue until the coming Tuesday (June 13–17). The camp, initiated by Rocklab, is the second of its kind following last year’s success. Out of 86 applicants, 45 creators from 15 different countries were selected, including some well-known names in the European pop industry. Each group consists of 3–4 participants working simultaneously in seven different studios, with a clear goal: to write, record, and produce a song in just one day.
Among the local participants are Adriano Selva, EDSUN, Josh Island, and Irem Sosay—Luxembourgish artists with a strong presence on the local scene. Alongside the local creators, 19 international professionals have joined, including Linda Dale, who wrote the winning song at Eurovision 2024, “The Code” by Nemo, and Thomas Stengaard, who co-wrote Denmark’s winning entry in 2013, “Only Teardrops,” and the UK’s Eurovision 2025 song, “What The Hell Just Happened?“.
From Rocklab to the Contest Stage: The Road to the Next Phase
The songs created at the camp are not yet available to the public, but project organizers emphasized that at least some are expected to be featured in the national selection, “Luxembourg Song Contest 2026,” with hopes that one of them will represent the country in Austria. Some participants registered for multiple days at the camp and managed to create more than one song, giving them the advantage of diversity and greater control over the final product.
In other words, preparations for Eurovision 2026 have already begun, and the songwriting camp serves not only as a creative hub but also as a strategic tool for building a more competitive delegation for next year.
Accumulating Experience: Luxembourg Finds Its Footing Again
Luxembourg’s return to Eurovision marked a new chapter—or a return to an old one, depending on whom you ask. The country, which has won five times in the past but was absent from the contest for three decades, returned to the big stage in 2024 with “Fighter” and managed to qualify for the final. The momentum continued in 2025 with “La poupée monte le son,” which again secured a place in the final—a double achievement that signals a serious and focused comeback. Now, ahead of Eurovision 2026, expectations are only rising.
While the larger countries invest tens of thousands of euros in their contest entries, Luxembourg is betting on a community-driven and conscious approach—where the representative will be chosen from songs written in a collaborative environment, with both local and international input.
Musical Strengthening on the European Scene
One of the keys to the success of such a songwriting camp is the integration of past Eurovision songwriters with young talents. The presence of Linda Dale and Thomas Stengaard is not just an addition of experience—it signals Luxembourg’s credibility and seriousness in its next Eurovision effort. The very format, where each song is written and produced in just one working day, presents a professional challenge that requires participants to be flexible, decisive, and intensely creative.
Summary: Early Investment That Could Pay Off?
Although the final outcome will only be revealed in a few months, it is clear that Luxembourg is drawing a bold line: returning to the contest—and staying in it, with the intention to win. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that just two years ago the country wasn’t participating in Eurovision at all. Now, it’s not just taking part—it is investing in advance, producing, and aiming as high as possible.
Luxembourg in Eurovision 2025
“La poupée monte le son” (in English: “The Doll Turns Up the Sound”) is the title of the song performed by Laura Thorn, who represented Luxembourg at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Luxembourg qualified for the final from seventh place in the semi-final with 62 points and finished 22nd in the final with 47 points – 23 from the jury and 24 from the public.
Eurovision 2025: This was Luxembourg’s 39th participation in Eurovision. Luxembourg joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. Luxembourg’s last victory was at Eurovision 1983 with the song “Si la vie est cadeau” performed by singer Corinne Hermès. In 2024, Luxembourg returned to the competition after a 31-year absence.
