Swedish Eurovision winner Charlotte Perrelli reveals in an interview that she dreams of representing Spain at Eurovision 2026—and shares that songs are already being written for her.
Charlotte Perrelli, the Swedish winner of the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest held in Jerusalem, Israel, makes a surprising declaration in a recent interview: “My dream is to represent Spain at Eurovision.” Perrelli, who has been living in Marbella in southern Spain for the past few years, does not hide her excitement at the thought of a comeback to the grand stage—this time under a different flag.
“If I get the right song—it would be a dream come true,” Perrelli shared in the interview. According to her, several songwriters are already working on songs specifically for her, aiming to participate in the Spanish national selection for Eurovision – “Benidorm Fest”.
Perrelli, Spain, and Eurovision: A Dream of a Dazzling Comeback
The name Charlotte Perrelli is well-known to every Eurovision fan: she won the contest in 1999 with the song “Take Me To Your Heaven,” becoming one of the most iconic figures in the Swedish schlager style. She returned to the competition in 2008 with the song “Hero,” and has since participated again in the Swedish national selection, with her most recent appearance in 2021 with the song “Still Young,” where she finished eighth.
Her move to Spain about two years ago opened new doors for her—making the possibility of participating in Eurovision on behalf of Spain more realistic than ever. The fact that Spain is part of the “Big Five,” meaning its place in the Eurovision final is guaranteed, only adds to the intrigue.
She told the Swedish news site ‘Expressen’: “My real dream is for Sweden to win the year before, and I come home to the contest, but representing Spain. I would die from that, what a dream!” she shared excitedly.
New Songs on the Way—Will the Dream Come True?
According to Perrelli, songs are currently being written for her, and it appears she is planning to take part in the upcoming Spanish national selection. If she is indeed chosen, it could be one of the biggest surprises of Eurovision 2026. According to her, people close to the production of “Benidorm Fest”—the Spanish national selection—have expressed interest in her participation.
“The Spanish love innovations, and Perrelli brings experience, charisma, and an impressive history,” a source close to the Spanish national selection production told me. “If it happens—it will be a real celebration for all fans of the contest.”
Spain in Eurovision 2025
“Esa Diva” (in English: “That Diva”) is the title of the song performed by singer Melody, who represented Spain at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.
Spain finished 24th with 37 points – 27 points from the juries (21st place) and only 10 (22nd place) from the televotes. In the last 20 years, Spain managed to finish only 3 times in the top 10 – in 2012, 2014 and 2022.
Eurovision 2025: This was Spain’s 65th participation in Eurovision. Spain joined the competition in 1961 and won it twice consecutively in 1968 and 1969. Spain has hosted the contest on its territory only once in 1969 and since then holds the longest waiting time since its last victory – 56 years.
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Avi Zaikaner is an editor-in-chief, content creator, commentator, and international expert on all things related to the Eurovision Song Contest. Avi has followed the contest for nearly 30 years, and for the past seven years has served as the founder and editor-in-chief of EuroMix, one of the top Eurovision websites in the world, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Since 2021, Avi has provided on-the-ground coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest from the press center in the host city, bringing readers exclusive firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and direct reactions from audiences, artists, and experts. His extensive experience and deep familiarity with the Eurovision world are reflected in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date information.
Avi is recognized as a leading Eurovision opinion maker in Israel, frequently interviewed by major media outlets, collaborating with international experts, and publishing professional content on additional platforms. Every article is written with a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and understanding the audience, with a strong emphasis on fact-checking and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
