January 2026 - Page 3 of 13

Eurovision 2026: The Hosts Have Been Revealed!

January 29, 2026January 29, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s national broadcaster ORF has officially announced that Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Vienna, Austria, this May. The hosts of Eurovision 2026 were revealed earlier today (Thursday). Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski will lead the celebration of the contest’s 70th edition, to be held on May 12, 14, and 16 in Vienna, Austria. Both are seasoned television personalities with extensive experience in entertainment. The announcement was made live on Ö3’s morning show and was followed by an official press conference in Vienna. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); הצגת פוסט זה באינסטגרם ‏‎פוסט משותף על ידי ‏‎Eurovision Song Contest‎‏ (@‏‎eurovision‎‏)‎‏ ORF’s vision for Eurovision 2026 ÖRF’s Head of Programs Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz said: "Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski are two motivated, exciting and extraordinary personalities who will guide us through the spectacular shows of the Eurovision Song Contest. Our goal is to thrill an international audience from all over the world with a sensational TV experience. We developed a concept...

Sweden: Listen to Snippets from the First Heat of Melodifestivalen 2026

January 29, 2026January 29, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Swedish national broadcaster, SVT, has revealed snippets of the six songs competing in the first heat of Melodifestivalen 2026, Sweden’s Eurovision national selection, starting this Saturday This Saturday marks the beginning of the first heat of Sweden’s Eurovision national selection – Melodifestivalen 2026, in the city of Linköping. As part of the selection process, 30 songs will compete in five heats, one semi-final (“Second Chance”), and a final where Sweden’s representative for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); First Heat Contestants Greczula - "Half Of Me" Jacqline - "Woman" Noll2 - "Berusade Ord" Junior Lerin - "Copacabana Boy" Indra - "Beautiful Lie" A-Teens - "Iconic" Familiar Names From The First Heat: Greczula, full name Kristofer Niklas Greczula, is a well-known and respected singer in Sweden who placed third in Melodifestivalen 2025 with the song “Believe Me”. In 2017, he began working as a soloist, and in 2022, he released his first album, “Live and Let Live.” That...

Drama in Luxembourg: Eva Marija Accused of Copying Her Song

January 28, 2026 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Storm in Luxembourg: Eva Marija has been accused of plagiarism. Luxembourg’s national broadcaster now drops a bombshell with a surprising statement. Is it truly a case of copying? Last Saturday, Eva Marija was chosen to represent Luxembourg at the upcoming Eurovision 2026 with her song “Mother Nature”. Shortly after her victory, social media erupted with demands to disqualify the entry, claiming it plagiarized Birdy’s 2016 hit “Keeping Your Head Up”. Senior figures in Luxembourg could not remain indifferent. The national broadcaster RTL today confirmed that the matter is under official review in cooperation with several organizations. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “We Take the Matter Seriously” In a statement to the Luxembourgish newspaper Luxemburger Wort, the national broadcaster confirmed that the possibility of copyright infringement is indeed being examined. Jeff Spielmann, head of Luxembourg’s Eurovision communications, told the paper: “We, the Eurovision team, take discussions about possible copyright violations seriously and aim to address them transparently. To that end, we are holding talks with several organizations,...

Date Set for Eurovision Hosts Reveal After a Wave of Speculation

January 28, 2026 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After months of speculation, Austria sets a dramatic date for the official reveal of the Eurovision 2026 hosts, raising tension and excitement ahead of the announcement. It was recently announced that tomorrow, January 29th, the hosts of Eurovision 2026 will be officially revealed. The announcement will be broadcast live on Ö3’s morning show, followed by a formal press conference in Vienna. At this stage, the official names of the hosts have not been released, but Victoria Swarovski is mentioned as the leading candidate - alongside another host whose identity remains secret and is described as a surprise. Swarovski, 32, from Tyrol, has signed a contract with RTL and currently hosts the popular show "Let’s Dance". The identity of the male host, which has not yet been revealed, continues to spark speculation after names such as Paul Pizzera, Philipp Hochmair, and Michael Niavarani have circulated in Austrian media since last summer. However, the man who will co-host alongside Victoria is described as an award-winning actor, author, and presenter...

Slovenia: Artists Bypass the Boycott on Israel and Head to Eurovision

January 28, 2026 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A surprising move: Slovenian artists circumvent the boycott on Israel and shake up Eurovision 2026, competing under other European flags. Recently, it was revealed that several Slovenian artists chose to ignore the boycott imposed by the Slovenian national broadcaster on Eurovision 2026. They plan to participate in the contest - but under the flags of other European countries. The move has triggered public uproar in Slovenia and sends a clear message: despite political attempts to silence them, music is stronger than political boycotts. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Slovenian Boycott and Withdrawal from Eurovision Slovenia announced its withdrawal from the competition scheduled to take place in Vienna as part of the boycott against Israel’s participation. The Slovenian national broadcaster RTVSLO claimed the decision followed public pressure, but several Slovenian artists opposed the move imposed upon them and found creative ways to reach the European stage. Eva Marija Represents Slovenia Through Luxembourg The first sign of the boycott’s collapse came last weekend from...

Ireland: Niamh Kavanagh Responds to Her Country’s Withdrawal Due to Israel’s Participation

January 27, 2026 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026 controversy continues across Europe: Niamh Kavanagh, Ireland’s 1993 winner, responds to her country’s decision to boycott the contest due to Israel’s participation. Niamh Kavanagh, Ireland’s 1993 Eurovision winner with the song "In Your Eyes" and the country’s 2010 representative with "It’s For You", which placed 23rd, has openly addressed her country’s decision to boycott Eurovision 2026 amid the ongoing controversy following the EBU’s confirmation of Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, set to take place in Vienna, Austria on May 12th, 14th and 16th, 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “I Respect RTÉ’s Decision” In an interview with the Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, Kavanagh shared her thoughts about Ireland’s withdrawal. The singer expressed respect for RTÉ’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming competition in Vienna due to Israel’s participation. She also reflected on the growing challenges faced by artists and delegations who must often address political questions unrelated to music or their performance at Eurovision. She said: “I respect RTÉ’s decision to withdraw before an...

Australia: “The Artist Will Be Revealed Soon – And You’ll Be Very Happy”

January 27, 2026January 27, 2026 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A dramatic report from Australia: Head of the national broadcaster SBS reveals in an interview that the country’s Eurovision 2026 representative in Vienna will be announced very soon – and promises Australians, “you’ll all be very happy with the choice”. Excitement is building in Australia, where many feel the country is preparing to pull out a particularly strong card for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. In an interview with the head of the Australian national broadcaster SBS, Natalie Edgar, new and exciting details were revealed about the Australian entrant for Vienna. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “You’ll All Be Happy” Natalie Edgar, head of the Australian national broadcaster SBS, revealed in an interview with the Australian site TV Tonight that the country’s 2026 Eurovision representative will be announced sooner than expected. She began the interview by referring to Eurovision 2026 and did not hide her excitement: “Australia has been broadcasting Eurovision for more than 40 years and began participating in 2015, when the contest took place in...

Norway: Songs for “Melodi Grand Prix 2026” Have Been Revealed!

January 26, 2026 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Norway’s national broadcaster NRK has revealed eight of the nine entries for Melodi Grand Prix 2026. The final song will be chosen via online voting and revealed tomorrow morning. Norway’s national broadcaster NRK, which oversees the national selection Melodi Grand Prix 2026, has just revealed eight of the nine songs set to compete in Norway’s Eurovision selection, scheduled to take place on February 28th. Voting for the final wildcard spot opened this morning and will close tomorrow at 10:00 CET. The final duel features Raylee with the song “Where Did Your Friend Go?” versus Skrellex with the song “Into the Wild”. The song that receives the most online votes will secure the ninth and final place in Melodi Grand Prix 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How Will the Final Competitor Be Chosen? Everyone — not just Norwegian citizens — can vote for their favorite artists and songs. This year, NRK is introducing an exciting new concept. The eight...

Italy: RAI Board Members Demand Palestinian Presence at Eurovision 2026

January 26, 2026 by Maor Heumann Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Italian broadcasting officials have sparked controversy by demanding Palestinian representation at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, intensifying the ongoing global debate regarding the competition’s inclusivity and political landscape Three of the seven board members of the Italian national broadcaster RAI have officially approached Eurovision 2026 organizers in Vienna, demanding the inclusion of a Palestinian presence within the competition. According to the letter, the proposal suggests inviting a Palestinian artist for a special non-competitive performance, a move that deepens the existing tensions surrounding the event’s participation list. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This appeal, recently reported by Italian media, surfaces amid growing domestic opposition to the current competitive lineup, placing the song contest at the center of a renewed political-cultural storm. Official Appeal for Palestinian Visibility in Vienna In their correspondence to the contest’s organizers, the three board members stated: “Palestine must be given a place on the stage in Vienna if we are not to undermine the...

Alenka Gotar: “Slovenia Is Depriving Artists of Opportunities”

January 25, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2007 representative ,Alenka Gotar, accuses Slovenia’s elite of exploiting artists after Luxembourg chooses a Slovenian for Eurovision As preparations continue for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Slovenia finds itself at the center of controversy. Alenka Gotar, a well-known name among Eurovision fans who represented Slovenia in 2007, has broken her silence. In a strong social media post, Gotar criticized Slovenia’s national broadcaster’s decision to withdraw from this year’s contest due to Israel’s participation. Her comments came after the success of Eva Marija — a singer of Slovenian descent who was chosen to represent Luxembourg instead at the upcoming competition. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Artists Were Deprived of Their Potential” Posting on Facebook after Eva Marija’s victory at Luxembourg’s national selection, Gotar regretted that Slovenian artists must look abroad for opportunities. “It’s a shame Slovenians have to seek their chance elsewhere,” she wrote. “Our country, due to the political interests of certain elites, has deprived artists of any chance to show their potential.” Hypocrisy Allegations Over Israel Boycott Gotar...