Members of the EuroMix editorial team convened to vote for the competing songs in “Selecția Națională 2026″. Who should represent Romania at Eurovision according to the editorial team?
Romania’s “Selecția Națională 2026” will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, at 19:00 CET. The winner of the national final will represent the country at Eurovision 2026 which will be held in Vienna, Austria. For the first time, the winner will be chosen through a 100% jury votes. In anticipation of this event, Euromix editorial team members gathered to listen to the participating songs and select their favorites from Romania’s “Selecția Națională 2026”.
Editorial Picks: Who Should Represent Romania?
Avi Zaikaner: First Place – Emy Alupei – “Tili Bom”
Emy Alupei brings a pleasant yet somewhat childish pop song, reminiscent of last year’s EMMY entry, “Laika Party” It’s a fun track but incorporates too few distinct Romanian elements. Unfortunately, Romania returns to Eurovision after a two-year break but still fails to present songs strong enough for the contest’s grand final.
Ofek Jerassi: First Place – Yguana – “Happy Birthday”
An excellent song by the singer with the amusing name Yguana. It combines unconventional vocal techniques and may seem odd or funny at first, but it’s actually a very deep and incredibly catchy track. This is exactly what has been missing this season, and I would be truly delighted if it wins and represents Romania at Eurovision 2026! Good luck to our returning nation!
Roie Ben Hoor: First Place – Alejandro Zandes & Emil Range – “Bailando Solo”
After the great anticipation to see what card Romania would pull from its sleeve for its exciting return to Eurovision, reality hit us hard. “Selecția Națională 2026” displays a very low standard, and I simply couldn’t find almost anything that I truly liked. Naturally, all eyes were initially on the familiar WRS, but unfortunately, he failed to bring anything fresh or interesting to the table, leaving me rather disappointed. Amid all this weary mediocrity, the ones who still managed to take my top spot are Alejandro Zandes and Emil Range. Even if it’s not the best song in the competition or a musical masterpiece, there’s something about it that simply works: their performance immediately caught my attention. Their on-screen presence kept me engaged throughout most of the song, and in such a weak and uninspired selection, that might be exactly what’s needed to stand out and save the show.
Adiel Shtainmetz: First Place – Alexandra Capitanescu – “Choke Me”
Romania, how great it is to have you back in the competition! It’s just a shame that “Selecția Națională 2026” is rather weak. Despite the relatively low level this year, there is one very strong song that could bring Romania one of its best results ever in the contest! I’m, of course, talking about the song “Choke Me”. Although I’m not usually a rock fan, this song is incredibly well-produced, powerful, and sure to stand out at Eurovision. Alexandra’s vocal performance is nothing short of outstanding — she’s an absolutely phenomenal vocalist. Romania, you have to choose her, if you don’t, you’ll likely remain in the semifinal and miss out on a clear top 10 spot — maybe even higher.
Talor Fishler: First Place – WRS – “All The Way”
What a dull national final! In a pool of low charisma and generic songs, there wasn’t a single track that excited me on the first listen. Still, if I have to choose, one song managed to stand slightly above the rest. “All The Way” offers a pleasant attempt to blend ethnic music with modern rhythms, but WRS must bring the same energy he shows in his dancing into his vocal performance. With creative staging and perhaps a few dancers, this song could have the potential to reach the Eurovision final.
Talya Raviv: First Place – Alexandra Capitanescu – “Choke Me”
“Selecția Națională 2026” feels very average to me. None of the songs were unlistenable, but at the same time, none of them blew me away. The one I connected with most was by Alexandra Capitanescu. I liked the soft rock vibe and the fact that the song developed a bit more than the others. Compared to Romania’s entries in previous years, I think it has a decent chance of winning the “Selecția Națională”, though I firmly believe the country will still remain outside the glittering Eurovision final this year.
Maayan Eli: First Place – HVNDS – “Dor”
Definitely my winner of “Selecția Națională 2026”. “Dor” is a fun rock song with a bit of headbanging and a cool melody. The added melodic line transforms it from a generic rock tune into something unique and enjoyable to sing along with. It’s a refreshing and exciting entry from Romania, different from what they usually send. In addition, after watching all the performances live, I think the lead singer of HVNDS is one of the most impressive vocalists, especially when he goes higher in the chorus — his voice roughens in a way that gives it a fascinating tone and sounds fantastic. A great song I’d love to see chosen, because a cool headbanger like this is exactly what this Eurovision season needs to be more fun.
Noy Yehoyada: First Place – Yguana – “Happy Birthday”
My big winner in “Selecția Națională 2026” is Yguana with the song “Happy Birthday”. On the first listen, it sounds like an innocent, cheerful pop track full of uplifting energy that simply makes you feel good. But the real magic unfolds when you pay attention to the lyrics: beneath the upbeat melody that distracts you lies a dark, painful, and grotesque story of betrayal and revenge. Yguana sings about coming to surprise her boyfriend with a cake, only to hear him cheating on her from behind the door. Her reaction? Instead of bursting in and making a scene, she simply burns his house to the ground with him inside, flees as the police sirens wail, and sits down to eat the cake alone — smiling. This insane and absurd contrast between the bouncy tune and the psychotic storyline is exactly my favorite kind of artistry, and it works perfectly. Add to that a wonderful singer delivering the song with mesmerizing energy, and you have my clear and undeniable first place.
Tal Dahan: First Place – Yguana – “Happy Birthday”
“Selecția Națională 2026” was a pleasant surprise, giving us exactly what Moldova was supposed to offer this year. It includes quite a few high-quality songs, but ever since Noy’s “brainwashing campaign” began, I’ve really connected to the song “Happy Birthday” by Yguana — even her name is iconic. It’s a song that, on one hand, continues the legacy of the band Eden, yet on the other hand, it’s not a typical birthday song at all. The lyrics are deep, the melody infectious, and I have no doubt that Europe will love it precisely because it’s so unconventional. Good luck to Romania — and please, make the right choice!
Maor Heumann: First Place – HVNDS – “Dor”
“Dor” in Romanian is a blend of longing, yearning, and pain for something missing. This powerful and excellent song by HVNDS speaks about taking the empty space someone left in your heart, giving it a name, and using it to see the road ahead more clearly. It’s smart, it’s full of strength, and I can’t wait to see it win the surprisingly strong “Selecția Națională” and move me deeply on stage in Vienna.
Oscar Diefenthal: First Place – WRS – “All The Way”
The Romanian star is back — and in a big way!
After his spectacular performance in 2022, WRS tries his luck again in the “Selecția Națională”, bringing a song that’s no less good than “Llàmame” — an upbeat, fun track that’s simply impossible not to dance to when it plays.
Full Results
| Artist | Avi | Ofek | Roie | Adiel | Talor | Talya | Maayan | Noy | Tal | Maor | Oscar | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra Capitanescu | 3 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 76 | ||
| Yguana | 1 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 71 | ||
| WRS | 6 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 69 | ||
| Emy Alupei | 12 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 64 | |
| Monica Odgiu | 10 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 63 | |
| HVNDS | 8 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 55 | |
| Antonio Pican | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 51 | ||
| Alejandro Zandes & Emil Range | 3 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 45 | ||
| Vanu | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 43 | ||
| Robert Lukian | 8 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 37 | ||
| Olivia Addams | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 37 | |
| Edward MAYA x LavBbe x COSTI | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 27 |
“Selecția Națională 2026”: Running Order
- Emy Alupei – “Tili Bom“
- Robert Lukian – “Fire to the lies“
- Vanu – “Therapy Enemy“
- Edward MAYA x LavBbe x COSTI – “Everybody Needs Somebody“
- Yguana – “Happy Birthday“
- HVNDS – “DOR“
- Antonio Pican – “Humans“
- WRS – “All the Way“
- Olivia Addams – “Croco“
- Monica Odgiu – “Fereastra Pentru Un Orb“
- Alexandra Capitaneacu – “Choke Me“
- Alejandro Zandes & Emil Range – “Bailando Solo“
Click on the song title to listen!
Eurovision 2026: This will be Romania’s 25th participation in Eurovision. Romania joined the contest in 1994 and achieved its best result both in Eurovision 2005 and Eurovision 2010 when Romania finished in third place.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
