Denmark at Eurovision 2026: Søren Torpegaard Lund, a top contender for the victory, discusses his lifelong Eurovision passion, singing in Danish and preparing for Vienna
Søren Torpegaard Lund, Denmark’s representative for Eurovision 2026, hopes to finally return the country to the left side of the scoreboard. After defeating strong and prominent contenders in the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, including the 2025 representative Sissal, he has climbed to the top of the betting odds for the Eurovision victory – an unusual position for Denmark, which has struggled to qualify for the final in recent years. We conducted an interview with him to ask how he handles the expectations, why he chose to sing in Danish, and, of course, his opinion on other international entries, such as the Israeli song.
Watch the full interview:
“I don’t think we’ve had a song in Danish in the final for 27 years,” says Torpegaard Lund, “and we haven’t won with a Danish song since 1963.” He assumed that many consider singing in Danish to be a “foolish act”, but he insisted on doing so. “I felt it wouldn’t be authentic to the song and to myself not to sing it in Danish. We tried to test the English translation to see if something better would come of it, but it was hard for me to sing it translated just because statistically it has a better chance of succeeding that way. I felt it wasn’t authentic”.
He explains that the track was born in Danish. “It was the only song in Danish in the national selection, so I felt that Denmark chose a song in Danish, and I wanted to respect Denmark and the Eurovision Song Contest”. Throughout the interview, it is evident that he is a devoted Eurovision fan with immense respect for the competition, which he mentions in this context as well. “I want to respect the fact that Eurovision is about all our different cultures and languages. I love that so many countries are returning to their original languages. It’s just so beautiful to hear all the different languages”.
Breaking the Danish Eurovision Curse?
At the time of writing, Denmark holds second place in the betting odds, but the artist who might bring the Eurovision back to Denmark for the first time since 2014 prefers to focus on his art. “I don’t think I’ve digested that I’m going to Vienna. I feel like there are two people inside me. There’s this professional pop star in me saying, ‘Yes, we’re going there’. I love that we are high in the odds, and I love all the support. And I’m very surprised by it too, because we are Denmark and people usually ask ‘What are you doing?!’, especially in recent years. But I love that we have good momentum. I love it. I could think about it a lot, but it would stress me out, so I just block it out. I just want to focus on doing what I know, I want to focus on the performance, on enjoying it”.
In Eurovision 2025, Denmark qualified for the final after four years of failures. “I don’t want to be disappointed. Obviously, I will be disappointed if I don’t make it to the final, but I just want to experience the journey as a Eurovision fan. I can’t wait to meet everyone. I can’t wait to just be on that stage. This is the biggest stage I will ever be on. I can’t wait to do it”.
The Song: “Surrendering to Whatever is Toxic but Sweet”
Torpegaard Lund is highly focused on his creation, and he beautifully explains the depth of the track, its meaning, and the performance that complements the message he aims to convey. “The song at its core is about surrendering to whatever is toxic but sweet for you. We all have that side in us, because we are human, we are foolish. We keep making the same mistakes over and over again, because it feels good to let go and surrender. It’s also a matter of surrendering to yourself.
“It’s also about getting to know a person who you know is harmful to you, but you keep giving of yourself. I also think that I as a person, like many people, am quite naive. I always throw myself into things, even though I know it might not go the way I want”.
The Performance: “There Will Be Surprises in Vienna”
“To capture this in the performance, I wanted there to be a kind of room, the box. I need to be separated from the box. I wanted there to be a sort of exclusivity, and the dancers there need to play a big role. I didn’t want them to just be dancers. I wanted there to be a relationship between us. So the whole journey and the song are about my temptation inward, without permission to enter, but slowly I enter the box and the feeling of self-release, and become part of this sweet but toxic place”.
He promises surprises for Vienna, but the core concept of the performance will be preserved. “We will keep the whole concept because I just love the concept. As a fan of Eurovision and the Danish selection, for years I have craved this production that just boom, explodes, and that people will feel, yes, this is a big production that we can take to Eurovision. So we want to keep that. But we want to look at every detail and see how we can upgrade everything. So you will have small surprises, but no major surprises”.
Favorite Eurovision Song: “She is Céline Dion, damn it”
His favorite Danish Eurovision song of all time is “Lige der hvor hjertet slår” by Anders Frandsen from Eurovision 1991, but when asked about his overall favorite Eurovision song, he gives a reasoned and unequivocal answer. “Céline Dion! Because of her outfit, because of the kitschiness. I love it. I love her. She’s Céline Dion, damn it!”
In conclusion, he thanks the viewers and readers for the love they give him. “Thank you so much for allowing me into the Eurovision family and for the support. I still can’t comprehend that people around the world are listening to my song and taking the time to write me messages and things like that. I love it. So thank you for that. And I want to wish a happy Eurovision season to all of us and to the Eurovision fans. It’s my favorite part of the year. So I just can’t wait for us all to start the Eurovision fantasy”.
Performance Details
Soren begins his performance with a close-up on his face, featuring wet-look hair and heavy black eye makeup. He wears a white shirt over a mesh top paired with black leather trousers. As he turns around, dancers are revealed behind him inside a glass box, and he climbs onto the box to sing from above. While he performs for the camera from the top of the structure, hands can be seen reaching up toward him from below, and he eventually enters the box from the top. The dancers welcome him and he performs with them inside the glass as bright lights flash in the background. Later, they exit the box, and Soren removes his white shirt to reveal only the mesh top underneath. The stage lighting flashes in red as he and the dancers perform a synchronized routine, and the song ends in a powerful standing pose with everyone positioned close to the box.
Song Details and Eurovision Strategy
The song was written by Søren Torpegaard Lund together with Clara Sofie Fabricius, Thomas Meilstrup and Valdemar Littauer Bendixen, and it is performed entirely in Danish. This marks Søren’s debut at the Eurovision Song Contest, after he took first place at the national final and earned the confidence of both the jury and the viewing public. The last time Denmark sent a song in Danish was in 2021, with “Øve os på hinanden” (English: “Practice on Each Other”) by duo Fyr og Flamme, who did not manage to qualify for the Grand Final. In addition, from 1999 to 2005, all Danish entries selected for Eurovision were translated into English before the contest.
Performance and Song Meaning
The song describes a total and dangerous surrender to a destructive relationship, one that unfolds within the fog and euphoria of nightlife. The narrator depicts an internal struggle between the logic that tells him to walk away and the body that craves touch, using imagery of fire and consumption, such as letting the night stand in flames or holding each other until they burn to death. The sense of losing control is heightened by descriptions of sharp and sweet flavors melting on the tongue, turning the attraction into an uncontrollable physical instinct. Much like the cycle of immediate gratification, the narrator is aware that the morning will bring regret, yet he consciously chooses to sink into the neon lights and smoke, pleading for the night to never end, even at the cost of having his heart crushed once again.
Søren Torpegaard Lund – Who are you?
Søren Torpegaard Lund is a Danish singer, songwriter, and stage actor who rose to public prominence through his leading roles in successful musicals and for hosting the Danish version of the musical reality show in which he participated. Throughout his career, Søren has stood out for his exceptional vocal abilities and his talent for delivering lyrics in an emotional and theatrical manner, making him one of the most respected artists in Denmark.
After years of conquering Denmark’s largest stages in various roles, he decided that this year he was ready to step into the spotlight as a solo artist with a song in his mother tongue, expressing his depth and sincerity as an artist. This year, he secured a major victory with the song “Før vi går hjem,” in a powerful evening where he managed to touch the hearts of both the judges and the public alike. With this win, Søren closed an emotional personal circle and secured his place as Denmark’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, held in Vienna.
“Dansk Melodi Grand Prix” Results:
The outcome of the competition was decided after three songs advanced to the second round of the final, with the result determined by a jury panel (50%) and public voting (50%). Søren took first place with both the juries and the televote. Second place went to Erika Jane, with “Death Of Me“, while Denmark’s Eurovision 2025 representative, Sissal, finished third with the song “Infinity“.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Denmark’s 54th participation in Eurovision. Denmark joined the competition in 1957 and has won it three times over the years. Denmark’s last victory was in Eurovision 2013 with the song “Only Teardrops” performed by singer Emmelie de Forest.
Denmark at Eurovision 2026
“Før vi går hjem” is the title of the song that will be performed by Søren Torpegaard Lund, who will represent Denmark at the Eurovision 2026, set to take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12, 14 and 16.
At the time of writing, Denmark is currently ranked 3rd in the betting odds ahead of Eurovision 2026.
