Serbia at Eurovision 2026: Lavina announced they will perform “Kraj mene” on the Eurovision 2026 stage without dramatic changes, similar to “Pesma Za Evroviziju ’26”. What drives this choice?
In an interview with a Serbian website yesterday (Sunday), the band Lavina revealed that their song for Eurovision 2026, “Kraj mene” (in English: “By My Side”), will remain similar to their performance at “Pesma Za Evroviziju ’26”. The only changes to be made will be strictly minor, aimed at highlighting elements from their performance ahead of the first semi-final in Vienna, on May 12th next.
The decision to preserve the original performance from the local Eurovision pre-selection is intended to “keep the chemistry of the band” and convey the original emotions to the international audience. The band confirmed to the N1 website that they have also recorded an English version of the song, but they will not perform it in English in Vienna. When asked about this, the band members replied that they want people to read the song’s lyrics and thereby get to know and learn the Serbian language. The band’s lead singer, Luka Aranđelović, added that the Serbian audience was captivated by the song’s magic and said:
“All of us sometimes get angry and sensitive. I even saw a post on the internet saying how good it is to just scream like that on a national level. The people identified with that feeling – maybe they were holding something inside that they saw me bring out, and they wanted to do it themselves, or they simply found themselves in it”.
Metal in Serbia – The Pioneers?
Lavina are the first to send a metal song representing Serbia at Eurovision. Serbia is known for maintaining a fairly distinct ethnic line, with most of its songs tending to be emotional ballads featuring powerful vocals. A smaller portion involved songs touching on slightly more pop and rhythmic styles, but metal has not been part of Serbia’s Eurovision history until now. Luka even stated that metal has become more accessible over time and added:
“It comes from blending styles like pop, hip-hop, trap… everything is mixing. Modern metal is even accessible to the average listener. There’s no longer the barrier that existed before”.
Another band member, Andrija Cvetanović, further clarified the desire to keep the performance theatrical as it is and said:
“You can’t enjoy a musical just by hearing it without seeing it. There must also be a visual performance. I think then it would be clearer to people exactly what we tried to convey in the song, when we brought out the drama through Luka’s performance, the stage, the pyrotechnics, the set design, and the costumes – and then everything connected with the audience”.
“Kraj mene”: Meaning
The song “Kraj mene” (in English: “By My Side”) is an emotional pop-rock ballad dealing with the need for emotional closeness, loyalty, and the presence of a loved one during moments of hardship and vulnerability. The lyrics emphasize a sense of mutual dependence and a desire for stability within a relationship, as the speaker asks the significant person to remain “by his side” even during complex periods. Musically, the song builds gradually from a quiet and intimate opening that develops into an emotional climax in the chorus, which reinforces the message of emotional power through simplicity and honesty.
Lavina – Who Are You?
Lavina is a Serbian band active in the local alt-pop-rock scene, blending modern sound, clean production, and pronounced on-stage energy. The lineup is characterized by a contemporary yet melodic approach, with an emphasis on catchy choruses and dynamic arrangements that are reinforced in live performances. They gained broad exposure through their first-time participation in “Pesma za Evroviziju”, reinforcing their status as a symbol of a younger generation in Serbian music.
Serbia at Eurovision 2026
“Kraj mene” (in English: “By My Side”) is the title of the song Lavina will perform to represent Serbia at Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna, in the second half of the first semi-final on May 12th. The song was written by Sika and Aurimas Galvelis.
The song deals with feelings of intense love and the accompanying pain, with the lyrics describing feelings of longing, shared memories, and a deep connection that persists despite difficulties and distances.
Currently, Serbia is ranked 25th in the betting tables ahead of Eurovision 2026.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Serbia’s 18th participation in Eurovision. Serbia joined the contest in 2007 and achieved its best result in the same year when singer Marija Šerifović won first place with the song “Molitva”.
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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.
