Akylas interrupts Finnish outlet Iltalehti interview after Israel question, raising Eurovision 2026 Code of Conduct concerns.
Akylas, Greece’s representative for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna and currently ranked fifth in the betting odds to win the contest, has found himself at the center of controversy after abruptly halting an interview with one of Finland’s largest newspapers – following a question about Israel that could potentially breach the European Broadcasting Union’s Code of Conduct.
The Finnish “Trap”
Akylas, representing Greece, was interviewed by the Finnish newspaper “Iltalehti”, one of the country’s most prominent outlets, by journalist Mari Pudas. The interview began on a warm note, with Finnish media praising the Greek artist and his song. Finland is also showing strong interest in Eurovision this year, as both Finland and Greece are considered leading contenders for victory.
The tone shifted when Pudas raised a question regarding Israel’s participation. According to the Finnish account, a representative from Akylas’ team – it remains unclear whether from the Greek national broadcaster ERT or his record label – interrupted the interview and requested a different question. Pudas notes that the Greek singer himself appeared willing to respond before his representative stepped in and cut the exchange short.
Finland vs. Greece – A Clash of Approaches
It appears that the European Broadcasting Union’s rules are less restrictive for Finland’s delegation. Finland’s Eurovision 2026 representatives, Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, have previously expressed their views on Israel’s participation, while Yle was among the national broadcasters that hesitated and set multiple conditions before confirming participation in Eurovision 2026.
Greece’s Position on Israel
The Greek national broadcaster is known for maintaining a non-political stance regarding Eurovision participation. Marina Satti, who represented Greece in 2024 and made political statements, faced significant backlash from both the Greek national broadcaster and the Greek government. Klavdia, who represented the country the following year, expressed her appreciation for Israeli audiences in an interview with EuroMix and treated Israel with the same respect as any other nation – receiving widespread support from the Greek public.
It appears that this year as well, the Greek national broadcaster is aiming to preserve Eurovision as a non-political event centered on love and unity. Regardless of the artist’s personal views, the conflicts involving Israel are not the reason the contest exists.
Akylas – Who are you?
Akylas, whose full name is Akylas Mytilinaios, competed this year for the first time for a place at Eurovision – and clinched first place in the Greek national final. His road to the big stage is far from ordinary: he is the son of a mother who migrated from Georgia to Greece at the age of 17, and he began his musical journey as an anonymous street singer on Athens’ famous Ermou pedestrian avenue.
In recent years he has built a name for himself on the Greek indie scene as an up-and-coming pop singer, thanks to a unique persona and artistic identity that blend pop music, emotional lyricism and a queer-leaning edge. Throughout the national final season, Akylas was considered a leading favourite to win, both domestically and among international Eurovision followers. Data from betting platforms, YouTube and Spotify consistently and clearly pointed to his expected victory – a prediction that indeed came true in the grand final. Since the release of his Eurovision song “Ferto“, social media has been flooded with enthusiastic reactions, and many fans have drawn comparisons between the artist and song and Käärijä, who represented Finland and placed second at Eurovision 2023 with the hit “Cha Cha Cha”.
Greece at Eurovision 2026
“Ferto” (in English: “Bring it”) performed by Akylas will represent Greece in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. The song, co-written by Akylas and Teo Pouzbouris, embodies ambition and desire for greatness.
The song presents a manifesto of boundless ambition and an uncompromising desire to reach the top. The lyrics describe a character driven by inner fire and hunger for success – someone unwilling to settle for a small step forward, but instead demands it all: fame, money, power, and influence. The repeated call of “bring it” sharpens the feeling of a constant demand for more, as though the world itself is required to yield to the speaker’s aspirations.
Currently, Greece is ranked 4th in the betting tables ahead of Eurovision 2026.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Greece’s 46th participation in Eurovision. Greece joined the competition in 1974 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2005 when singer Helena Paparizou won first place with the song “My Number One”.
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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
