NRK reveals the EBU asked Norway’s Jonas Lovv to reduce the “sex appeal” of his Eurovision 2026 performance in Vienna.

Yesterday, the traditional Turquoise Carpet event took place in Vienna, officially marking the opening of Eurovision week for 2026. During the festive event, representatives from all participating countries gave interviews to numerous media outlets. Among the artists, it was Norway’s representative, Jonas Lovv, who caused a stir during an interview with the Norwegian national broadcaster NRK.

During the interview, Jonas revealed that the European Broadcasting Union had asked him to tone down his stage performance in Vienna, claiming it was “too sexy”.

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“Not Family Friendly”

Later in the interview, Mads Tørklep, head of the Norwegian delegation, confirmed the singer’s comments and explained: “We have been told to tone down the ‘sex appeal’ because it is not family-friendly enough, so we will do that”

The delegation head also added, addressing Jonas directly: “We didn’t mean to make this too over the top, it’s just your style to be like that. Because you do it so naturally that you take a little bit of a step and make some kind of jerky movements”.

In response, the Norwegian singer said: “No, of course we take it very seriously when we get that kind of message. I think they just say it to make sure we don’t take it too far. But we’re not the worst!”

Finland Last Year – Norway This Year

Norway will perform on Thursday, May 14th, as song number 15 in the second semi-final. Norway’s position as the closing act of the second semi-final immediately recalls another country that closed the same semi-final last year – Finland.

Last year, Finland was represented by Erika Vikman with her song “Ich Komme” (in English: “I’m Coming”). The track, which she performed on the Eurovision 2025 stage in Basel, Switzerland, openly revolved around an intimate and sexual experience, while inviting her partner to “feel at home.”

Beyond the lyrical content, Erika left little room for interpretation on stage as well, with the song’s provocative nature reflected through nearly every movement, visual element, and staging choice during the performance.

Ultimately, Finland finished third in that semi-final and later placed 11th in the Grand Final.

This Finnish performance from the recent past – which also closed the second semi-final – raises questions regarding the European Broadcasting Union’s consistency in decision-making, as the organization did not publicly object to Finland’s performance nor issue any special instructions to the singer or delegation at the time.

Double Standards?

Compared to last year’s Finnish entry, which openly addressed sexuality and climax, Norway’s 2026 song portrays a turbulent and passionate relationship where love is intertwined with emotional pain and a loss of control.

The song’s narrator describes himself as someone consumed by impulses, comparing heartbreak to “broken bones” and a heart being repeatedly shot – metaphors illustrating deep emotional vulnerability.

The question now being raised among Eurovision fans is whether there is room for comparison between Finland’s entry from the previous contest and Norway’s current performance. And if so, why did the Finnish act avoid similar warnings or instructions from the EBU last year?

Jonas Lovv – Who Are You?

Jonas Lovv is a Norwegian singer-songwriter from Bergen, Norway. He first gained recognition when he appeared in the 10th season of the Norwegian version of The Voice, impressing the audience and judges with his voice and stage presence. Since then, he has released three singles, which did not achieve major commercial success.

Later that same summer, Jonas continued proving himself as a live vocalist by performing on some of the country’s biggest festival stages. As an entertainer, he is known for his explosive energy, unique style, and exceptional ability to connect with audiences while constantly breaking down the barrier between performer and crowd.

Musically, Jonas embraces multiple genres and stands out through his bold artistic expression – a talent that ultimately led him to victory at Norway’s Eurovision national selection, Melodi Grand Prix 2026, with the song “YA YA YA”, earning him the right to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.