Avi Zaikaner, Author at EuroMix

Eurovision 2026: Second Semi-Final – Afternoon Rehearsal: Liveblog

May 14, 2026May 14, 2026 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Get the full coverage from the third dress rehearsal of the second semi-final, currently taking place on the Eurovision 2026 stage in Vienna. One by one, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxembourg, Czechia, France, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Austria, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, UK, Albania, Malta and Norway will take the stage. We will be providing updates throughout the rehearsal with all the details received by our editorial team. Photo: EBU Today at 15:00 CET, the third dress rehearsal began ahead of the second semi-final broadcast, which will take place today at 21:00 CET (Thursday, May 14). We’re here to report everything happening on stage in real time from Vienna. As a reminder, this year the countries that automatically qualify for the Grand Final will also perform during the semi-finals, but their songs will not be eligible for voting at this stage. In the second semi-final, France, the host Austria and United Kingdom will take the stage. Make sure to click the refresh button so you...

Eurovision 2026 Mascot: Meet Auri – All You Need to Know

March 28, 2026March 28, 2026 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Discover the official Eurovision 2026 mascot Auri, including its design, role in Vienna’s 2026 Song Contest, fan reactions, comparisons with past mascots, and why it matters for Eurovision branding and fan culture. The Eurovision 2026 mascot has officially been revealed as Auri, a new character introduced as part of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 branding. Auri was unveiled by the Austrian broadcaster ORF ahead of the contest in Vienna, Austria, where the 70th edition of Eurovision will take place. Auri is presented as a fluffy, colorful character, intended to embody the spirit of unity, creativity, and togetherness that Eurovision promotes. The mascot plays a role not just in promotional material but also in fan engagement and live event activities. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Design and Theme While details about the precise design elements vary between reports, Auri features vibrant colors consistent with Eurovision’s brand palette and an eye‑catching look meant to appeal to fans of all ages. The...

Eurovision 2026: Debate on Israel’s Participation Postponed to December 4

October 13, 2025October 13, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Israel in Eurovision: Discussion on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 postponed to December 4 amid Middle East developments In an official statement sent to members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), it was announced that the discussion regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, which had been moved up to early November, will ultimately take place on its original date – December 4 – as part of the organization’s General Assembly. According to the EBU, this decision was made “in light of the recent developments in the Middle East” and out of a desire to hold “an open discussion with the full participation of all members.” However, the statement does not specify whether an actual vote will take place at that time, raising the possibility that the decision may be postponed – or that the vote may be canceled altogether – depending on the tone and direction of the debate. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); EBU’s Position and Internal...

Austria: “We Hope to See Israel Participate in Eurovision”

September 5, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Amid controversy over Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, and after Slovenia officially declared withdrawal if Israel competes—Austria, the host country, firmly stands by Israel! The Director General of the Austrian national broadcaster, Ronald Weissmann, announced in an interview that he “hopes to see Israel participate in the contest.” This statement carries significant weight for Israel, particularly one day after Slovenia, led by Ksenija Horvat, declared it would withdraw if Israel takes part. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Weissmann himself spoke in favor of Israel’s participation at the recent European Broadcasting Union (EBU) assembly, with Austria among the countries supporting Israel—alongside Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, and, according to some reports, also Italy. The EBU confirmed that its 95th General Assembly will take place in Geneva on December 4–5. It has not yet been confirmed whether a vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision will occur, but it is assumed the matter could be raised on December 4, the first day of...

Political Opposition in Austria to Hosting Eurovision Due to Israel’s Participation

August 3, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Political figures in Austria oppose hosting Eurovision in their country over fears of antisemitism and security risks stemming from Israel's participation in Eurovision 2026. Markus Abwerzger, chairman of the right-wing party in Tyrol (FPÖ), is actively opposing Austria's hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest next year. In an interview with the Austrian Press Agency (APA), Abwerzger called for Austria to forgo hosting. He claims that events like Eurovision pose a real threat by increasing an "anti-Israeli atmosphere," "antisemitism," and "extreme left-wing trends" — all of which could lead to serious security problems in Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Abwerzger stated, "I am very concerned about security, especially at the venue." He added that the federal government, led by Chancellor Christian Stocker and Vice Chancellor and Minister of Culture Andreas Babler, should support his demand, noting that "there is still time for that." Furthermore, he highlighted that there is already a growing number of worrying protests and recalled that during the last pride parade in Tyrol's...

Albania Announces Submission Window for Eurovision Preselection Songs

August 1, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has announced the upcoming submission period for Festival i Këngës, including the conditions for song entries. The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has started preparations for the 64th edition of Festivali i Këngës. This traditional festival began in 1962, and ahead of Eurovision 2004—the year Albania joined Eurovision—it became the country’s official national final for Eurovision selection. Now, the national broadcaster shares that the submission window for the festival will span the entire month of September, from the 1st to the 30th. Additionally, RTSH revealed the eligibility criteria for submission: according to Eurovision rules, the song must be new, meaning it cannot have been previously published. The song must not exceed 4 minutes, and songs produced with artificial intelligence are prohibited. All participants must be over 16 years old. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. In June, RTSH announced that singer Elhaida Dani, who represented Albania at Eurovision 2015 in Vienna, Austria, with the song "I'm Alive" and...

Turkey: Will It Return to Eurovision for the First Time Since Withdrawing in 2012?

August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Demet Akalın wants to represent the Republic of Türkiye at Eurovision — but she has conditions! What are the successful singer’s terms, and is there a chance Türkiye will come back to the contest? The Turkish singer Demet Akalın, who performed the hit "Yerinde Dur" ("Standing Still") with Sefu, announced in an interview that she is open to participating in the Eurovision Song Contest if Turkey returns to the competition, on the condition that the song is in Turkish. Akalın’s latest hit topped all Turkish charts, reached fifth place on the global trending YouTube videos list, and garnered more than 91 million views on YouTube within just one month. The announcement of her willingness to represent the Republic of Türkiye comes after more than a decade in which the country has not taken part in the contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Fans on Edge — Will Turkey Return? Demet Akalın's statement raises questions about the future of...

Junior Eurovision Star Freya Skye Shines in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires on Disney+

July 31, 2025August 1, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Freya Skye, Junior Eurovision star, stars as Nova Bright in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires on Disney+. At just 15 years old, she captivates television audiences worldwide, making a remarkable transition from Junior Eurovision to a rising acting career. On July 10, 2025, Disney+ released the highly anticipated musical sequel Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, the fourth installment in the beloved Zombies film franchise. This energetic addition follows the adventures of Zed, Addison, Willa, and Eliza after their first year at Mountain College. But one new face is already catching everyone's attention — British singer and actress Freya Skye, who stars as Nova Bright, a key character in this exciting chapter. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision Freya Skye’s Rise to Fame with Junior Eurovision Freya Skye is not just another cast member. Now, with Zombies 4, Freya steps fully into the spotlight on a major global streaming platform, captivating audiences worldwide. At just 13, Freya represented the United Kingdom in the 2022...

Olly Alexander Opens Up About His Eurovision Experience: “It Was Very Stressful”

July 30, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Olly Alexander reveals the intense emotions he faced representing the UK at Eurovision 2024, amid political tensions surrounding Israel. "The experience was very stressful." The British star Olly Alexander, former lead singer of Years & Years and representative of the UK at Eurovision 2024 with the song "Dizzy", opens up about the complex feelings he experienced during the contest. Despite a disappointing result—finishing 18th and receiving zero points from the public—Alexander now expresses pride for the opportunity alongside admitting that "now that I’ve had a bit of time away, I’m so proud I got to do it, but it was also very stressful; it can be very vulnerable and isolating." “I’ve never had so much pressure put on a song. People are brutal anyway, but because we’re in a competition, people are really going for you. I was like, ‘God, I’m just trying to give people a fun time‘“, the singer added in an interview with the prestigious British...

Ukraine at Eurovision: Is GO_A Breaking Up? Lead Singer Embarks on Solo Career

July 21, 2025July 21, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Kateryna Pavlenko, the lead singer who brought Go_A to Eurovision fame, has departed to launch a solo career. Her exit raises questions about the group’s future - what lies ahead? Is the Band Splitting Up? Kateryna Pavlenko, the prominent lead singer of the band Go_A, has unexpectedly announced that she’s putting the group’s collaborative career on hold and embarking on a personal journey as a solo artist. The news surfaced shortly after Go_A - widely remembered for their hit song "SHUM," which secured Ukraine a fifth-place finish in Eurovision 2021 - now finds itself facing significant uncertainty. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Waves of Reactions to Her Departure It’s not every day a singer leaves a band after such a landmark achievement on the Eurovision stage. Pavlenko is regarded as one of the most beloved figures in the Ukrainian music scene, known for her distinctive voice and uncompromising spirit. Still, since the Eurovision contest, the popular band has struggled to...