Spanish Culture Minister: “Spain Should Not Participate in Eurovision if Israel Competes”

Spanish Culture Minister: “Spain Should Not Participate in Eurovision if Israel Competes”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Following Slovenia's steps? Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun proposes Spain withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is not disqualified, urging national broadcaster RTVE to follow Slovenia's lead. Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has urged Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE to withdraw from Eurovision 2026, scheduled to be held in Vienna, Austria, if Israel is not excluded from the competition. Urtasun, a member of the far-left "Sumar" party, joins his party colleagues, Yolanda Diaz, Spain’s Labor Minister and Deputy Prime Minister under Pedro Sanchez, and Sira Rego, Minister of Children and Youth. Prime Minister Sanchez himself expressed strong opposition to Israel’s participation In an interview for La 1, one of RTVE’s channels, Urtasun proposed Spain’s withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 and called on the government to follow Slovenia’s lead: press for Israel’s disqualification, or else withdraw after Spain already confirmed its participation in the contest. Such a move would mark the first-ever withdrawal of Spain from Eurovision in its history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In the interview Urtasun said: "We have...
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Maybe After All? A Court Decision in Bulgaria Restores Hope for Eurovision Participation

Maybe After All? A Court Decision in Bulgaria Restores Hope for Eurovision Participation

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A Bulgarian Supreme Court ruling extended the deadline for appointing a new head of BNT, reigniting hopes among fans for the country’s Eurovision return. Will Bulgaria return to Eurovision, or not? New hope has emerged among many fans after the Bulgarian Supreme Court extended the deadline for appointing the head of the national broadcaster. This decision followed the failed attempt on July 15th, when members of the Council for Electronic Media (CEM) could not reach a majority agreement on a candidate for the position. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Appointment Process Eight candidates are running for this role, among them current broadcaster head Emil Kushlukov. In the voting process, council members must cast a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote for each candidate, with abstentions not allowed. According to Bulgarian news outlet BTA, the deadline for submitting candidate applications was set for September 12th. Hearings with the candidates will take place on October 14th and 15th, with a final decision expected no later than...
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Montenegro: New Details Revealed About “Montesong 2025”

Montenegro: New Details Revealed About “Montesong 2025”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Montenegro’s national broadcaster RTCG unveils new details about "Montesong", the national final set to choose Montenegro’s representative for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. Vladana Vučinić, Montenegro’s representative at Eurovision 2022 and the main producer of the national pre-selection "Montesong"ת which will choose Montenegro’s representative for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, reveals new details about this year’s contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In an interview, Vučinić highlighted several updates and improvements to this year’s national final: "We will try to make the pre-selection even better than last year. There are several changes, such as a larger venue and more substantial production support from the national broadcaster. In addition, artists will enjoy greater creative freedom. They can sing in any language they wish, unlike last year when they were obliged to perform at least 51% of the lyrics in Montenegrin". Vučinić also spoke about the expectations from the artists and the songs: "We will select up to 16 songs for the national pre-selection, but we cannot...
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Participation To Be Confirmed Soon? San Marino Unveils New Logo of “San Marino Song Contest 2026”

Participation To Be Confirmed Soon? San Marino Unveils New Logo of “San Marino Song Contest 2026”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Everything except participation approval: San Marino published a new logo of "San Marino Song Contest" on social media. Is San Marino’s next step toward Eurovision 2026 an official participation approval? In recent months, San Marino has sent highly mixed signals about its potential participation in Eurovision 2026. But does the latest development point in a positive direction? Yesterday (Friday), the country’s national broadcaster revealed on the official social media channels of its national selection a brand-new logo for “San Marino Song Contest”. The question remains: does this mean that San Marino is preparing to confirm its Eurovision participation? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Logo's Impact On San Marino's Eurovision Future The release of the new logo indicates a positive step forward for San Marino, suggesting that a proper budget has likely been secured for preparations toward Eurovision 2026. However, despite this recent move, there has still been no official confirmation of participation from the national broadcaster. San Marino continues to carry...
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Austria: JJ Will Not Host Eurovision 2026 In Vienna!

Austria: JJ Will Not Host Eurovision 2026 In Vienna!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria in Eurovision: Eurovision 2025 winner JJ will not host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. Instead, he was given a different role in the show. The singer JJ, Austria’s Eurovision 2025 winner with the song “Wasted Love”, who became a controversial figure at home after remarks about Israel’s participation in the contest, will not host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. Many fans had hoped the reigning champion would be given the honor of hosting the next contest, but today it was officially confirmed that this will not happen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It should be recalled that after his victory, JJ sparked uproar when he declared in an interview: “I hope the competition next year will take place in Vienna – without Israel”. He also criticized the Eurovision voting system, calling for more transparency from the EBU - a move seen by many as hypocritical, since the competition is meant to be apolitical. Despite this, many fans expressed disappointment that JJ will not be hosting Eurovision 2026....
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Ukraine: Song Submission Window for Vidbir 2026 Opens

Ukraine: Song Submission Window for Vidbir 2026 Opens

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ukraine’s national broadcaster Suspilne has opened the submission window for “Vidbir 2026”, set to take place in February. Ukraine is already gearing up for Eurovision 2026 with the opening of the song submission window for “Vidbir 2026.” The musical producer of “Vidbir 2026”, Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala, will curate an initial shortlist of 15 songs that will advance to live auditions. From this pool, nine artists will be chosen to compete in the final, which will be held in February in a live show format. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “You are representing not only yourselves but also Ukraine” In addition, the Ukrainian public will select a tenth finalist via online voting, choosing from six shortlisted candidates. The submission deadline is October 27th. Jamala, who this time serves as the national selection’s music producer, stressed that contestants must begin their preparations immediately: “Don’t be afraid to experiment and to stay true to yourselves - that’s what Eurovision values, and that’s what leaves...
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Ksenija Horvat: “Slovenia May Not Participate in Eurovision 2026”

Ksenija Horvat: “Slovenia May Not Participate in Eurovision 2026”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Slovenian national broadcaster RTVSLO is expected to withdraw from participating in Eurovision 2026, amid ongoing debates regarding Israel's inclusion, and is currently holding internal discussions on the matter. The Slovenian national broadcaster, RTVSLO, headed by Ksenija Horvat, is among the leading voices against Israel within the EBU. At the annual meeting of the Slovenian broadcaster this week, the agenda included, among other topics, the issue of whether the country should participate in Eurovision 2026. The discussion stemmed primarily from the meeting of the planning–production committee (PPN), which dealt with proposals to adjust the entertainment department’s programming. Eurovision participation emerged as a significant factor in the debate. Could Slovenia be preparing to withdraw from the upcoming competition? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Originally, RTVSLO planned to introduce a new show in the fall, modeled after Israel’s “The Next Star for Eurovision” — a competitive music program featuring both established and emerging artists, infused with humor and rivalry, with contestants advancing...
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Eurovision’s Winning Formula: Women, Men & The Unbreakable Code

Eurovision’s Winning Formula: Women, Men & The Unbreakable Code

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Women, men, or groups? In the third article of “The Eurovision Formula” series, we reveal whether there is a winning gender-based formula and uncover surprising data. Article by Ilay Gaist and Noy Yehoyada. Every year, with the revival of the Eurovision season, thousands of viewers, fans, and professional jurors attempt to crack the code how to win at Eurovision: What is the secret formula that leads a country to first place? Do audiences prefer solo male singers? solo female singers? Or perhaps they favor bands? In the series “The Eurovision Formula”, we dive into historical data. In this article, we take a closer look at one of the contest’s most central criteria: is there a gender advantage on the road to Eurovision glory? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Gender in Eurovision: From Soloists to Groups and Beyond Throughout Eurovision’s history, the stage has been filled with all kinds of performers – solo vocalists, duos, and full-scale bands. Yet, when analyzing patterns...
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Czechia Confirms Participation in Eurovision 2026!

Czechia Confirms Participation in Eurovision 2026!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Czech national broadcaster ČT has officially opened the song submission window for the Czech selection process, thereby confirming its participation in Eurovision 2026, which will be held in Vienna, Austria. Czechia’s representative will be chosen internally. The Czech national broadcaster ČT has confirmed the country’s participation in Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna, Austria. Czechia is the 26th country to express interest in participating in Eurovision 2026, following Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the host country, Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Czech national broadcaster ČT has launched the selection process, inviting artists, composers, and producers to submit their songs between September 3rd and October 19th, 2025. Once again, the Czech entry will be chosen through an internal selection process, marking the second consecutive year this method is used. According to the broadcaster, the decision will be made through a combination of jury and audience voting. The decision has...
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Céline Dion: New Details on the Huge Comeback That Didn’t Happen at Eurovision 2025

Céline Dion: New Details on the Huge Comeback That Didn’t Happen at Eurovision 2025

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The rumors and excitement surrounding Céline Dion’s anticipated comeback at Eurovision 2025 made fans believe the big moment was near. Now, months after the disappointment, the long-awaited explanations finally arrive. Céline Dion, Eurovision 1988 winner representing Switzerland and one of the greatest singers of all time, was expected to make a historic comeback on the Eurovision stage in the country where she triumphed. In May, rumors spread about the singer’s presence in Basel, the host city of Eurovision 2025, and her preparations for a potential surprise performance in the grand final. Now it turns out the comeback was indeed meant to happen! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Historic Comeback That Was Canceled According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, after months of rumors and speculation, we now learn for the first time that Eurovision legend Céline Dion, was on the verge of stepping onto the Basel stage. However, the historic comeback was canceled at the very...
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