Neta Geffen, Author at EuroMix

Sofia Vossou: “Boycotting Israel Is a Mistake”

December 29, 2025 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sofia Vossou speaks out against calls to boycott Israel, stressing that Eurovision must remain a celebration of music rather than a platform for political struggles. Amid growing calls in Greece to boycott Eurovision 2026 due to Israel’s participation, a clear and contrasting voice is emerging from within the Eurovision world itself. Greek singer Sofia Vossou, who represented Greece at Eurovision 1991 with the song "I Anixi" (In English: “Spring”), has expressed firm opposition to turning the contest into a stage for political confrontation. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Eurovision Must Remain a Music Competition” In an interview with the Greek television program “Hamogela kai Pali”, Vossou made it clear that, in her view, boycotting a country in a music competition is fundamentally misguided. She emphasized that the essence of Eurovision lies in artistic expression, creativity, and cultural connection, not political considerations. According to her, transforming the contest into a political battleground undermines its core values....

Report in Greece: Three Early Favorites Emerge to Represent the Country at Eurovision 2026

December 27, 2025 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Greek media reports suggest that three submitted songs have stood out ahead of "Sing For Greece 2026". As Greece prepares for its national selection, "Sing For Greece 2026", an intriguing report has surfaced that may hint at the musical direction the country is aiming for this year. According to a publication by the Greek newspaper Ethnos, three songs have stood out in particular among all submissions and are currently considered leading contenders to represent Greece at Eurovision 2026, set to take place in May in Vienna, Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Report: Three Titles Repeatedly Mentioned According to a source cited in the report, an individual who was exposed to all the songs submitted to the Greek national broadcaster ERT indicated that three entries made an especially strong impression. These are the song titles that were published: Unbreakable Odos Ermou (In English: "Ermou Street") On the Dark Side of the Moon At this stage,...

Klavdia: “I Wanted the Contest to Remain a Celebration of Music”

December 21, 2025 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In a candid interview, Klavdia reflects on political tensions at the contest, explains her choice to stay neutral, and emphasizes the importance of unity and music above all In an interview with the television program “Tet A Tet”, Klavdia, Greece’s representative at Eurovision 2025, shared her personal experiences from the contest in Basel and admitted that the atmosphere this year was particularly tense. According to her, the political developments and the war in the background directly affected the backstage environment, creating a sensitive situation in which every gesture or interaction risked being interpreted as a political statement. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Between Music and Politics Klavdia confirmed in the interview what many experienced firsthand in Basel. The singer did not hide the fact that the atmosphere was unusually tense. Political developments and the war had a significant impact on the competition, creating discomfort among participants. As she explained, every movement could be misinterpreted, and...

Albania: 23 Acts Qualified to the Grand Final of Festivali i Këngës 64!

December 19, 2025 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The semi‑finals and nostalgia night are behind us: 23 contestants qualified tonight to the grand final of Albania’s “Festivali i Këngës 64”, taking place today (Saturday), where Albania’s entry for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen. "Festivali i Këngës 64" is approaching its conclusion, with the grand final taking place tonight (Saturday). The winner of the grand final will represent Albania at Eurovision 2026, set to be held in May in Vienna, Austria. After two semi-finals, 23 songs have officially qualified for the final stage of the competition. To watch the Nostalgia Night — click on the screen below! Watch the first semi final here Watch the second semi final here (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The finalists were revealed at the end of “Nata e Nostalgjisë” (Nostalgia Night). Unlike previous editions, which featured duets with former festival artists, this year’s evening was dedicated to the renowned songwriters and poets who have shaped the festival throughout its history. The...

Czechia: Eurovision 2026 Representative to Be Revealed in January

December 18, 2025December 19, 2025 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Czech national broadcaster ČT confirms that its internal selection for Eurovision 2026 is nearing completion, with eight artists still in contention ahead of the official reveal in January. The Czech national broadcaster ČT has announced that the artist who will represent Czechia at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna will be revealed in January, following an internal selection process that has now entered its final stage. In a post published on its official Instagram account, the broadcaster also confirmed that eight artists remain in the running. הצגת פוסט זה באינסטגרם ‏‎פוסט משותף על ידי ‏‎Eurovision Czechia‎‏ (@‏‎eurovision_czechia‎‏)‎‏ (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); As previously reported in October, ČT officially confirmed that a total of 260 songs were submitted to the Czech internal selection process for Eurovision 2026. The submission window remained open from early September until mid-October, attracting a wide range of entries from artists hoping to represent the country on the Eurovision stage. The submitted songs are currently under review, with...

Israel Leads the Betting Odds for Eurovision 2026 Even Before Any Songs Are Selected

December 12, 2025 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Despite growing calls for a boycott, early betting odds place Israel as the leading contender to win Eurovision 2026 in Vienna - before any song has been chosen. With the release of the first betting odds for Eurovision 2026, scheduled for May in Vienna, excitement surrounding the 70th edition of the contest is already rapidly building. The international betting platform Betfair published its initial odds, placing Israel as the frontrunner for victory. This ranking comes shortly after Israel’s participation was officially confirmed during the EBU General Assembly and amid the country’s consistently strong performance in the televote in recent years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Israel on Top – Who Follows? Alongside Israel, ranked first, Sweden holds second place, consistent with its longstanding reputation as one of the most successful countries in Eurovision history. Finland, benefiting from a significant renewal in its national selection process, sits in third. Ukraine, which almost every year enjoys substantial...

Eurovision 2026: The Official Stage Reveal Date Announced!

December 10, 2025 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Preparations for Eurovision 2026 continue as Austria’s national broadcaster ORF confirms that the official stage design for the Vienna contest will be unveiled on December 16th, led once again by designer Florian Wieder. The excitement ahead of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna continues to build, with the next major milestone being the unveiling of the stage design - one of the most anticipated moments in every Eurovision season. Austria’s national broadcaster ORF has announced the reveal date: Tuesday, December 16th. Florian Wieder, one of the most iconic stage designers associated with the Eurovision Song Contest, returns for the tenth time as the competition’s lead designer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Florian Wieder Designs His Tenth Eurovision Stage For Wieder, considered one of the world’s leading stage designers, this marks his tenth Eurovision stage and his third consecutive year in the role, following the designs for Malmö 2024 and Basel 2025. Wieder is known for drawing creative inspiration from the cultural and...

Eurovision 2026: Four Countries Withdraw – Why Sweden Goes Against the Flow?

December 5, 2025January 12, 2026 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Following the EBU’s approval of Israel’s participation, four countries withdrew from Eurovision 2026. Yet Sweden’s national broadcaster SVT urges calm and chooses a different path. What led Sweden to stand apart? At the General Assembly of the EBU, held yesterday in Geneva, Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 - set to take place this May in Vienna - was officially approved, alongside rule adjustments enabling this decision. Following the announcement, the national broadcasters of Spain, The Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia declared their withdrawal from the contest. In contrast, Sweden’s national broadcaster SVT announced that it does not intend to withdraw from the upcoming competition. SVT’s Head of Programming, Michael Österlund, stated: “In order for us to participate, we have said that there should be a sufficiently broad European consensus around the competition. We have also said that it should be as apolitical and as independent as possible. Furthermore, it must take place in a safe environment”. Representatives of the national broadcaster...

Bulgaria: National Final Confirmed for Eurovision 2026

December 2, 2025January 12, 2026 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Bulgarian national broadcaster BNT has officially announced its return to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, organizing a new national final with 15 top Bulgarian artists competing live in early 2026. After a three-year absence, Bulgaria has officially confirmed its comeback to the Eurovision Song Contest. Following months of speculation, the country’s national broadcaster BNT announced the launch of a large-scale national Final, aiming to choose both the artist and the song that will represent Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A Star-Studded Selection with Leading Artists According to the official announcement, BNT has invited 15 Bulgarian artists who rank among the country’s most prominent performers of the past year, both on radio and television as well as across digital platforms. The selection process was based on airplay data, strong positions in the “BG Top 40” chart compiled by PROFON, streaming performance on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, and key social-media engagement indicators reflecting a...

Report: Slovenia Likely to Withdraw from Broadcasting Eurovision 2026

November 24, 2025January 12, 2026 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Amid boycott threats over Israel’s participation, Slovenia’s draft annual programming plan suggests its national broadcaster RTVSLO will not broadcast or compete in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. Is Slovenia leaving for good? Although no official announcement has been made, signs indicate that Slovenia will neither broadcast nor participate in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. A draft of the annual Production and Programming Plan (PPN) shows that Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV SLO does not intend to air the Contest. If approved by the broadcaster’s council on November 26th, Slovenia’s withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 will become final. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); What’s Behind the Decision? The draft outlines two main reasons for opting out of participation and coverage: First, RTVSLO declares 2026 as a "Year of Sports", explaining that large-scale events such as the Winter Olympics in Italy and the FIFA World Cup require significant resource allocation. Consequently, the network plans to reduce entertainment programming, making Eurovision participation financially and logistically unfeasible. In addition to budgetary...