Tal Dahan, Author at EuroMix

Tamara Živković In An Interview: “I Don’t Have Time to Think About the Odds”

May 9, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Montenegro's Tamara Živković discusses in an interview for EuroMix about her Eurovision 2026 rehearsals, her stance on betting odds, and fulfilling a lifelong dream on the big stage. Tamara Živković, the Montenegrin representative for Eurovision 2026, has completed her first two rehearsals on the Eurovision stage. Set to perform as song number 8 in the first semi-final, the singer shared her thoughts on the intense preparation process and the surreal experience of finally reaching the contest. Watch the full interview here: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ‎‏ Reflecting on her initial time on stage, Tamara Živković noted the progression between her sessions: “It has been amazing; we were so excited to step on that stage finally. Me and my girls were like, ‘Okay, now it’s our time.’ The first rehearsal , it’s not easy; it was hard to think about all the things. On the second one, it was better because we already caught up with the things we needed to...

Exclusive: Why Finland Can Play Live at Eurovision While Others Can’t

May 9, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Backstage Drama: While Switzerland and Luxembourg settle for playback, Finland play a live violin on stage. We reached out to the EBU for explenation, and the answer we received changes everything we knew about the contest rules. A storm is brewing in the Eurovision world. Since 1999, we have grown accustomed to the fact that every instrument seen on stage is a mere "prop." Guitars are unplugged, drums are silenced, and everything is pre-recorded. However, this year, something on the Eurovision stage looked and sounded different - and it all started with the Finnish delegation. After wondering why countries like Switzerland (with the electric guitar) or Luxembourg (with the violin) are using playback while Finland was permitted a live violin capture, we contacted the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for answers. The official response we received reveals a surprising new reality. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Exceptional Approval: Finland Allowed, Switzerland and Luxembourg Denied Back in March, the Finnish delegation submitted...

Eurovision 2026 Day 7: Second Semi-Final’s Second Rehearsals Begin

May 8, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ten second-semi-finalists of Eurovision 2026 begin their second rehearsals today in Vienna, as their first video footage is released. The seventh day of rehearsals for Eurovision 2026 kicks off on the magnificent stage in Vienna, Austria. After all artists completed their first round of rehearsals, the second round continues today with ten countries from the second semi-final. Each delegation will be granted 25 critical minutes of intense work, during which the artists will polish the staging, lighting, and camera angles that will determine their fate in the contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Rehearsal Schedule for May 8th Today, ten countries from the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 will take the stage for their second rehearsals: 10:30 CEST - Bulgaria: DARA- "Bangaranga" 11:05 CEST - Azerbaijan: JIVA - "Just Go" 11:40 CEST - Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – "Choke Me" 12:20 CEST - Luxembourg: Eva Marija - "Mother Nature" 12:55 CEST - Czechia: Daniel Žižka – "Crossroads" 13:30 CEST - Armenia:...

Beyond Europe: Surprising Countries Traveling to Eurovision in Vienna

April 29, 2026April 29, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); EBU and ORF reveal 95,000 tickets sold for Eurovision 2026 to fans from 75 countries, including the non-European countries, and surprising ones. Vienna is busily preparing for the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest! In less than two weeks, the famous "Te Deum" melody will resonate within the Wiener Stadthalle, and today (Wednesday), the EBU and the Austrian national broadcaster ORF released the official ticket sales data. The conclusion is clear: Eurovision is becoming a more powerful global phenomenon. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Numbers Behind the Celebration According to the data, 95,000 tickets were sold for the nine shows (Jury rehearsals, Family shows, Semi-finals, and the Grand Final). While the host country, Austria, holds 58% of the tickets, a surprisingly high figure comes from the international arena: 42% of the audience in the arena will travel from outside Austria. The top 10 countries that purchased the most tickets are: Austria Germany United Kingdom ...

DARA and Fredrik Rydman Begin Intense Athens Rehearsals for Eurovision

April 26, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); DARA and director Fredrik Rydman are in Athens preparing Bulgaria’s "Bangaranga" for Eurovision 2026 - aiming for a first-ever victory in Vienna? The man behind the recent Swiss and Swedish Eurovision victories has landed in Athens to direct the Bulgarian entry - "Bangaranga" by DARA. Is Bulgaria on its way to its first-ever victory? And which Eurovision star did the singer share the stage with last night? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Is Bulgaria signaling its next victory? Just before Eurovision 2026 kicks off, Fredrik "Benke" Rydman, the Swedish choreographer and artistic director considered one of the most influential in modern contest history, has joined the rehearsals for the Bulgarian representative in Athens. Together with Swedish director Sacha Jean-Baptiste, herself a Eurovision winner, it seems Bulgaria is aiming very high in this year’s competition. Rydman holds a very impressive Eurovision resume. He is the director behind the win of Nemo's "The Code" and the spinning...

Helsinki and Tampere Begin Preparations to Host Eurovision 2027

April 25, 2026 by Tal DahanNo Comments

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Helsinki and Tampere signal interest in hosting Eurovision 2027 as Finnish favorites Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen lead the 2026 betting odds. Eurovision 2026 has yet to begin, but preparations for the following year’s competition are already underway. Two Finnish cities, representing one of the nations currently favored to win, have begun intensive preparations to host Eurovision 2027. Betting tables suggest that - barring any major surprises - Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen are poised to lift the trophy at the Grand Final on May 16th. A victory would bring the competition to Finland in 2027, exactly 20 years after the country last hosted the event. Consequently, two major Finnish cities have already started planning for this potential scenario. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Helsinki: "We are ready, even the statues are protected" Due to the high probability of a Finnish victory, Helsinki, the capital of Finland, and Tampere, the country's third-largest city, have expressed...

Lithuania: Revamped Version of “Sólo Quiero Más” Set for April 16

April 11, 2026April 16, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Lithuanian Eurovision representative, Lion Ceccah, announced that the final version of “Sólo Quiero Más” will be released this coming Thursday, featuring professional enhancements and updates The Lithuanian representative for Eurovision 2026, Lion Ceccah, has officially announced that the final and revamped version of his entry, “Sólo Quiero Más” (in English: “I Only Want More”), will be unveiled this coming Thursday, April 16. The announcement was shared via an Instagram story on Ceccah’s account, where he disclosed that the track has undergone several modifications to optimize its impact for the upcoming performance on the Eurovision 2026 stage in Vienna, Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Revamping the Lithuanian Entry As noted, the artist confirmed that “Sólo Quiero Más” is expected to feature some changes, and the version coming out this Thursday will be the definitive arrangement performed during the contest. While specific details regarding the production adjustments remain under wraps, the announcement has already generated significant buzz among Eurovision fans....

Eurovision 2026 Vienna: EBU Flag Policy Shift Allows Palestine, Kosovo Flags

April 10, 2026April 10, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); EBU Eurovision 2026 Vienna enforces strict flag rules—yet officially sells Palestine, Kosovo, and Taiwan flags, sparking political debate. The audience traveling to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna next month will discover that waving a flag is no longer a simple matter. An official notice sent to ticket holders reveals particularly strict safety regulations. However, alongside Austrian bureaucracy, another detail has emerged - one that could spark significant political debate: the official Eurovision store is selling flags of partially recognized states. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s Fire Safety Standard: No Certification, No Flag Earlier this year, a devastating fire at the “Le Constellation” bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, claimed 40 lives and left 116 injured. Among the victims was a 15-year-old with Israeli, French, and British citizenship. The tragedy sent shockwaves worldwide and led to stricter fire safety inspections across crowded venues in Europe. Following the incident and tightened Austrian safety protocols, any flag brought into the Wiener Stadthalle must comply with a...

Cyprus: Antigoni Steps into the Iconic Eurovision Stilettos of Eleni Foureira

April 7, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); New details regarding Antigoni’s Eurovision 2026 staging bears a striking resemblance to Eleni Foureira’s successful 2018 performance. Is Cyprus trying a proven formula to conquer the stage in Vienna? The Cypriot delegation for Eurovision 2026 is working tirelessly ahead of Antigoni’s performance of the song "JALLA" in Vienna. However, Antigoni is doing more than just stepping into the formidable stilettos of Eleni Foureira, who secured second place at Eurovision 2018 with "Fuego" - she appears to be following the same blueprint. This includes the same director, an identical stage formation, and even a recent joint performance between the two stars. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Four Dancers and One Iconic Director It was revealed yesterday (Monday) that four dancers will accompany Antigoni on the Eurovision stage in Vienna - the same number of dancers that backed Foureira as the Cypriot representative exactly eight years ago. The dancers are Anna Chatzikyriakou, Konstantina Spyrou, Natalia Michael, and Sophia Papakonstantinou. These four professionals possess...

Luxembourg: Eurovision 2027 Songwriting Camp Officially Announced

March 27, 2026 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Luxembourg launches an international songwriting camp to create the next Eurovision hit. The event features elite creators, including the producer behind the iconic winning tracks "Euphoria" and "Tattoo". While the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest has yet to begin, preparations for Eurovision 2027 are already in full swing. The Luxembourgish musical institution Rocklab has announced the return of its Eurovision Songwriting Camp. This four-day intensive event aims to unite local talent with international creators to craft potential entries for the national selection, the "Luxembourg Song Contest 2027." (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The camp is scheduled to take place from May 29 to June 2, 2026, with registration for songwriters, producers, and performers open until April 26. Although the camp is not a direct branch of the national broadcaster RTL, organizers have indicated that songs developed during the session often reach the national final stage, as seen in previous years. While RTL has not yet officially...