Talya Raviv, Author at EuroMix

Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, or Burgas: Who Will Host Eurovision 2027?

July 3, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); BNT confirmed that Burgas, Plovdiv, Sofia, and Varna submitted official bids to host Eurovision 2027. The final decision is expected this July. The Bulgarian national broadcaster announced that four Bulgarian cities - Burgas, Plovdiv, Sofia, and Varna - submitted official bids to host Eurovision 2027. The deadline for submitting proposals expired today at 17:00 CET, after which the competition for selecting the host city moved to the next and critical stage - the application evaluation phase. The final decision regarding the city that will win the right to host Europe's largest music event is expected to be published towards the end of July. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The General Director of the national broadcaster BNT, Milena Milotinova, wrote in a post on social media: “Four cities have submitted their applications to host Eurovision in Bulgaria: Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, and Varna. BNT is not simply looking for a venue to stage the biggest music event, but for a partner city...

From Céline Dion to La Zarra: Canada’s Iconic Eurovision Legacy

July 2, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); As CBC prepares for Canada's historic Eurovision 2027 debut in Bulgaria, we review the iconic Canadian artists who already made history. The excitement is at its peak: after reporting that Canada will make its historic debut at Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria, and that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced an national selection open to the general public, it is time to map out the context. Although Canada as a country is only joining the competition now through the national broadcaster CBC, Canadian artists have already left a massive mark on the Eurovision stage over the years while representing other nations. Ahead of next year's competition, we take a look back at the most iconic Canadian representatives who made history in Europe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Undisputed Queen: Céline Dion It is impossible to talk about Canada and Eurovision without mentioning Céline Dion. In 1988, just one year before her major international breakthrough, the singer from Quebec represented Switzerland...

Linda Lampenius Slams Israel’s High Score in Eurovision 2026 as a “Scam”

June 28, 2026June 28, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Finnish violinist Linda Lampenius alleges the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest voting was a scam, targeting Israel's near-victory after finishing sixth. Following last month’s spectacular Grand Final of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, where Bulgaria claimed the ultimate victory, a wave of controversy has erupted from the upper echelons of the scoreboard. Finnish violinist Linda Lampenius, who represented Finland alongside singer Pete Parkkonen, has publicly accused the international competition of rigged voting results. The duo, who performed the fiery track "Liekinheitin", had dominated betting odds for months as the undisputed favorites to win, but ultimately finished in a disappointing sixth place. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Finnish Eurovision Star Linda Lampenius Slams Voting System Speaking to the Swedish newspaper Expressen this week, Lampenius did not hold back her frustration regarding the outcome. She openly questioned the integrity of the public televote and suggested that outside manipulation altered the true standings. "I think the referendum is a prank, and that there are bought votes and all...

BNT and DARA Launch Major Tourism Push Ahead of Eurovision 2027

June 25, 2026June 25, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026 winner DARA joins forces with BNT and the Ministry of Tourism to promote Bulgaria ahead of hosting Eurovision 2027. Photo: Ministry of Tourism Bulgaria Preparations for hosting Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria are gaining momentum, and with them, efforts to leverage tourism in the country. DARA, the winner of Eurovision 2026, is expected to lead a large-scale advertising campaign that will showcase Bulgaria to the world, after responding to an invitation from the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Ilin Dimitrov, to take part in the initiative. A formal meeting held between the two was also attended by Milena Milotinova, the CEO of the Bulgarian national broadcaster BNT, which is responsible for producing the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in the country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The new project by the Ministry of Tourism is based on creating videos and promotional materials starring famous Bulgarians - including artists, athletes, scientists, and young achievers, who can speak about the country in a...

DARA Dominates Global Spotify Charts With Eurovision Hit “Bangaranga”

June 19, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026 winner DARA tops Spotify charts with "Bangaranga," triggers Sofia Pride debate, and lands an official WWE collaboration. Bulgarian singer DARA conquered the stage at the Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with her rhythmic song "Bangaranga", which led her to a historic and first-ever victory for Bulgaria. Now, following the dizzying success at the contest, Spotify editors have featured the track in their annual list as one of the biggest hits of the summer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The song is highly anticipated to become the definitive summer hit for good reason. As of June 2026, the track stands at approximately 37 million streams on Spotify, alongside roughly 20 million views for the Grand Final performance. The song has also transformed into a hit among non-Eurovision fans, soundtracking around 286,000 videos. It appears that a Eurovision song will centralize the charts once again this summer, after the Portuguese band Napa saw their Eurovision 2025 entry "Deslocado" accumulate over...

NRK Confirms Eurovision 2027 Participation and Opens MGP Submissions

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); NRK officially confirms Norway will compete in Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria, opening the song submission window for the traditional MGP national selection. The Norwegian national broadcaster NRK has officially confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2027, which will take place in Bulgaria next May. Norway is the ninth country to confirm its participation in Eurovision 2027, following Cyprus, Germany, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, San Marino, Greece, Switzerland and the host country – Bulgaria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ‎‏ NRK Opens Song Submissions for MGP 2027 Norway will select its entry for Eurovision 2027 through its traditional national selection, Melodi Grand Prix (MGP). The Norwegian national broadcaster NRK opened the submission window for the local selection today, with the deadline set for August 31st 2026. Aspiring artists and talented songwriters are invited to submit their songs to participate in the competition, and time will tell if the song will also be performed on the Eurovision stage in Bulgaria. The submission of songs is open to all creators, but several rules...

Antigoni Expresses Desire to Return to Eurovision Despite Backlash

June 15, 2026June 16, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Antigoni revealed to Cypriot media her desire to return to Eurovision, despite facing online criticism following her performance in Vienna. ust three days after Cyprus confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2027, the country's representative at the recent contest with the song "JALLA", Antigoni, is already warming up for a possible return to the competition. In an interview with Cypriot media, the singer shared her experience in Vienna from her perspective, revealing that she would love to return to Eurovision in the future - despite the wave of negative comments she received regarding her live performance. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ‎‏ "This is just the beginning": Antigoni aims high In the interview, the singer shared: “Everything was very beautiful, I lived my dream on the Eurovision stage, and I want to do it again. I am very grateful for all the love I received, especially from Cyprus and Greece, I feel that this is the beginning.” She added regarding the winner...

Eurovision 2026: EBU Data Shows Fans Defy AVROTROS and STVR

June 6, 2026June 6, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Official EBU data reveals how voting fans from Netherlands, Slovakia, and Turkey defied political boycotts to support Eurovision 2026 entries. Eurovision 2026 may be behind us, but the official data published by the EBU is making waves across the continent and beyond. It turns out that precisely in countries that did not send any representative to the stage, the craze celebrated with unprecedented power. As is well known, all votes from fans in countries not officially participating in the competition are ultimately aggregated under the "Rest of the World" category into a joint set of points, based solely on the audience vote - both in the semi-finals and the grand final. And this year, this audience spoke loud and clear. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ‎‏ In the official statement by the EBU, it was written: “Fans voted this year in 148 countries and territories - two more than in 2025. Votes from audiences outside the 35 participating countries were combined,...

Eurovision 2027: Sofia’s Bid Hit by Unexpected Venue Name Crisis

May 28, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sofia’s Eurovision 2027 bid faces a sudden hurdle as Arena 8888’s commercial name conflicts with strict EBU neutrality rules. As the host city race for Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria nears its conclusion, a major complication has emerged for the capital city. Sofia's bid has been called into question by local media, suggesting the city might fail to meet the competition's threshold criteria due to a newly raised issue: the commercial name of its proposed venue, Arena 8888. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ‏ The arena, which opened in 2011, boasts an impressive track record, hosting numerous major international sporting and musical events, including the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. In September 2024, a sponsorship agreement was signed between the venue and the online gambling platform 8888.bg, which is the source of the name that is now causing significant concerns. Reports in Bulgaria claim that the lack of a neutral venue name could directly clash with the European Broadcasting Union...

Eurovision 2026: Fans Outraged After Verka Serdiuchka Performance Cut

May 22, 2026 by Talya Raviv Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026 fans are furious after the official YouTube upload cut Verka Serdiuchka's emotional performance of 'Volare' in Vienna. The Eurovision 2026 Grand Final, which took place last week in Vienna, may seem like a magnificent musical celebration, but it did not pass without loud backstage drama. When the official recording of the broadcast was uploaded to the official Eurovision YouTube channel, contest fans around the world were left completely shocked and confused to discover that a significant part of the performance by Ukrainian pop giant Verka Serdiuchka had been cut from the broadcast edit. Social media users are furious about the incident, failing to understand the reason behind the decision, and even claiming that the omitted part was the most emotional moment of the entire evening. During the Grand Final interval act, beloved past stars of the contest delighted the audience with a rhythmic and festive medley of songs. Among the participants who swept the arena,...