Who Will Be the Next Käärijä? Finland Opens Song Submission Window for UMK!

Who Will Be the Next Käärijä? Finland Opens Song Submission Window for UMK!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Finland’s national broadcaster YLE has announced "UMK 26", to be held in Tampere on February 28th, 2026. Song submissions open August 18th. Who will follow Erika or Käärijä? Finland is gearing up for Eurovision 2026: the submission window for "Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu", will open on August 18th, 2025, and the competition will take place on February 28th, 2026, at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, as announced by the Finnish national broadcaster YLE. Since 2012, Finland has chosen its representatives through this national selection, continuing a tradition that consistently produces musical sensations. Opening the submission window early demonstrates just how seriously Finland takes Eurovision, giving participants ample time to prepare and refine their performances. Finland serves as an example of a country that has turned its pre-selection into a major cultural event, with broad influence on both the local and international music industries. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); UMK 26 Rules: New Songs and Finnish Citizenship Requirements The...
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56 Years Without a Trophy: How Long Has Each Country Been Waiting for a Eurovision Win?

56 Years Without a Trophy: How Long Has Each Country Been Waiting for a Eurovision Win?

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 56 years without a win: These are the countries still waiting for Eurovision victory. An updated table, historical data, and a look at which nation is truly close to breaking the streak. Basel hosted this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in a particularly exciting and emotional event. Israel, with Yuval Raphael and the song "New Day Will Rise", nearly clinched the trophy, finishing second thanks to overwhelming public support - an achievement that once again places the country in a prominent position in the competition. Only seven years have passed since Israel’s previous victory with Netta Barzilai and "Toy" in 2018. But while Israel continues to lead the field, other countries are still waiting. At the top of this list is Spain, which finished at the bottom of the scoreboard this year and holds the dubious distinction of 56 years without a win, since "Vivo Cantando" brought its last victory in 1969. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle...
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Željko Joksimović Criticizes Voting System: “Where Were the Juries When We Needed Them?”

Željko Joksimović Criticizes Voting System: “Where Were the Juries When We Needed Them?”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Did the change in Eurovision semi-final voting hurt Serbia? Željko Joksimović responds to his country’s failure to reach the final and shares his views on the voting system. At Eurovision 2025, held in Basel, Serbia failed to qualify for the final for the first time in eight years with the song "Mila" (in English: "My Darling"), performed by Princ and produced by Željko Joksimović, one of the most prominent names in the Balkan music scene. Serbia’s failure to reach the final sparked widespread public and media criticism, particularly regarding the elimination of jury voting in this stage. This is a significant event for Serbia, a country that has established itself as a strong performer in the Eurovision Song Contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Broader Implications: Rules, Politics, and Audience Experience Serbia’s non-qualification exposed tension surrounding the Eurovision 2025 voting system, which saw jury voting removed from the semi-finals in favor of televoting only - a...
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Eurovision Song Contest 2026: The Race to Host Narrows to Six Candidate Cities

Eurovision Song Contest 2026: The Race to Host Narrows to Six Candidate Cities

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ebreichsdorf has withdrawn from the race to host Eurovision 2026 in Austria. Six cities remain contenders, with the final decision expected on August 8th, 2025. The municipality of Ebreichsdorf and Comer City have announced their withdrawal from the bidding process to host Eurovision 2026. Comer City is a company associated with Irish real estate billionaire Luke Comer, who purchased and developed the former "Magna Racino" horse racing complex near the town of Ebreichsdorf, Austria. The company had presented an ambitious plan to host Eurovision at its venue: the construction of a temporary arena for 20,000 spectators, public viewing areas for 30,000 people, and a media center for 1,500 journalists. The CEO of Comer City confirmed that the proposal would not advance to the next stage of the process, citing, among other reasons, the tight schedule required to prepare a suitable hosting bid and the Austrian national broadcaster ORF’s regulations, which permit only municipalities - not private entities -...
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Controversy: Abor & Tynna Slammed for Homophobic Remarks

Controversy: Abor & Tynna Slammed for Homophobic Remarks

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Abor & Tynna, Germany's Eurovision 2025 representatives, face public backlash after old posts and a public apology. following the impact, public debate, and musical context. Germany is in turmoil as sibling duo Abor & Tynna, chosen to represent the country with the song "Baller" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, find themselves at the heart of a public scandal. Old social media posts by Abor, in which he expressed views considered homophobic and voiced support for controversial leaders, have come to light. Abor has since issued a public apology, yet the duo continues to top German airplay charts during one of the most tumultuous Eurovision seasons in recent memory. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Abor’s Reddit account, which he used for over three years, was deleted amid the uproar caused by his previous posts. Around three years ago, Abor wrote in a post that: "Pride is a negative trait that leads to discrimination and...
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Norway Demands, EBU Refuses – Yet Accusations Against Israel Persist

Norway Demands, EBU Refuses – Yet Accusations Against Israel Persist

by Guy Solo Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The EBU rejected Norway’s request to access national voting data amid growing controversy over Israel’s public vote success in the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final. Norway demands, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) refuses – and once again, Israel finds itself at the center of a growing dispute. In the weeks following Israel's dramatic public vote victory in Eurovision 2025 – despite not winning the contest overall – calls in Norway have intensified for an investigation into the "validity" of the public vote. However, this concern seems to appear only when the controversy involves Israel. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Why Is Norway Suddenly Interested in a Vote Review? The Norwegian national broadcaster, NRK, is now requesting access to the raw voting data of its viewers, alleging that a “coordinated campaign” may have influenced votes in favor of Israel. Yet the EBU has firmly rejected the request, citing the risk of exposing system vulnerabilities that could lead...
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Eurovision Scandal: Most of the Spanish Public Support Israel’s Disqualification

Eurovision Scandal: Most of the Spanish Public Support Israel’s Disqualification

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A Spanish poll reveals: 62% of viewers believe the Eurovision 2025 vote was manipulated, 76% demand the abolition of public voting, and 58% support excluding Israel from the contest. A new survey conducted after the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 final in Basel reveals that 62.3% of Spanish viewers believe the public vote was rigged or manipulated. The data, published by the CIS (Spanish Center for Sociological Research), points to unprecedented distrust in the voting mechanism and raises questions about the legitimacy of the winner selection process in Eurovision - the largest and most-watched music event in Europe. Implications: Public Distrust, Calls for Reform, and Political Tensions The far-reaching implications of the survey extend beyond criticism of the voting system. In Spain, 76.2% of viewers support abolishing the public vote entirely following Israel’s victory, and more than 79% demand an external audit of the voting mechanism by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The sharp criticism comes amid growing political trends...
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Montenegro at Eurovision 2026: Decision on Participation Set for Late September

Montenegro at Eurovision 2026: Decision on Participation Set for Late September

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Montenegro’s national broadcaster has not yet confirmed participation in Eurovision 2026, despite reports suggesting otherwise. The final decision will be made at the end of September. Journalists and Eurovision commentators were quick to affirm Montenegro’s participation in Eurovision Song Contest 2026, following the publication of a summary letter by the head of delegation, Vladana Vučinić, on the website of the national broadcaster RTCG after Eurovision 2025. In this letter, Vladana wrote: “See you next year”, which gave the impression that Montenegro is expected to return to the competition next year. However, it is important to clarify that the national broadcaster emphasized that final approval for participation will only be granted at the end of September. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Rumors, Misunderstandings, and a Look Back at Montenegro’s Eurovision 2025 Montenegro’s representative for Eurovision 2025, Nina Žižić, finished in 16th and last place in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2025, with only 12 points - all from the Serbian televote. The result raised questions about...
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Will She Win Eurovision? Klavdia, Greece’s Representative, Aims to Return—and Take the Trophy!

Will She Win Eurovision? Klavdia, Greece’s Representative, Aims to Return—and Take the Trophy!

by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); As Greece begins its preparations for Eurovision 2026, the country’s 2025 representative in Basel, Klavdia, has announced her ambition to return to Eurovision in two or three years—with the clear goal of winning it all! Greece has officially launched its preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will mark the 70th edition of the world’s most popular musical event. Amid these preparations, singer Klavdia, who represented the country at Eurovision 2025, appeared on the Greek morning show "Smile Again" and spoke about the powerful experience she had in Switzerland. According to her, the connection with the audience and the sense of camaraderie outweighed her final ranking, and she is already dreaming of returning to the competition—this time, to win. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Klavdia Reflects on Her Eurovision Experience and the Power of Audience Support Klavdia emphasized that, for her, participating in Eurovision 2025 was not measured solely by points or placement, but by the...
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The Mystery of the Stolen Dress: Who Stole the Dress of the Ukrainian Eurovision Winner?

by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ukraine is in turmoil: The dress of Eurovision winner Jamala, recently returned to her from Sweden, has been stolen, causing an uproar on Ukrainian social media. Who stole Jamala's dress? The iconic outfit of Jamala, the Ukrainian winner of Eurovision 2016, was stolen after being returned to her from the ABBA Museum in Sweden. Jamala, who won first place with the song "1944" in the competition held in Stockholm, recently revealed that the dress she wore—designed by the international Ukrainian designer Ivan Frolov—disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The singer refrained from disclosing further details but posted a photo from the historic performance, leaving the Eurovision community with many questions. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision Costumes as Cultural and Political Symbols The disappearance of Jamala's outfit highlights how Eurovision costumes have become highly valuable cultural symbols, not only for fans of the competition but also in the international collectors' market. Over the years, notable costumes from the contest—such as those of Netta Barzilai from...
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