News Archives - Page 128 of 271

Fatal Step: The Vote on Israel’s Eurovision Participation Moved Forward to November

September 25, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The EBU announced that the vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision will take place in early November, focusing only on Eurovision 2026 participation, not on KAN’s EBU membership. In light of growing calls to exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest, it was revealed today (Thursday) that the vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, set to take place in Vienna, Austria, has been moved forward to November. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In a letter signed by Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, President of the EBU, and sent to union members, it was stated that during an executive board meeting attended also by former Vice President Petr Dvořák, the current positions of member states regarding the Israeli national broadcaster “KAN” were presented. The EBU emphasized that there exists “an unprecedented range of opinions” on the matter, which has prevented consensus from being reached. It was further highlighted that the organization upholds freedom of expression and open cultural dialogue. Therefore, a...

Eurovision Legend Confesses: “I Was Ill-Prepared for Winning Eurovision 1993”

September 25, 2025 by Maor Heumann Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Niamh Kavanagh reflects on her 1993 Eurovision victory, her struggle with sudden fame, and her husband’s near-death ordeal that reshaped her personal journey. Niamh Kavanagh, the Irish singer who gave Ireland one of its most emotional Eurovision victories in 1993, looks back three decades later and candidly admits how unprepared she was for the overwhelming fame that followed. How does one cope when the leap from an anonymous “hired voice” to a celebrated artist happens overnight? And what transpires when a musical journey intertwines with profound personal challenges? A Dublin Girl Who Conquered the World Kavanagh was born and raised in Glasnevin, Dublin, yet her life journey stretched far beyond her home city. On the popular Irish program "Keys To My Life", broadcast by the national broadcaster RTÉ, personal behind-the-scenes stories of guests are unveiled. The show’s host, Brendan Courtney, visited Kavanagh in her Carrickfergus, Antrim, home, where she lives with her husband Paul and their sons Jack and...

Portugal: Eurovision 2026 Entry to Be Selected on March 7th

September 25, 2025September 25, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Portuguese national broadcaster RTP confirmed Portugal’s participation in Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria. The representative will be chosen via "Festival da Canção 2026". The Portuguese national broadcaster RTP officially announced that Portugal will participate in Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria. Portugal becomes the 29th country to express interest in joining Eurovision 2026, following Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the host country, Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How Will Portugal Choose Its Entry for Eurovision 2026? The Portuguese national broadcaster RTP confirmed that the format of "Festival da Canção 2026" would remain unchanged, consisting of two semi-finals and one grand final, where the winner will be selected to represent Portugal in Vienna. In each semi-final, eight songs will compete, and five will advance to the final. Four qualifiers will be chosen...

Eurovision in Crisis: Polish media and fans urge TVP to Withdraw Over Israel’s Participation

September 25, 2025September 25, 2025 by Maor Heumann Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); OGAE Poland and media outlets back the national broadcaster, pledging support if it withdraws from Eurovision 2026 due to Israel’s contested participation. Will the pressure succeed? OGAE Poland, alongside a range of media outlets covering the competition, including Eurowizja.org, Dobry Wieczór Europo, Dziennik Eurowizyjny, Eurovibes, Let’s Talk About ESC, Miechulec, and Misja Eurowizja, sent a letter to Tomasz Sygut, director of the Polish national broadcaster TVP. They pledged their backing should TVP decide to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 over Israel’s participation. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Mysterious Figure and the Critical Decision According to journalist Ran Boker from Ynet, a supervisor has been appointed, whose identity has not been revealed. He began several weeks ago with a round of meetings with directors of European national broadcasters. However, he has not yet made contact with the Israeli broadcaster KAN. In Israel, some cautiously assess that the fact he does not come from a hostile country may be...

Where Will Eurovision 2026 Take Place? Which City Will Host Eurovision 2026? Where Will It Be Held?

September 24, 2025 by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Which city will host Eurovision 2026? Where eurovision 2026 will be held? Vienna is the city that will host Eurovision 2026 on May 12, 14, and 16. It will be the third time the historic Austrian capital welcomes the contest. Vienna will host Eurovision 2026! The Austrian capital will stage the contest in May, with the first semi-final on May 12, the second on May 14, and the Grand Final on May 16. This will mark the third time the historic city hosts Eurovision, following previous editions in 1967 and 2015. The venue will be the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena, with a capacity of around 16,000 spectators. This arena also hosted the contest in 2015 and will again welcome all shows. Vienna, Austria’s capital, is the country’s largest city with more than two million inhabitants. It is consistently ranked among the cities with the highest quality of life in the world. Founded as an ancient Celtic settlement and later serving as a Roman military camp, Vienna has grown into an important cultural, political, and economic hub in Europe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision Tickets: Details regarding ticket sale dates and prices will be published on...

Reports In Sweden: Gina Dirawi and Hampus Nessvold to Host Melodifestivalen 2026

September 24, 2025 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Reports in Sweden reveal that Gina Dirawi and Hampus Nessvold will co-host Melodifestivalen 2026. Gina Dirawi and Hampus Nessvold are expected to host Sweden’s Melodifestivalen—the national selection for Eurovision—for the fourth time for Dirawi and first time for Nessvold. Dirawi, 34, previously hosted in 2012, 2013, and 2016 alongside the 29-year-old comedian and actor Nessvold. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); SVT Aims For Another Successful Melodifestivalen Edition According to respected Swedish news site Aftonbladet, Dirawi and Nessvold will jointly present the upcoming Melodifestivalen. The duo is described as a wise choice aiming to replicate last year’s success. Nessvold began his career in 2016 on Swedish radio and quickly expanded into literature, music, television, and stage. Rumors about the hosts have been circulating since August. One Aftonbladet source said, “The names came up in spring, and everything was likely finalized in summer.” Another added about Nessvold, “He is also a talented singer, so he can definitely perform entertainment bits and sketches—the hallmark of Melodifestivalen. Gina also enjoys...

Disappointment: Three RAI Senior Executives Call to Boycott Israel at Eurovision

September 23, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Is Italy changing its stance on Israel? While once considered a supporter, senior executives at the Italian national broadcaster RAI now urge the country to boycott if Israel remains in Eurovision. Contrary to what many in Israel thought until recently, Italy may not necessarily support Israel’s participation in the contest. Three members of the RAI board of directors — Italy’s public national broadcaster — have demanded that the organization announce it will not take part if Israel remains in the competition. They argue that such an early declaration would be “another way to increase pressure” on Israel. They warned that Italy’s silent participation, with no form of protest, could be perceived as tacit legitimization of the events in Gaza, pointing out that five other countries — the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain — have already stated they will not take part if Israel is included. It should be noted, however, that despite these claims, Iceland has not yet publicly confirmed...

Hope for a Comeback? North Macedonia to Broadcast Eurovision 2026

September 23, 2025 by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); North Macedonia confirmed it will broadcast Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, but participation remains uncertain. Could this be the first step toward a long‑awaited comeback? The Macedonian national broadcaster, MRT, has published its 2026 programming schedule and confirmed it will broadcast Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna, Austria. This announcement comes amid growing public pressure for a return to the contest, as previously reported. The fact that MRT continues to broadcast Eurovision despite its withdrawal raises speculation over a possible return. The door clearly remains open. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Reasons for Hesitation and Future Plans In its official statements, the Macedonian national broadcaster explains that no final decision has yet been made regarding participation in Eurovision 2026. The reasons include the need for a careful evaluation of financial and production capacities, considerations over the selection method for a representative and stage concept, as well as lessons drawn from previous participations. MRT appears determined to reach a well‑considered decision aligned with the...

Azerbaijan Responds: Will It Withdraw From Eurovision 2026 if Israel Is Excluded?

September 23, 2025 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Azerbaijan, known for its support of Israel at Eurovision, officially responds to rumors about a withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 should Israel be excluded from the contest. Azerbaijan has already confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. In recent months, Turkish media and social networks circulated rumors that Azerbaijan may withdraw from the upcoming contest if Israel is excluded. The Azerbaijani delegation’s Head of Media, Turab Teymurov, has put these rumors to rest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Azerbaijan Stays Apolitical In a conversation with the Azerbaijani news site APA, Teymurov clarified that the claims are unfounded and that the delegation’s approach is strictly apolitical regarding Eurovision: “Whether it is Israel or any other country, we do not involve ourselves in politics.” As a reminder, four countries have already announced they will withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates—The Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain. Conversely, no nation has declared a boycott if Israel is excluded, but several countries—Austria, Italy, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, Switzerland, and Azerbaijan itself—support...

Emmelie De Forest and Jørgen Olsen Call for Israel’s Expulsion from Eurovision

September 23, 2025 by Neta Geffen Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026: Emmelie De Forest and Jørgen Olsen from Denmark demand Israel’s removal, calling its participation “the destruction of Eurovision”. But is Israel the real issue - or is politicization itself endangering the contest’s future? In recent days, two Danish Eurovision winners have issued dramatic statements: they argue that Israel should not be allowed to participate, even describing its involvement as “the destruction of the contest”. Is Israel’s participation truly undermining Eurovision - or is the broader trend of turning the musical stage into a political battleground the real threat to the competition’s foundations? These questions are sparking debate not only among Eurovision fans but also within Israel, where many feel once again compelled to defend their place in the international cultural arena. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Danish Singers vs. Israel Emmelie de Forest, the Eurovision 2013 winner with her chart-topping hit "Only Teardrops", and Jørgen Olsen, half of the Olsen Brothers who triumphed...