Tradition, Innovation, and Greek Celebration: How Greece Prepares for Eurovision 2026

Tradition, Innovation, and Greek Celebration: How Greece Prepares for Eurovision 2026

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Greece launches Eurovision 2026 preparations with a national selection show, announcement expected in July. Will semi-finals return? All details on changes, influences, and expectations for the contest. Greece has officially begun preparations for Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will mark the 70th edition of the world’s most popular music event. According to official reports, the Greek national broadcaster, ERT, is set to hold its first meeting on the topic this week, during which a decision is expected regarding the organization of a national final to select Greece’s representative for the competition. The official announcement is scheduled for the end of July, and it will also reveal the opening date for submissions from creators and performers - who will have at least two months to prepare. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Greece is aiming high - can we expect innovations in the next national selection? The early preparations by Greece for Eurovision 2026 reflect a desire...
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Luxembourg Sets Its Sights High: Eurovision 2026 Songwriting Camp Kicks Off

Luxembourg Sets Its Sights High: Eurovision 2026 Songwriting Camp Kicks Off

by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Forty-five European songwriters gathered at a unique songwriting camp in Luxembourg, aiming to create the country’s next Eurovision 2026 entry. Will one of these new songs represent Luxembourg in Austria? While Eurovision 2025 has barely cooled down, Luxembourg is already polishing potential entries for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria. Forty-five creators and artists from across Europe are participating in an intensive songwriting camp currently taking place at Rockhal in Luxembourg, where songs are being born that could find their way to Europe’s grandest stage. Luxembourg, which recently confirmed its participation in the 2026 Eurovision edition, is solidifying its status as a serious player on the Eurovision scene. The country returned to the contest after an absence of more than 30 years with the song "Fighter" by Tali Golergant in 2024, and participated again in 2025 with "La poupée monte le son" by Laura Thorn. The current camp highlights Luxembourg’s investment in early preparation, international collaborations, and a continuous search...
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Backstage Crisis: Which Country Is Threatening to Withdraw from Eurovision and Why?

Backstage Crisis: Which Country Is Threatening to Withdraw from Eurovision and Why?

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision in crisis: Which additional country is threatening to withdraw from Eurovision 2026, and what is the reason for these threats? Three countries have so far threatened to leave the contest. San Marino, the small nation that sent Gabry Ponte with the song "Tutta L'Italia" to Eurovision 2025, is seriously considering withdrawing from next year’s contest. The CEO of the San Marino national broadcaster SMRTV, Roberto Sergio, expressed deep frustration in an interview with local media over the lack of transparency in both the public and jury voting. Sergio did not hide his anger: “The situation is not clear to us at all. There is a lack of transparency in the public voting, the jury, and the results. Under these conditions, we are seriously considering not participating in Eurovision in the coming years”. San Marino’s threat joins criticism from other national broadcasters such as VRT from Belgium and RTVSLO from Slovenia, which are also demanding changes to the voting...
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Eurovision 2026 in Austria: Innsbruck Joins the Race to Host the Contest

Eurovision 2026 in Austria: Innsbruck Joins the Race to Host the Contest

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Innsbruck has officially joined the race to host Eurovision 2026 in Austria, competing against Vienna and Graz. Will this Alpine city lead Europe’s biggest musical event of the year? Innsbruck, the mountainous city in western Austria, has officially joined the race to host Eurovision 2026 after its city council approved the submission of its candidacy. The decision makes Innsbruck one of the leading contenders for the opportunity to host the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Austria this year following JJ’s victory in the grand final in Basel. The grand final is expected to be held on May 16th or 23rd, 2026, with all eyes in Europe turned toward the winning country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026 as a Game-Changing Event The preparations for Eurovision 2026 in Austria are already influencing the local entertainment industry: the national broadcaster, ORF, is postponing television programs and channeling vast resources into producing the event, recognizing that this...
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The Country That Almost Ended Eurovision: What Lies Behind the Big 5 System?

The Country That Almost Ended Eurovision: What Lies Behind the Big 5 System?

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); One decision changed Eurovision forever: how five European countries guarantee a final spot every year-and the economic crisis that nearly wiped out the contest. And how did Dana International affected this move? In a contest where we debate song quality annually, some have long secured guaranteed entry to the final-regardless of their song's merit. The Big 5 have become synonymous with privilege in Eurovision, but few understand how this decision was born and what led to it. Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Italy enjoy permanent final spots, no matter the quality of their entries. How did they become untouchable? Was it a default choice or a power move to save the contest? And what happened in 1996 when Germany nearly pushed Eurovision to the brink of collapse? This article dives deep into the story everyone has heard but few truly grasp. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Song That Nearly Bankrupted Eurovision Eurovision 1996 caused significant...
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Albania Confirms Participation in Eurovision 2026!

Albania Confirms Participation in Eurovision 2026!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});  Albania’s national broadcaster, RTSH, has officially confirmed the country’s participation in Eurovision 2026 in Austria. The Albanian representative will be selected through the “Festivali i Këngës”, the nation’s traditional national selection event. Albania’s national broadcaster, RTSH, has officially confirmed that Albania will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, set to take place in Austria. As in previous years, the country’s representative and song will be chosen through the traditional “Festivali i Këngës”, scheduled for this December. With this announcement, Albania joins the list of countries that have already secured their spot in Europe’s largest musical event. Albania is the 15th country to express interest in Eurovision 2026, following Denmark, Greece, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland, Malta, Luxembourg, and the host country, Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Albania in Eurovision: Tradition, Identity, and High Hopes for 2026 The announcement of Albania’s participation in Eurovision 2026 highlights the country’s longstanding commitment to the contest,...
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Luxembourg Confirms Participation in Eurovision 2026!

Luxembourg Confirms Participation in Eurovision 2026!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Luxembourg’s national broadcaster, RTL, has confirmed the country’s participation in Eurovision 2026 in Austria. The representative will be selected through the “Luxembourg Song Contest 2026” national selection. Luxembourg has officially confirmed: the country will participate in Eurovision 2026, which will be held in Austria. This will mark Luxembourg’s third appearance since its return to the contest in 2024. The next representative will once again be chosen through the local pre-selection, the “Luxembourg Song Contest”, produced by the national broadcaster RTL. Luxembourg is the 14th country to express interest in Eurovision 2026, following Denmark, Greece, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland, Malta, and the host country, Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A European Trend, Economic Challenges, and Musical Renewal Luxembourg’s decision to continue in Eurovision, despite a disappointing result in Basel (22nd place in the grand final), reflects the cultural and political importance of the contest for smaller nations. In discussions I held with Eurovision...
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After a 12-Year Absence – Will Slovakia Return to Eurovision?

After a 12-Year Absence – Will Slovakia Return to Eurovision?

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Slovakia may return to Eurovision after a 12-year hiatus, pending commercial support and approval from the new management. Is this decision final? After a 12-year absence, a surprising turn of events has emerged from the Eastern European nation: the Slovak national broadcaster, RTVS, has confirmed that it is reconsidering participation in Eurovision, provided that favorable financial and artistic conditions are met. This marks the first official signal from the country since 2012 and is particularly intriguing in light of the recent wave of smaller countries seeking creative ways to secure their spot in Eurovision 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A New Outlook – Hope Under New Management According to Filip Púchovský, spokesperson for the communications and marketing department at RTVS, the main obstacle preventing Slovakia's participation in recent years has always been budgetary. However, this time there is openness to working with commercial partners. “Many small countries participate in the contest thanks to private sector and sponsor support, [...] and Slovakia...
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Italy: A Revolution at Sanremo – Landmark Ruling Changes the Rules of the Game

Italy: A Revolution at Sanremo – Landmark Ruling Changes the Rules of the Game

by Guy Solo Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A court ruling in Italy obligates the city of Sanremo to launch a public tender for the production of the iconic festival in the coming years. What this means for RAI and Eurovision? A seismic shift has occurred at the Sanremo Music Festival: Italy's top administrative court has annulled the direct assignment of production rights to RAI, the national broadcaster, for the years 2026–2028. The court has ordered the city of Sanremo to initiate a public bidding process. The decision, handed down on May 29, 2025, reshapes one of Italy’s most revered cultural institutions and sets a powerful legal precedent for national events and broadcasting rights — with potential consequences for Italy’s future participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Legal Battle That Changed Everything The definitive ruling by the Consiglio di Stato (Council of State) rejected all appeals from RAI, its advertising subsidiary, and the City of Sanremo, upholding a prior decision by the...
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Eurovision 2026: Austria and the European Broadcasting Union Begin Preparations!

Eurovision 2026: Austria and the European Broadcasting Union Begin Preparations!

by Tal Dahan Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A delegation from the European Broadcasting Union met yesterday with Austrian national broadcaster executives to initiate preparations for Eurovision 2026, which will be held in Austria as the contest’s 70th edition. The Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, winner of Eurovision 2025, has begun preparations to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026—the 70th anniversary of Europe’s largest music event. Yesterday, a formal meeting took place in Vienna between ORF management and a delegation from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), led by Thomas Ramstorfer, a key figure in Austrian Eurovision productions. During the meeting, ORF representatives emphasized their commitment to a world-class production: “We at ORF have committed to hosting an Eurovision in 2026 that fully meets the standards of the world’s biggest TV entertainment show.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Host City Still Undecided—Vienna and Surrounding Areas in Focus Despite Austria’s victory, the host city has yet to be determined. ORF is still considering various options, with Vienna...
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