News Archives - Page 144 of 271

Albania Announces Submission Window for Eurovision Preselection Songs

August 1, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has announced the upcoming submission period for Festival i Këngës, including the conditions for song entries. The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has started preparations for the 64th edition of Festivali i Këngës. This traditional festival began in 1962, and ahead of Eurovision 2004—the year Albania joined Eurovision—it became the country’s official national final for Eurovision selection. Now, the national broadcaster shares that the submission window for the festival will span the entire month of September, from the 1st to the 30th. Additionally, RTSH revealed the eligibility criteria for submission: according to Eurovision rules, the song must be new, meaning it cannot have been previously published. The song must not exceed 4 minutes, and songs produced with artificial intelligence are prohibited. All participants must be over 16 years old. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. In June, RTSH announced that singer Elhaida Dani, who represented Albania at Eurovision 2015 in Vienna, Austria, with the song "I'm Alive" and...

Turkey: Will It Return to Eurovision for the First Time Since Withdrawing in 2012?

August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Demet Akalın wants to represent the Republic of Türkiye at Eurovision — but she has conditions! What are the successful singer’s terms, and is there a chance Türkiye will come back to the contest? The Turkish singer Demet Akalın, who performed the hit "Yerinde Dur" ("Standing Still") with Sefu, announced in an interview that she is open to participating in the Eurovision Song Contest if Turkey returns to the competition, on the condition that the song is in Turkish. Akalın’s latest hit topped all Turkish charts, reached fifth place on the global trending YouTube videos list, and garnered more than 91 million views on YouTube within just one month. The announcement of her willingness to represent the Republic of Türkiye comes after more than a decade in which the country has not taken part in the contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Fans on Edge — Will Turkey Return? Demet Akalın's statement raises questions about the future of...

Storm in Serbia: Olivera Kovačević, Producer of the Serbian Eurovision Selection, Dismissed!

August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A storm is brewing in Serbia following the dismissal of national Eurovision selection producer Olivera Kovačević by the Serbian national broadcaster. Is the Serbian broadcaster acting under political influence? A wave of controversy has erupted in Serbia after the national broadcaster, RTS, dismissed Eurovision pre-selection producer Olivera Kovačević. According to Kovačević, her firing was the result of her public support for the student protests in Serbia against the government. Serbia has confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026, set to be held in Austria, and is expected to continue selecting its representative for the contest through its national selection, “Pesma za Evroviziju,” the format in place since 2022. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Kovačević’s dismissal came after she stood firmly by her principle of allowing freedom of protest during live broadcasts. Serbia has seen massive student-led protests that have paralyzed the educational sector since last December, following a tragic incident in Novi Sad in which dozens of people...

Austria’s Eurovision Journey: From Udo Jürgens to Conchita Wurst and JJ

August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); From failures to history-making success: The dramatic story of Austria at Eurovision, marked by determination and three wins - Udo Jürgens, Conchita Wurst, and JJ. In May 2026, Austria will be at the center of worldwide attention as it hosts the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest - celebrating the rich legacy of an event that began in 1956. After more than a decade, the competition returns to Austria, energized by the outstanding opera singer JJ, who captivated audiences and won first place at Eurovision 2025 with his hit "Wasted Love". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s Early Days at Eurovision (1957–1968) Austria first joined Eurovision in 1957, but its debut proved challenging - Bob Martin, with the song “Wohin, kleines Pony”, finished in last place. Following several middling performances, Austria turned to Israeli singer Carmela Corren to represent the country in 1963 with "Vielleicht geschieht ein Wunder". Although Corren was the first Israeli...

Latvia Confirms Participation in Eurovision 2026!

August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Latvian national broadcaster LTV has confirmed Latvia’s participation in Eurovision 2026, to be held in Austria. Latvia is expected to select its entry again through Supernova 2026. The Latvian national broadcaster LTV has officially announced that Latvia will participate in Eurovision 2026, which will be hosted in Austria. Latvia becomes the 21st country to express interest in joining Eurovision 2026, following Albania, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the host country, Austria. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Latvia Plans Another Supernova? Latvia’s national broadcaster confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026 to Eurovision news website ESC Today. “Supernova” will again serve as Latvia’s selection platform for the Eurovision entry, marking the 11th consecutive year that the Latvian song will be chosen via Supernova - except for 2021, when Samanta Tina was selected directly after the cancellation of Eurovision 2020. The submission window for Supernova 2026 opened today, until October 1st, 2025....

Ukraine at Eurovision 2026: Preparations Begin Amidst Buzz and Speculation!

July 31, 2025August 1, 2025 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Preparations for Eurovision 2026 are underway, and in Ukraine the excitement is palpable—numerous singers have expressed interest in representing the nation, while former stars are vocal about their own ambitions and opinions. Who will represent Ukraine at the next Eurovision? After the strong showing by Ziferblat at Eurovision 2025, Ukraine’s music scene is abuzz with speculation and excitement. Ukrainian performers are already busy preparing for the coming year, and the local press is actively covering the mounting drama. Several previous representatives have announced whether they intend to return—or not—and have not held back in sharing their thoughts about their fellow artists and who might be worthy of representing Ukraine on the Eurovision stage. Notably, Ukraine has yet to officially confirm its participation in Eurovision 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Katerina Pavlenko, who represented Ukraine in 2021 alongside the band Go_A and recently began performing solo under the name Monokate, has not ruled out a possible Eurovision comeback. However, she notes...

Junior Eurovision Star Freya Skye Shines in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires on Disney+

July 31, 2025August 1, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Freya Skye, Junior Eurovision star, stars as Nova Bright in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires on Disney+. At just 15 years old, she captivates television audiences worldwide, making a remarkable transition from Junior Eurovision to a rising acting career. On July 10, 2025, Disney+ released the highly anticipated musical sequel Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, the fourth installment in the beloved Zombies film franchise. This energetic addition follows the adventures of Zed, Addison, Willa, and Eliza after their first year at Mountain College. But one new face is already catching everyone's attention — British singer and actress Freya Skye, who stars as Nova Bright, a key character in this exciting chapter. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision Freya Skye’s Rise to Fame with Junior Eurovision Freya Skye is not just another cast member. Now, with Zombies 4, Freya steps fully into the spotlight on a major global streaming platform, captivating audiences worldwide. At just 13, Freya represented the United Kingdom in the 2022...

Olly Alexander Opens Up About His Eurovision Experience: “It Was Very Stressful”

July 30, 2025 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Olly Alexander reveals the intense emotions he faced representing the UK at Eurovision 2024, amid political tensions surrounding Israel. "The experience was very stressful." The British star Olly Alexander, former lead singer of Years & Years and representative of the UK at Eurovision 2024 with the song "Dizzy", opens up about the complex feelings he experienced during the contest. Despite a disappointing result—finishing 18th and receiving zero points from the public—Alexander now expresses pride for the opportunity alongside admitting that "now that I’ve had a bit of time away, I’m so proud I got to do it, but it was also very stressful; it can be very vulnerable and isolating." “I’ve never had so much pressure put on a song. People are brutal anyway, but because we’re in a competition, people are really going for you. I was like, ‘God, I’m just trying to give people a fun time‘“, the singer added in an interview with the prestigious British...

The Reference Group Expands: Who Are the New Members Steering Eurovision?

July 30, 2025 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Tomislav Štengl from Croatia and David Tserunyan from Armenia are joining the Eurovision Reference Group ahead of Eurovision 2026. Who are the new members? Two new members have joined the Eurovision Reference Group in advance of Eurovision 2026: Tomislav Štengl from Croatia and David Tserunyan from Armenia. Their appointment signals a strengthening of the body overseeing the world’s biggest song contest, with broader and more professional representation. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); What Is the Reference Group? The Reference Group is Eurovision’s engine room—a body that supervises, sets strategy, and makes high-level decisions regarding the contest. Its duties include supervising production, selecting and approving the host city, updating rules, managing crises, overseeing the budget, and ensuring cultural diversity, fairness, and transparency in voting. With no official policy change announced by the European Broadcasting Union, all eyes are on the actions of the Reference Group’s members—and how they may influence Israel’s position at Eurovision 2026. Tomislav Štengl: A Journey from Croatia to the Heart of...

Greece: The Eurovision 2026 Representative Will Be Chosen in “Ethnikos Telikos 2026”!

July 28, 2025July 29, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Greek national broadcaster ERT announces "Ethnikos Telikos 2026", inviting the public to participate in the Eurovision national final. What led to the decision, the inspiration, and can Greece continue its recent success? The Greek national broadcaster ERT has officially confirmed the return of "Ethnikos Telikos 2026" ahead of Eurovision 2026, in hopes of recreating and building on Greece's recent successes in the world's biggest song contest. In the coming days, the criteria and full details for submitting an entry will be published, with the submission window expected to remain open for approximately two months. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Hoping to Rekindle Success The broadcasts of the 2025 final reached ratings as high as 70%, and this, together with the historic sixth place in Basel, has brought great satisfaction to the Greek national broadcaster. The decision to continue with a national selection format seems almost inevitable. Sources in the Greek entertainment industry have indicated that...