News Archives - Page 51 of 242

Alexander Rybak Opens Up: “I Regret the Kiss, It Was Unprofessional”

February 4, 2026February 6, 2026 by Roie Ben Hoor Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Alexander Rybak returns to "Melodi Grand Prix 2026", reflecting on his past. In a candid interview, he apologizes for his controversial on-stage kiss with Lena Meyer-Landrut and speaks openly about overcoming addiction. Former Eurovision winner Alexander Rybak shared a New Year’s post on his Instagram account, mentioning a date that led European fans to suspect that the artist, who has represented Norway twice and won Eurovision 2009 by a landslide, is planning a return to the competition, set to take place in Vienna, Austria. Alexander Rybak, the man and the violin who brought Norway a historic Eurovision victory with “Fairytale” in 2009, is making a comeback this year at "Melodi Grand Prix 2026", in hopes of representing his country for the third time. But this musical return also brings a moment of deep reflection on one of Eurovision’s most talked-about and controversial moments. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In an intimate interview with Norway’s national broadcaster NRK, Rybak expressed regret for...

Lenny Kuhr Announces Retirement, Citing “Division” Around the Contest

February 4, 2026 by Rachel Geron Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Dutch singer will bring an end to her six-decade career this year, pointing to her husband’s health and an increasingly divided atmosphere that has cast a shadow over the Eurovision community. Lenny Kuhr, one of the most prominent voices in Dutch music and a winner of the Eurovision 1969, has announced her retirement from the music industry. The 75-year-old singer shared the news on her Instagram account, explaining that her decision is primarily due to her husband’s health, but also to what she described as “division” surrounding the cultural climate in recent years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sharing the news with a tone of gratitude, Kuhr turned to her followers on Instagram. She wrote: "Filled with gratitude for such a long life, in love with the muse who always preceded me, I say this with a heavy heart". Her outspoken support for Israel has, in recent years, made her a target of criticism and...

Poli Genova Reveals: I Was Prevented from Competing in the “Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026”

February 4, 2026 by Oscar Diefenthal Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Poli Genova, Bulgaria’s Eurovision representative in 2011 and 2016, revealed in a television interview that she attempted to enter Bulgaria’s “Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026” but was blocked by senior decision-makers. While public attention is currently focused on Bulgaria’s Eurovision 2026 representative, DARA, and the controversy surrounding her over the past week, one of Bulgaria’s most beloved Eurovision participants, Poli Genova, revealed in a television interview that she attempted to compete in Bulgaria’s national selection, “Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026,” but was unsuccessful. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); View this post on Instagram The singer, who brought significant acclaim to Bulgaria with her fourth-place finish in Stockholm and the country’s first qualification to the Eurovision Grand Final in nine years, revealed that she had a strong desire to return to the Eurovision stage for a third time. However, according to her, internal figures within the Bulgarian national broadcaster, BNT, prevented her plans from moving forward. During a local television broadcast,...

Kosovo Demands: A Song Must Be Removed from “Pesma za Evroviziju 2026”

February 4, 2026 by Oscar Diefenthal Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A song competing in “Pesma za Evroviziju 26” has sparked regional controversy, after claims from Kosovo allege prohibited political messaging under Eurovision rules On Monday, the Serbian national broadcaster PBS published the list of 24 competing songs in Serbia’s national selection for Eurovision 2026. Alongside widespread anticipation, one entry sparked significant controversy across the Balkan region. The song, titled “Jugoslavija”, has raised questions over whether it meets the eligibility requirements of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), under whose auspices the Eurovision Song Contest is held due to its title. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 🚫 #Serbia can’t separate politics from #Eurovision After a song about the “return of the army to #Kosovo ” in PZE, this year there’s a song glorifying #Yugoslavia . If Serbia selects it, the EBU won’t allow it — political messages are banned by the rules. pic.twitter.com/HpuDf1hhQn — Eurovision Kosovo (@ESCKOSOVO) February 2, 2026 Political Controversy in Serbia On the same day, a...

Numbers Don’t Lie: Why Returning to Hebrew Could Secure Israel’s Eurovision 2026 Victory

February 3, 2026 by Ilay GaistNo Comments

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); With 200 songs submitted and the official reveal set for Noam Bettan’s birthday, Israel searches for the secret formula to turn its leading odds into a real victory in Vienna. Which language will win? The preparations for Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria, are shifting into high gear, and the anticipation ahead of Israel’s song reveal on March 5th is peaking. After the submission window closed with approximately 200 songs sent to the professional committee, the focus now shifts to selecting the winning song that will represent the country in the contest. With Israel topping the betting charts, the big question now isn’t only about musical style - but about language. This year, the excitement is doubled: Israel’s national broadcaster KAN announced that the song will be unveiled in a festive live show that happens to coincide with Noam Bettan’s 28th birthday. Will Noam continue the English trend that has dominated the last decade, or will the European movement toward native-language songs reach Israel as well...

San Marino Song Contest 2026: Full List of Participants Revealed

February 3, 2026February 17, 2026 by Adiel Shtainmetz Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); San Marino’s national broadcaster, SMRTV, has revealed the 240 participants competing in San Marino Song Contest 2026, featuring several well-known artists. SMRTV has published the full lineup of artists set to compete in "San Marino Song Contest 2026" - the selection that will determine the country’s representative for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. This year’s selection includes an impressive 240 participants from 27 different countries, among them numerous names that recognizable to the Eurovision fans. How will the selection process work? Who are the familiar names returning to the competition scene? All the details are below. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How Will the Selection's Format Work? All 240 participants were divided into eight heats, each featuring 30 contestants. From each heat, five artists will advance to the semi-finals - narrowing the list to just 40 acts. Out of these, ten semi-finalists will qualify for the Grand Final. Ten additional “established” artists will join the finalists, who will be announced during a press conference held in Sanremo,...

Israel at Eurovision 2026: Song Reveal Date Set for March 5th

February 3, 2026February 3, 2026 by Ilay GaistNo Comments

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Israeli national broadcaster KAN announces: Noam Bettan’s Eurovision 2026 song will be revealed live on March 5th, heightening the excitement ahead of the competition. Moments ago, the Israeli national broadcaster KAN announced that Israel’s song for Eurovision 2026, to be performed by Noam Bettan, will be officially unveiled during a live primetime broadcast on Thursday, March 5th, immediately following the evening news on KAN 11. The show will air live from the Neve Ilan studios and will also be simulcast on KAN Gimmel, KAN BOX, and KAN’s digital platforms. Interestingly, the reveal will take place on Noam Bettan's 28th birthday, adding a personal and festive touch to the highly anticipated event. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How Will Israel Choose Its Song for Eurovision 2026? Two weeks ago, the final of “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2026” took place, where Noam Bettan won first place and was selected to represent Israel at Eurovision 2026, which will be held this...

Official: DARA Will Not Withdraw from the Eurovision 2026

February 2, 2026 by Oscar Diefenthal Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Bulgarian singer DARA confirms she will remain Bulgaria’s Eurovision 2026 representative despite backlash, online controversy, and voting allegations. This evening (Monday), Bulgarian singer DARA, Bulgaria’s representative for Eurovision 2026, shared on social media that she has no intention of withdrawing from Eurovision 2026. This follows several hours of uncertainty regarding her participation, after she revealed earlier today that she was considering stepping down from the competition. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); View this post on Instagram “All of us, Bulgaria, will shine on the map” In her personal post, DARA revealed the intensity of the drama she has experienced in recent days and the emotional toll caused by the criticism directed at her. Nevertheless, she emphasized that she will continue on her path and represent Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026, choosing to stand firm in the face of hatred and harsh reactions, driven by her desire to present her country on the world’s biggest stage. As reported earlier,...

Cyprus at Eurovision 2026: “JALLA” to Be Revealed on February 8th

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 by Adiel Shtainmetz Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Cypriot national broadcaster CyBC has announced that Antigoni’s Eurovision 2026 entry will be titled “JALLA”. The song and official video will premiere on February 8th as Cyprus prepares for Vienna. Just moments ago, the Cypriot national broadcaster, CyBC, in a joint statement with Antigoni, Cyprus’s representative for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, announced that the song representing the country will be titled “JALLA” and will be officially revealed next Sunday, February 8, at 21:00 local time (CET). The song and its official video will both premiere during the evening news broadcast on the Cypriot television channel RIK1. Subsequently, at 22:00 (CET), “JALLA” will be made available across all major music platforms and on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel. In addition, Antigoni will perform the song live as a guest act during the second semi-final of "Sing For Greece 2026", scheduled for February 13. During this event, Greece’s own Eurovision representative will be chosen. Unlike in previous years, when Cyprus tended to be among the last to...

Serbia: Songs for “Pesma za Evroviziju 2026” Revealed

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 by Oscar Diefenthal Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Serbian national broadcaster has unveiled the 24 songs competing in “Pesma za Evroviziju 2026”. The winning entry will represent Serbia at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. The Serbian national broadcaster, RTS, has published the 24 songs that will compete in the local Eurovision national selection, “Pesma za Evroviziju 2026”, competing for the right to represent Serbia at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. All songs are available for listening on the competition’s official YouTube channel. The national final will take place on February 28. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How Serbia Will Select Its Eurovision 2026 Entry As in previous years, the national selection will feature two semi-finals, scheduled for February 24th and February 26th. Each semi-final will include 12 competing artists, with seven acts from each show qualifying for the grand final, which will be held on February 28th. The winner of the national selection will be determined through a combined voting system consisting...