Day 4: new sun troubles, a Swedish circle and many more

Today is the day of the stage again. Today the EBU has made an official statement about it: “During the technical tests in Turin, the production team has experienced challenges with how long it takes to adjust the “sun” to different positions in the time between the different performances. Together with the host station RAI it was therefore decided that the sun will remain in the same position during all 40 songs, to ensure a fair competition for all participating countries.”. What position that is, is still being discussed. So to be continued again. It is certain that a number of countries now have to make changes in their staging.

Meanwhile, 9 countries rehearsed for their performance in the second semifinal.

IRELAND: Brooke takes the stage in a bright blue suit. During her performance she is assisted by four dancers. They start the song lying on the floor! Ireland uses many floor projections. Brooke is also praised by Eurovision.tv for her strong voice. Pyrotechnics are used at the end of her performance.

NORTH MACEDONIA: Andrea stands alone on the podium for North Macedonia. She sings her song completely wrapped in black leather. In her performance she uses the lifting bridges over the water. Shadows of hands are visible on the LED screens. The sun is not only orange but also white and blue.

ESTONIA: Stefan starts his performance on the B stage. He is accompanied only by his guitar. Later in the song, he goes wild: then he uses the entire stage to present his performance. The two cowboys from the national final stayed home.

ROMANIA: WRS from Romania wears glittering wetlook trousers. He also wears a red blouse, but according to Eurovision tradition, that goes off. He turns out to be wearing a sleeveless shirt with glitter underneath. There is a lot of dancing. As a result, the Romanian likely gets a lot of attention from the crowd.

POLAND: The Polish competitor Ochman is also in black, he wears a black suit. He is assisted by four dancers, who seem to represent some kind of water spirits. Flashing light effects can be seen during the performance. The waterfall on the stage is also used… what else could we expect with a song about a river?

MONTENEGRO: Vladana has her entire performance on the B stage. She wears a blue dress during her performance. The background is also blue, with splashes of white as graphics. Vladana mainly remains in one place.

BELGIUM: The Belgian Jérémie Makiese impressed with his song. Jérémie is flanked by four dancers. He himself wears blue-grey trousers, a black shirt and a silver jacket, while the dancers wear black jackets. At the end of the act all the light falls on Jérémie, who is standing on a platform on which flames are projected.

SWEDEN: Cornelia Jakobs ranks high among the bookmakers. As the Swedes always do, Cornelia Jakobs also puts on the same act as during the national final Melodifestivalen. The starry sky at the beginning, the large, first green and then red, circular plate right behind Cornelia, even the silver-black clothing and the bare feet are the same.

CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czech group We Are Domi is the last to rehearse today. The group uses a lot of light, which makes you feel like you’re in a disco. Funny effect: the ‘sun’ on stage looks like a vinyl album here. Eurovision.tv mentions the cello-string guitar: the guitarist made it himself.

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Road to Vienna: Finland

Road to Vienna: Finland As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Finland.​ Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen Linda Lampenius: Violin Star Across Genres Linda Lampenius grew up between a theatre family in Helsinki and a farm in Lapinjärvi. At age five, she chose the violin, and by eight she was already touring internationally with the Helsinki Strings. Her early television appearances, combined with a scholarship, highlighted both her strong classical training and natural stage presence. Studies and International Career Lampenius studied at the Sibelius Academy and performed with the Finnish National Opera Orchestra before launching her solo career. Soon, her work expanded internationally, including collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber and major orchestras. Pop, Classical and Media Success Lampenius broke into pop with her 1997 debut and achieved global classical success with Linda Brava (1999), released by EMI Classics. Over time, she continued blending styles while building a media career through shows like X Factor Finland and Let’s Dance. Pete Parkkonen: From Idols to Finnish Pop Star Pete Parkkonen grew up in Pihtipudas, Finland, where music was part of everyday life. He began as a drummer but switched to singing as a teenager after stepping in for a missing band vocalist. That unexpected moment shaped his path, leading to experience in bands and live performances. Breakthrough with Idols and Chart Success Parkkonen rose to fame in 2008, finishing third in Idols Finland. His debut single “Girl In a Uniform” became a hit, while his first album The First Album (2009) reached number one in Finland. Follow-up releases and TV appearances quickly established him as a major new artist. Finding His Sound and Expanding Career After early English-language releases, Parkkonen shifted to Finnish pop with hits like “Mitä mä teen,” featuring JVG. He also gained wider attention by winning Dancing with the Stars Finland and Tähdet, tähdet, proving his versatility. Continued Success and Media Presence In later years, Parkkonen released multiple hit singles and the album PETE (2018). He remained a strong presence in Finnish pop, including appearances on Vain elämää, where he showcased his range across different musical styles. Liekinheitin: A Story of Passion and Emotional Conflict “Liekinheitin” explores intense desire mixed with emotional instability, focusing on a relationship driven by chemistry rather than balance. Passion Without Stability The track highlights a powerful physical connection that feels exciting and addictive. At the same time, that intensity brings risk, as the volatile dynamic suggests emotional harm is never far away. Mixed Signals and Inner Conflict Contradiction plays a central role. The connection feels real in private but distant in public, creating confusion. This push-and-pull dynamic keeps the narrator emotionally invested, despite the lack of clarity or security. A Story of Temptation and Risk Ultimately, “Liekinheitin” portrays a toxic yet irresistible bond, capturing the tension between logic and desire—choosing passion even when it may lead to pain.           Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest Finland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 57 times since its debut in 1961. They never made it to the top-5 until 2006. The country achieved its only victory in that year with Lordi‘s “Hard Rock Hallelujah.” The bookmakers Finland has been dominating the bookmakers’ odds for weeks, firmly holding the number one spot. Could this be the year they secure their second victory in Eurovision history?        

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Road to Vienna: Finland

Road to Vienna: Finland As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Finland.​ Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen Linda Lampenius: Violin Star Across Genres Linda Lampenius grew up between a theatre family in Helsinki and a farm in Lapinjärvi. At age five, she chose the violin, and by eight she was already touring internationally with the Helsinki Strings. Her early television appearances, combined with a scholarship, highlighted both her strong classical training and natural stage presence. Studies and International Career Lampenius studied at the Sibelius Academy and performed with the Finnish National Opera Orchestra before launching her solo career. Soon, her work expanded internationally, including collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber and major orchestras. Pop, Classical and Media Success Lampenius broke into pop with her 1997 debut and achieved global classical success with Linda Brava (1999), released by EMI Classics. Over time, she continued blending styles while building a media career through shows like X Factor Finland and Let’s Dance. Pete Parkkonen: From Idols to Finnish Pop Star Pete Parkkonen grew up in Pihtipudas, Finland, where music was part of everyday life. He began as a drummer but switched to singing as a teenager after stepping in for a missing band vocalist. That unexpected moment shaped his path, leading to experience in bands and live performances. Breakthrough with Idols and Chart Success Parkkonen rose to fame in 2008, finishing third in Idols Finland. His debut single “Girl In a Uniform” became a hit, while his first album The First Album (2009) reached number one in Finland. Follow-up releases and TV appearances quickly established him as a major new artist. Finding His Sound and Expanding Career After early English-language releases, Parkkonen shifted to Finnish pop with hits like “Mitä mä teen,” featuring JVG. He also gained wider attention by winning Dancing with the Stars Finland and Tähdet, tähdet, proving his versatility. Continued Success and Media Presence In later years, Parkkonen released multiple hit singles and the album PETE (2018). He remained a strong presence in Finnish pop, including appearances on Vain elämää, where he showcased his range across different musical styles. Liekinheitin: A Story of Passion and Emotional Conflict “Liekinheitin” explores intense desire mixed with emotional instability, focusing on a relationship driven by chemistry rather than balance. Passion Without Stability The track highlights a powerful physical connection that feels exciting and addictive. At the same time, that intensity brings risk, as the volatile dynamic suggests emotional harm is never far away. Mixed Signals and Inner Conflict Contradiction plays a central role. The connection feels real in private but distant in public, creating confusion. This push-and-pull dynamic keeps the narrator emotionally invested, despite the lack of clarity or security. A Story of Temptation and Risk Ultimately, “Liekinheitin” portrays a toxic yet irresistible bond, capturing the tension between logic and desire—choosing passion even when it may lead to pain.           Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest Finland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 57 times since its debut in 1961. They never made it to the top-5 until 2006. The country achieved its only victory in that year with Lordi‘s “Hard Rock Hallelujah.” The bookmakers Finland has been dominating the bookmakers’ odds for weeks, firmly holding the number one spot. Could this be the year they secure their second victory in Eurovision history?        

Read More »
Follow Us: