Malmö Messages: The Big Five plus Sweden

We haven’t heard from the big five plus Sweden yet. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the host Sweden automatically qualify for the final. They had their rehearsal tonight.

The United Kingdom was the first to rehearse. If you think you have ended up in the locker room of a boxing match; this is still the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Olly Alexander is wearing red pants and a white shirt. His hands are taped up. Around him are a number of dancers in red shorts and with bare chests. According to eurovision.tv, the camera moves in such a way that it seems as if the room is spinning. It could make you “Dizzy”.

EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

Isaak, representing Germany, appears to be in a very luxurious living room while singing his song “Always on the run”. We see a fire pit, lots of flames, and the cube coming down again. Isaak himself is dressed in black and is flanked by four backup singers; live singing matters here too.

EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

Marcus and Martinus are performing “Unforgettable” for Sweden. And as usual, the Swedes have the exact same act on stage as they did during Melodifestivalen. The twins are dressed in blue and black. On the LED screens behind them, and on the cube above them, many colors and patterns are visible. Occasionally, the title of the song also appears. The act is the same, but huge.

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

The contestant for France, Slimane, is dressed in white during his “Mon amour”. He starts lying down and sings the first part of the song on his knees. Later, he stands behind the microphone and steps away from it to sing the last piece a cappella. The smoke machine does its job.

EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

The Spanish duo Nebulossa rehearsed next. Their song “Zorra” starts from the cube, which is now not hanging but has come all the way down. Mery is wearing pants with wide legs and a blouse with large puff sleeves. The red sofa, which Mery also was standing on during the national final, has come along to Malmö. There is smoke on the floor throughout the performance.

EBU/Corinne Cumming

Angelina Mango will perform for Italy in a red dress. On her arms and legs, we see some sort of plant images. The four dancers emerge from four large cubes to lift Angelina. She stands among them in front of a large throne made of branches. The whole scene is set against a backdrop of a sort of forest with bare trees. In short, there will be much to see during “La Noia.”

EBU/Corinne Cumming

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Road to Vienna: Ukraine

Road to Vienna: Ukraine As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Road to Vienna: Ukraine.   Leléka: Ukraine’s Jazz singer Viktoriia Kornikova, known as Leléka, is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, and composer based in Berlin. She rose to international attention after winning Vidbir 2026, securing her spot as Ukraine’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna.                                                                                                                                    Born on 10 November 1990 in Pershotravensk (now Shakhtarske), Ukraine, Leléka developed a passion for the arts at a young age. Initially trained as an actress at the Karpenko-Karyi Theatre University in Kyiv, she performed in stage productions, shaping her storytelling skills—now a key element of her music. Move to Germany and Musical Evolution In 2014, Leléka moved to Germany to focus fully on music. She studied jazz vocals and composition at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden. During this time, she created a unique sound blending jazz with Ukrainian folk influences.                                                                                                                                            In 2016, she founded the Berlin-based band LELÉKA, combining international jazz with Ukrainian folk traditions. The group quickly gained recognition, winning major awards such as the Creole Global Music Contest (2017) and the European Jazz Award Burghausen (2018). Their discography includes Tuman (2019) and Sonce u Serci (2021), the latter earning a German Jazz Award nomination. The band also contributed music to the Ukrainian TV series And There Will Be People. Recent Projects Leléka continued exploring Ukrainian heritage through music with Rizdvo (2023), focused on Christmas traditions, and Kolysanky (2025), inspired by lullabies. She has performed widely across Europe, building a strong presence on the jazz and world music scene. Ridnym: A Song About Change and Renewal    Ridnym explores transformation, resilience, and emotional renewal. The track uses natural imagery and atmospheric storytelling to show that change is inevitable—and often necessary for growth. From Loss to Strength Rather than presenting loss as defeat, “Ridnym” frames it as part of a cycle. The song highlights how accepting difficult moments can lead to healing, strength, and new beginnings. Themes of Identity and Connection At its core, the track focuses on facing fear, overcoming hardship, and staying connected to one’s roots. It emphasizes perseverance and shared experience, creating a strong sense of belonging and continuity. Cultural Depth and Ukrainian Influence The use of Ukrainian-language passages adds authenticity and emotional depth. These elements connect tradition with modern music, enriching the song’s message and broadening its global appeal. Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest Ukraine has a distinguished history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated since 2003. The country has achieved three victories: in 2004 with Ruslana‘s “Wild Dances,” in 2016 with Jamala‘s “1944,” and in 2022 with Kalush Orchestra‘s “Stefania.” But in fact, Ukraine did always score well. It is the only country that always reached the final! The Bookmakers With a predicted 9th place in the final and a third-place ranking in the semi-finals, Ukraine looks set to qualify with ease once again this year    

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Road to Vienna: Ukraine

Road to Vienna: Ukraine As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Road to Vienna: Ukraine.   Leléka: Ukraine’s Jazz singer Viktoriia Kornikova, known as Leléka, is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, and composer based in Berlin. She rose to international attention after winning Vidbir 2026, securing her spot as Ukraine’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna.                                                                                                                                    Born on 10 November 1990 in Pershotravensk (now Shakhtarske), Ukraine, Leléka developed a passion for the arts at a young age. Initially trained as an actress at the Karpenko-Karyi Theatre University in Kyiv, she performed in stage productions, shaping her storytelling skills—now a key element of her music. Move to Germany and Musical Evolution In 2014, Leléka moved to Germany to focus fully on music. She studied jazz vocals and composition at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden. During this time, she created a unique sound blending jazz with Ukrainian folk influences.                                                                                                                                            In 2016, she founded the Berlin-based band LELÉKA, combining international jazz with Ukrainian folk traditions. The group quickly gained recognition, winning major awards such as the Creole Global Music Contest (2017) and the European Jazz Award Burghausen (2018). Their discography includes Tuman (2019) and Sonce u Serci (2021), the latter earning a German Jazz Award nomination. The band also contributed music to the Ukrainian TV series And There Will Be People. Recent Projects Leléka continued exploring Ukrainian heritage through music with Rizdvo (2023), focused on Christmas traditions, and Kolysanky (2025), inspired by lullabies. She has performed widely across Europe, building a strong presence on the jazz and world music scene. Ridnym: A Song About Change and Renewal    Ridnym explores transformation, resilience, and emotional renewal. The track uses natural imagery and atmospheric storytelling to show that change is inevitable—and often necessary for growth. From Loss to Strength Rather than presenting loss as defeat, “Ridnym” frames it as part of a cycle. The song highlights how accepting difficult moments can lead to healing, strength, and new beginnings. Themes of Identity and Connection At its core, the track focuses on facing fear, overcoming hardship, and staying connected to one’s roots. It emphasizes perseverance and shared experience, creating a strong sense of belonging and continuity. Cultural Depth and Ukrainian Influence The use of Ukrainian-language passages adds authenticity and emotional depth. These elements connect tradition with modern music, enriching the song’s message and broadening its global appeal. Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest Ukraine has a distinguished history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated since 2003. The country has achieved three victories: in 2004 with Ruslana‘s “Wild Dances,” in 2016 with Jamala‘s “1944,” and in 2022 with Kalush Orchestra‘s “Stefania.” But in fact, Ukraine did always score well. It is the only country that always reached the final! The Bookmakers With a predicted 9th place in the final and a third-place ranking in the semi-finals, Ukraine looks set to qualify with ease once again this year    

Read More »
Follow Us: