Malmö Messages: dancing, ballads and demons

Based on the posted photos, we can still share some details about today’s rehearsals.

Cyprus: Not much seems to have changed compared to last time. The Cypriot song is mainly a dance act. The singing seemed to be of secondary importance at least. Cyprus once scored a 2nd place with Eleni Foureira in 2018. Whether Silia Kapsis can achieve the same is a big question mark. At the moment, the bookmakers predict a 23rd place for “Liar.”

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

Serbia: Thunder and lightning and rocky landscapes during Teya Dora’s performance. In her song about Ramonda, she sang well before, and we have no reason to believe it’s different now. It was Marija Šerifović who once won for Serbia. Now, with a 24th place according to the bookmakers, it might be a bit more complicated.

EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

Lithuania:  Especially the cheerfulness of the song and Silvester’s charisma are winning over many hearts. The lighting is still red and blue. The masks (or rather a kind of oversized hoodies) of the background singers are more noticeable now. The bookmakers predict a 16th place.

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

Ireland: If you’re into witchcraft and demons, you’re in the right place. Bambie Thug is surrounded by candles, forming a sort of witches’ circle around her. The white-painted face with black remains the same as during the previous rehearsal. Her hair is styled as if they are two horns. The demon on stage is now much more heavily made up. With her song “Doomsday Blue,” Bambie Thug is currently in a good 9th place according to the bookmakers, something Ireland could only dream of in recent years.

EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

Ukraine: Jerry Heil wears a train that she drops, while Alyona Alyona wears a white coat. With Teresa & Maria, they once again manage to make Ukraine one of the competitors to beat. Sitting on the ground or standing back to back, the two ladies deliver their song with strong vocals. It’s no surprise that the bookmakers currently predict a fifth place for them.

EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

Poland: Pointed shoulders are not reserved for Joost alone. Polish Luna also has them as she sings “The Tower.” Additionally, she is followed by three demons (there they are again). However, the pop tune she brings might be just a bit too average to score high. The bookmakers, at least, are not too enthusiastic, giving her a 28th place.

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

in collaboration with Eurovision Artists

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily series of spotlights—today commencing the second semi-final with its first contestant: Bulgaria.   Dara: From X-factor to Eurovision Dara (born Darina Yotova) is one of Bulgaria’s most successful modern pop artists. Born in Varna in 1998, she first gained national recognition as a finalist on The X Factor Bulgaria in 2015, where she finished third and quickly became a household name. Breakthrough and Chart Success After signing with Virginia Records, Dara launched her career with the hit single “K’vo ne chu,” which topped the Bulgarian charts. She followed this with a string of successful releases, including “Rodena takava,” “Nedei,” and “Darbie.” Her energetic mix of pop and R&B, combined with a distinctive voice and strong stage presence, helped her achieve multiple number-one hits and over 80 million streams. Songs like “Thunder,” “Call Me,” and “Mr. Rover” further cemented her status, with the latter even gaining international attention. Television and Mentorship Dara expanded her career through television, appearing on Kato dve kapki voda and later becoming a coach on The Voice of Bulgaria. She quickly proved her talent as a mentor, winning the competition with her team in both 2022 and 2024. Albums and International Growth Her debut album Rodena takava (2022) confirmed her place at the top of the Bulgarian music scene. In 2025, she released ADHDARA, a more personal and internationally oriented project, featuring collaborations with global producers and songwriters. Eurovision 2026 In 2026, Dara won Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026, earning the right to represent Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. With her experience, chart success, and international ambition, she enters the competition as a strong contender.       Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest   After a three-year break from the contest, Bulgaria returned for Eurovision 2026. Bulgaria debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and initially struggled to qualify for the final. However, since the mid-2010s, the country has experienced a strong resurgence, driven by modern pop productions and more competitive entries. This renewed success led to some of Bulgaria’s best-ever results, with standout performances by Kristian Kostov and Poli Genova. Despite these achievements, Bulgaria has also been absent from the contest multiple times due to financial and organizational reasons. The Bookmakers Bulgaria is currently 13th with the bookmaker, qualification for the final should be well within reach. But can they turn momentum into a Top 10 finish?          

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily series of spotlights—today commencing the second semi-final with its first contestant: Bulgaria.   Dara: From X-factor to Eurovision Dara (born Darina Yotova) is one of Bulgaria’s most successful modern pop artists. Born in Varna in 1998, she first gained national recognition as a finalist on The X Factor Bulgaria in 2015, where she finished third and quickly became a household name. Breakthrough and Chart Success After signing with Virginia Records, Dara launched her career with the hit single “K’vo ne chu,” which topped the Bulgarian charts. She followed this with a string of successful releases, including “Rodena takava,” “Nedei,” and “Darbie.” Her energetic mix of pop and R&B, combined with a distinctive voice and strong stage presence, helped her achieve multiple number-one hits and over 80 million streams. Songs like “Thunder,” “Call Me,” and “Mr. Rover” further cemented her status, with the latter even gaining international attention. Television and Mentorship Dara expanded her career through television, appearing on Kato dve kapki voda and later becoming a coach on The Voice of Bulgaria. She quickly proved her talent as a mentor, winning the competition with her team in both 2022 and 2024. Albums and International Growth Her debut album Rodena takava (2022) confirmed her place at the top of the Bulgarian music scene. In 2025, she released ADHDARA, a more personal and internationally oriented project, featuring collaborations with global producers and songwriters. Eurovision 2026 In 2026, Dara won Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026, earning the right to represent Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. With her experience, chart success, and international ambition, she enters the competition as a strong contender.       Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest   After a three-year break from the contest, Bulgaria returned for Eurovision 2026. Bulgaria debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and initially struggled to qualify for the final. However, since the mid-2010s, the country has experienced a strong resurgence, driven by modern pop productions and more competitive entries. This renewed success led to some of Bulgaria’s best-ever results, with standout performances by Kristian Kostov and Poli Genova. Despite these achievements, Bulgaria has also been absent from the contest multiple times due to financial and organizational reasons. The Bookmakers Bulgaria is currently 13th with the bookmaker, qualification for the final should be well within reach. But can they turn momentum into a Top 10 finish?          

Read More »
Follow Us: