Basel Bulletin: EBU confirms rumours about the semifinals

The EBU confirms rumours about the semifinals

The EBU confirms rumours about the semifinals! What began as an accidental leak has now been officially confirmed. Martin Green, managing director of the Eurovision Song Contest, has stated that a new format for announcing the semi-final qualifiers will be introduced this year in Basel. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had planned to unveil the change during the live shows, but a rehearsal script aired by a Swiss broadcaster revealed the new procedure ahead of schedule.

The leak came during a routine rehearsal by Swiss broadcaster SRF, which inadvertently aired brief shots of the script during a news segment. Pages of the rundown showed the structure of the semi-final qualifiers segment, revealing the new sequence before the EBU had made an official announcement.

How the New Format Works

The traditional method of revealing the ten finalists — one by one, in random order — will be replaced by a phased system. In each round, three countries will be shown together on screen. The presenter will then announce which of the three has qualified for the Grand Final.

The remaining two are not eliminated at that point but stay “in play” for later announcements. This process will repeat nine times. The tenth and final qualifier will still be revealed individually, preserving a familiar and dramatic ending to the segment.

All Eyes on the Live Broadcast

The confirmation puts an end to speculation and marks a rare mid-season revelation of a format change. With the first semi-final just days away, the Eurovision community will now watch closely to see how the new reveal system translates to the live broadcast — and how it shapes the emotional landscape of this year’s contest.

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Martijn

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🇭🇷 National: Lelek wins Dora 2026

Croatia has chosen their representatives! The annual edition of Dora has taken place, and Lelek have crowned themselves the winner! The group won over both the jury and televote. The girls will represent croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. photo: HRT/ Dario Njavro date: 15 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ananda Dora 13 7 20 15 l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         2 Sergej Scream 33 9 42 10 l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         3 Noelle Uninterrupted 27 11 38 13 l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         4 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame 41 15 56 7 l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         5 Irma Ni traga 32 11 43 8 l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         6 Lara Demarin Mantra 22 18 40 12 l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica         7 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas 3 9 12 16 l & m: Lara Pilepić         8 Lima Len Raketa 20 36 56 6 l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         9 Lana Mandarić Tama 21 11 32 14 l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         10 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare 5 35 40 11 l & m: Moris Orbanić         11 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo 20 22 42 9 l & m: Marko Kutlić         12 Devin Over Me 22 39 61 5 l & m: Devin Juraj         13 Lelek Andromeda 77 96 173 1 l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić         14 ToMa Ledina 44 27 71 4 l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         15 Stela Rade Nema te 46 47 93 3 l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         16 Cold Snap Mucho Macho 38 70 108 2 l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak           1st semifinal date: 12 februaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Lima Len Raketa advanced       l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         2 Jasmina Makota Higher eliminated       l: Jasmina Makota  m: Jasmina Makota & Marin Hraščanec         3 Ananda Dora advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         4 Tony Sky O Ne! eliminated       l & m: Toni Volar         5 Fran Uccellini Ako bolje bude sutra eliminated       l & m: Fran Uccellini         6 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas advanced       l & m: Lara Pilepić         7 Noelle Uninterrupted advanced       l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         8 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame advanced       l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         9 Fenksta Momento Mori eliminated       l: Abby Dank, Emma Louise Gale & Saša ‘Fenksta” Stević  m: Abby Dank & Saša ‘Fenksta’ Stević         10 Cold Snap Mucho Macho advanced       l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak         11 ToMa Ledina advanced       l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         12 Lelek Andromeda advanced       l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić           2nd semifinal date: 13 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare advanced       l & m: Moris Orbanić         2 Irma Ni traga advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         3 Gabrijel Ivić Light Up eliminated       l & m: Gabrijel Ivić & Jun Ishida         4 Zevin My Mind eliminated       l & m: Jernej Drnovšek, Nives Cilenšek         5 Ivan Sever Crying Eyes eliminated       l & m: Aidan O’Connor, Ivan Sever & John Doherty         6 Lana Mandarić Tama advanced       l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         7 Stela Rade Nema te advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         8 Devin Over Me advanced       l & m: Devin Juraj         9 Kandžija 3 ujutro eliminated       l & m: Stjepko ‘Kandžija’ Galović         10 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo advanced       l & m: Marko Kutlić         11 Sergej Scream advanced       l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         12 Lara Demarin Mantra advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica          

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February 15, 2026 No Comments
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

🇭🇷 National: Lelek wins Dora 2026

Croatia has chosen their representatives! The annual edition of Dora has taken place, and Lelek have crowned themselves the winner! The group won over both the jury and televote. The girls will represent croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. photo: HRT/ Dario Njavro date: 15 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ananda Dora 13 7 20 15 l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         2 Sergej Scream 33 9 42 10 l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         3 Noelle Uninterrupted 27 11 38 13 l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         4 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame 41 15 56 7 l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         5 Irma Ni traga 32 11 43 8 l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         6 Lara Demarin Mantra 22 18 40 12 l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica         7 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas 3 9 12 16 l & m: Lara Pilepić         8 Lima Len Raketa 20 36 56 6 l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         9 Lana Mandarić Tama 21 11 32 14 l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         10 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare 5 35 40 11 l & m: Moris Orbanić         11 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo 20 22 42 9 l & m: Marko Kutlić         12 Devin Over Me 22 39 61 5 l & m: Devin Juraj         13 Lelek Andromeda 77 96 173 1 l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić         14 ToMa Ledina 44 27 71 4 l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         15 Stela Rade Nema te 46 47 93 3 l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         16 Cold Snap Mucho Macho 38 70 108 2 l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak           1st semifinal date: 12 februaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Lima Len Raketa advanced       l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         2 Jasmina Makota Higher eliminated       l: Jasmina Makota  m: Jasmina Makota & Marin Hraščanec         3 Ananda Dora advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         4 Tony Sky O Ne! eliminated       l & m: Toni Volar         5 Fran Uccellini Ako bolje bude sutra eliminated       l & m: Fran Uccellini         6 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas advanced       l & m: Lara Pilepić         7 Noelle Uninterrupted advanced       l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         8 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame advanced       l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         9 Fenksta Momento Mori eliminated       l: Abby Dank, Emma Louise Gale & Saša ‘Fenksta” Stević  m: Abby Dank & Saša ‘Fenksta’ Stević         10 Cold Snap Mucho Macho advanced       l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak         11 ToMa Ledina advanced       l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         12 Lelek Andromeda advanced       l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić           2nd semifinal date: 13 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare advanced       l & m: Moris Orbanić         2 Irma Ni traga advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         3 Gabrijel Ivić Light Up eliminated       l & m: Gabrijel Ivić & Jun Ishida         4 Zevin My Mind eliminated       l & m: Jernej Drnovšek, Nives Cilenšek         5 Ivan Sever Crying Eyes eliminated       l & m: Aidan O’Connor, Ivan Sever & John Doherty         6 Lana Mandarić Tama advanced       l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         7 Stela Rade Nema te advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         8 Devin Over Me advanced       l & m: Devin Juraj         9 Kandžija 3 ujutro eliminated       l & m: Stjepko ‘Kandžija’ Galović         10 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo advanced       l & m: Marko Kutlić         11 Sergej Scream advanced       l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         12 Lara Demarin Mantra advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica          

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February 15, 2026 No Comments
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