Basel Bulletin: red and white, eye masks, lunar modules and catsuits

This rehearsal morning is about red and white, eye masks, lunar modules and catsuits. Today we start the rehearsals of the second semifinal. We tell you everything we know about the first 4 countries in this article.

EBU has decided to release photo’s of it only the day after. But still we can show you (if available) the national final performance or any other live performance so you got an idea what the artists are capable of. Disclaimer: for the description of the performance, we have to do it with what the EBU tells us.

🇦🇺 Australia

Australia’s Go-Jo opens Day 3 of rehearsals with Milkshake Man, performed by artist Marty Zambotto. The staging begins with a retro-style infomercial, setting the tone for a performance rooted in 1970s and 1980s aesthetics. Go-Jo wears a white suit with a red-striped collar and cravat, accompanied by two dancers in red and white striped dresses. The LED graphics follow the theme of the official video, featuring bold neon visuals and nostalgic styling. A keytar solo is included mid-song. Toward the end, the LED screen and stage lighting shift into bright pinks and lasers. A large central prop plays a visual role, though its full details remain under wraps. The performance includes coordinated graphics for broadcast and dynamic stage movement throughout.

🇲🇪 Montenegro

Montenegro’s Nina Žižić returns to the Eurovision stage in 2025 with Dobrodošli, marking her first solo appearance since performing alongside Who See in 2013. At the start of the performance, she appears in a white structured dress featuring a large circular frame that extends from above her head to below her knees. Additionally, she wears a white eye mask, which she removes at the bridge leading into the first chorus. Her red lipstick stands out as the only contrasting colour in an otherwise monochrome palette. Meanwhile, the LED wall displays white light particles that gradually form swirling patterns. As the song progresses, blue and white lighting becomes more intense. Toward the end, Nina moves from centre stage to the frame stage for the final chorus. Finally, low white fog adds to the overall visual atmosphere.

🇮🇪 Ireland

Ireland’s rehearsal features Norwegian singer Emmy performing Laika Party, a Europop track inspired by the first dog in space. The staging opens with Emmy standing on a metallic platform shaped like a lunar module, under a spotlight. She wears a silver dress with a pleated skirt, silver boots, and a hood resembling a helmet. Her brother Erlend plays keyboards at stage level in front of her, dressed in a silver shirt and star-shaped sunglasses. Four female dancers in silver trousers and black vests join during each chorus. The LED wall displays neon planets and animated space cats timed to the song’s “bam bam” sections, with a constellation of Laika forming during the chorus. Firework jets are used in the final chorus.

🇱🇻 Latvia

Latvia’s Tautumeitas rehearse Bur Man Laimi, an ethno-pop entry performed entirely in Latvian. The group begins behind a semi-transparent curtain, which is used throughout the performance to create shadow effects and pockets of light. This staging element, retained from their Supernova performance, adds a sense of intimacy and atmosphere. The lighting design has been enhanced for the larger stage, with dramatic shifts in tone and intensity. At one point, the LED wall projects animated tails onto the performers, aligning precisely with their movements. The group now wears matching gold catsuits with branch- and fin-like detailing, as well as gold headdresses that illuminate and shift colour during the performance. Low fog is used throughout to heighten the mystical quality of the staging.

 

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Eurovision 2026

Weekly Update

It’s Tuesday, December 9, 2025, and time for another weekly update! This week, the Eurovision world has been rocked by a single major story: the controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 and the adoption of new contest rules. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU)’s decision on December 4 set off a chain reaction of boycotts and debates. As the road to the 70th Contest in Vienna turns turbulent, here are this week’s top stories: Israel Stays in Eurovision 2026 & New Rules Approved EBU Confirms Israel’s Participation At an EBU general assembly in Geneva on December 4, members decided not to hold a vote on Israel’s status, effectively confirming that Israel will remain in the Eurovision 2026 lineup. This came after some broadcasters had called for Israel’s exclusion over the Gaza war and alleged voting irregularities. The EBU decided there was “no need for a further vote”, so the contest will proceed with Israel included. Albeit with additional safeguards in place. The decision ended weeks of uncertainty and affirmed that Israel is cleared to compete next year, despite the controversy. Broadcasters Approve New Contest Rules Instead of voting Israel out, the EBU put forward a package of new rules to reinforce the contest’s neutrality and fairness. Members from 37 countries voted on reforms aimed at “strengthening trust” in Eurovision. 65% of delegates backed these changes. Key measures include the return of an expanded professional jury in the semi-finals and stricter guidelines to discourage any government or third-party from excessively promoting entries to sway the vote. The number of jurors per country will expand (from 5 to 7) with younger members added, and anti-fraud systems will be enhanced to detect suspicious voting. Additionally, audience vote limits are being halved to curb mass voting campaigns. These rule changes were approved in a secret ballot. The are designed to keep Eurovision a “neutral space” for music and prevent a repeat of last year’s controversies. Martin Green Spain, Ireland and Others Withdraw in Protest Following the EBU’s announcement, four countries immediately declared a boycott of Eurovision 2026. Public broadcasters from the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain all said they will not send an entry to Vienna in protest of Israel’s inclusion. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS stated that under the current circumstances participation “cannot be reconciled with the public values” of their organization. AVROTROS cited Israel’s “proven interference” in the 2025 contest and crackdowns on press freedom during the war. Ireland’s RTÉ deemed participation “unconscionable” given the appalling loss of civilian life in Gaza. Slovenia’s RTV SLO likewise announced a pull-out “on behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza”. They say Eurovision must stand for peace. Spain’s RTVE not only withdrew its delegation but also said it will not broadcast the contest. RTVE Secretary-General Alfonso Morales cited the situation in Gaza and accused Israel of using Eurovision for political aims. This makes it “difficult to keep Eurovision a neutral cultural event”. This marks Spain’s first absence from the contest since 1961. It’s a particularly heavy blow as Spain is one of the Big Five automatic finalists whose participation underpins the event’s funding. Melody, Spain 2025, EBU Mixed Reactions from Across Europe Not all countries are on board with a boycott. Germany had warned it would pull out if Israel were excluded essentially backing Israel’s right to compete. German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer insisted that “Israel belongs in the Eurovision Song Contest”, opposing any move to bar the country. France also confirmed it will participate regardless of Israel’s presence. French officials rejected the idea of a cultural boycott. Foreign Minister Jean-NoĂ«l Barrot praised the EBU for not giving in to pressure and said he “deeply regrets that several European TV channels made a different choice”. Austria’s ORF, the host broadcaster for 2026, welcomed the decision as well. ORF’s Director-General Roland WeiĂźmann argued the contest “is a competition for broadcasters, not governments”. He emphasized the importance of cultural dialogue and not “burning bridges” between participants. Meanwhile, Israeli officials applauded the outcome. President Isaac Herzog said Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”. The president expressed hope that Eurovision will remain a venue for music, friendship, and cross-border understanding. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN likened calls to exclude Israel to an unjust “cultural boycott”. They are celebrating the EBU’s decision to keep the country in. Outlook: A Fractured Contest Ahead? Eurovision now faces an unprecedented crisis heading into 2026. The slogan of Eurovision 2024 was “United by Music,” but experts warn the contest could be fractured by politics next year. Dr. Paul Jordan, a noted Eurovision expert, observed that the event is becoming “disunited through politics” as the fallout grows. Several broadcasters have yet to announce their stance. For example, Iceland’s RĂšV is deliberating and will decide by next week. More countries could potentially join the boycott before the EBU’s mid-December participation deadline. The loss of multiple major countries is raising concerns about television ratings and the contest’s reach. Eurovision typically draws over 150 million viewers worldwide, but with some national networks refusing to air it, viewership in those markets will vanish. If the audience drops significantly, it will “raise alarm bells” for the organizers. Additionally, many fans and commentators on social media are calling for a broader global boycott of Eurovision 2026, accusing the EBU of a double standard. They note that the EBU swiftly banned Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, so they ask “why should Israel be any different?”. The EBU maintains that Eurovision must stay non-political. That’s hard to maintain, given Israeli President Herzog’s involvement in the contest. As the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna (12–16 May 2026) approaches, the contest’s unity and spirit of inclusivity will be under intense scrutiny. Will the Eurovision community find a way to come together again, or is this rift a sign of lasting changes to come? Only time will tell.

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

Weekly Update

It’s Tuesday, December 9, 2025, and time for another weekly update! This week, the Eurovision world has been rocked by a single major story: the controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 and the adoption of new contest rules. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU)’s decision on December 4 set off a chain reaction of boycotts and debates. As the road to the 70th Contest in Vienna turns turbulent, here are this week’s top stories: Israel Stays in Eurovision 2026 & New Rules Approved EBU Confirms Israel’s Participation At an EBU general assembly in Geneva on December 4, members decided not to hold a vote on Israel’s status, effectively confirming that Israel will remain in the Eurovision 2026 lineup. This came after some broadcasters had called for Israel’s exclusion over the Gaza war and alleged voting irregularities. The EBU decided there was “no need for a further vote”, so the contest will proceed with Israel included. Albeit with additional safeguards in place. The decision ended weeks of uncertainty and affirmed that Israel is cleared to compete next year, despite the controversy. Broadcasters Approve New Contest Rules Instead of voting Israel out, the EBU put forward a package of new rules to reinforce the contest’s neutrality and fairness. Members from 37 countries voted on reforms aimed at “strengthening trust” in Eurovision. 65% of delegates backed these changes. Key measures include the return of an expanded professional jury in the semi-finals and stricter guidelines to discourage any government or third-party from excessively promoting entries to sway the vote. The number of jurors per country will expand (from 5 to 7) with younger members added, and anti-fraud systems will be enhanced to detect suspicious voting. Additionally, audience vote limits are being halved to curb mass voting campaigns. These rule changes were approved in a secret ballot. The are designed to keep Eurovision a “neutral space” for music and prevent a repeat of last year’s controversies. Martin Green Spain, Ireland and Others Withdraw in Protest Following the EBU’s announcement, four countries immediately declared a boycott of Eurovision 2026. Public broadcasters from the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain all said they will not send an entry to Vienna in protest of Israel’s inclusion. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS stated that under the current circumstances participation “cannot be reconciled with the public values” of their organization. AVROTROS cited Israel’s “proven interference” in the 2025 contest and crackdowns on press freedom during the war. Ireland’s RTÉ deemed participation “unconscionable” given the appalling loss of civilian life in Gaza. Slovenia’s RTV SLO likewise announced a pull-out “on behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza”. They say Eurovision must stand for peace. Spain’s RTVE not only withdrew its delegation but also said it will not broadcast the contest. RTVE Secretary-General Alfonso Morales cited the situation in Gaza and accused Israel of using Eurovision for political aims. This makes it “difficult to keep Eurovision a neutral cultural event”. This marks Spain’s first absence from the contest since 1961. It’s a particularly heavy blow as Spain is one of the Big Five automatic finalists whose participation underpins the event’s funding. Melody, Spain 2025, EBU Mixed Reactions from Across Europe Not all countries are on board with a boycott. Germany had warned it would pull out if Israel were excluded essentially backing Israel’s right to compete. German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer insisted that “Israel belongs in the Eurovision Song Contest”, opposing any move to bar the country. France also confirmed it will participate regardless of Israel’s presence. French officials rejected the idea of a cultural boycott. Foreign Minister Jean-NoĂ«l Barrot praised the EBU for not giving in to pressure and said he “deeply regrets that several European TV channels made a different choice”. Austria’s ORF, the host broadcaster for 2026, welcomed the decision as well. ORF’s Director-General Roland WeiĂźmann argued the contest “is a competition for broadcasters, not governments”. He emphasized the importance of cultural dialogue and not “burning bridges” between participants. Meanwhile, Israeli officials applauded the outcome. President Isaac Herzog said Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”. The president expressed hope that Eurovision will remain a venue for music, friendship, and cross-border understanding. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN likened calls to exclude Israel to an unjust “cultural boycott”. They are celebrating the EBU’s decision to keep the country in. Outlook: A Fractured Contest Ahead? Eurovision now faces an unprecedented crisis heading into 2026. The slogan of Eurovision 2024 was “United by Music,” but experts warn the contest could be fractured by politics next year. Dr. Paul Jordan, a noted Eurovision expert, observed that the event is becoming “disunited through politics” as the fallout grows. Several broadcasters have yet to announce their stance. For example, Iceland’s RĂšV is deliberating and will decide by next week. More countries could potentially join the boycott before the EBU’s mid-December participation deadline. The loss of multiple major countries is raising concerns about television ratings and the contest’s reach. Eurovision typically draws over 150 million viewers worldwide, but with some national networks refusing to air it, viewership in those markets will vanish. If the audience drops significantly, it will “raise alarm bells” for the organizers. Additionally, many fans and commentators on social media are calling for a broader global boycott of Eurovision 2026, accusing the EBU of a double standard. They note that the EBU swiftly banned Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, so they ask “why should Israel be any different?”. The EBU maintains that Eurovision must stay non-political. That’s hard to maintain, given Israeli President Herzog’s involvement in the contest. As the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna (12–16 May 2026) approaches, the contest’s unity and spirit of inclusivity will be under intense scrutiny. Will the Eurovision community find a way to come together again, or is this rift a sign of lasting changes to come? Only time will tell.

Read More »
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