Basel Bulletin: the day after

It’s the day after the second semifinal. The semifinal has been held and now the final is completed. We have been looking for reactions of all the artists; the finalists and the non-qualifiers. Here you find all the reactions brought together.

🇦🇺 Australia (Go-Jo) – Did Not Qualify.

Opening the show with a wildly fun performance of “Milkshake Man,” Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto) narrowly missed the final. Despite the disappointment, he remained proud: “I know that I couldn’t have done anything better… I suppose I couldn’t have worked harder if I tried” He called the Eurovision journey “the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced… I’m so grateful for that”, emphasizing that he has no regrets after giving his all on stage.  sbs.com.au

🇲🇪 Montenegro (Nina Žižić) – Did Not Qualify.

Nina Žižić delivered a powerful ballad “Dobrodošli” but sadly fell short of a final spot. Ever gracious, she voiced deep appreciation for her supporters. “This is the way an athlete or singer should be supported; thank you on behalf of all my colleagues,” she said. Nina thanked the audience “from the bottom of my heart”, grateful for the loud applause and ovations her emotional performance received at the arena source: rtcg.me.

🇮🇪 Ireland (EMMY) – Did Not Qualify.

EMMY’s space-themed pop song “Laika Party” did not advance, marking another tough year for Ireland. The 24-year-old singer was gracious in defeat and apologized to fans on Instagram. “I’m SO sorry, Ireland. We will forever love you and be grateful and honoured to have represented you,” she wrote. Though heartbroken, Emmy expressed pride in her team’s journey and thanked supporters for “shining so bright” with encouragement.  limerickleader.ie

🇱🇻 Latvia (Tautumeitas) – Qualified!

Folk-pop group Tautumeitas earned Latvia a place in the final with their ethereal song “Bur Man Laimi.” The six-member ensemble was overjoyed by the result, sharing that they were “very, very happy” and felt appreciated by the voters. “We are extremely happy. We feel appreciated and we wholeheartedly thank everyone for the support,” the band revealed right after the show. One of the singers exclaimed “We are very, very happy!” – as they celebrated, thanking fans “from the heart for all the support”. sejas.tvnet.lv

🇦🇲 Armenia (PARG) – Qualified!

PARG’s powerful performance of “SURVIVOR” struck a chord, sending Armenia to the final. The young artist (Pargev Vardanyan) was visibly moved and later said he poured everything into that moment. Earlier in the season he had noted, “I have so many emotions; I am happy and grateful to everyone who voted for me”. After qualifying, PARG thanked his team and fans, emphasizing that “aside from the result, this journey has been incredible”. He had approached Eurovision with “great responsibility” and was proud that Armenia’s streak of qualifications continues. panarmenian.net

🇦🇹 Austria (JJ) – Qualified!

Balladeer JJ delivered an emotional rendition of “Wasted Love” and secured Austria’s spot in the final. Backstage, JJ was ecstatic. “I’m so happy with my performance, and super satisfied with our show and our energy,” he told Austrian media. Fighting back tears of joy, the singer thanked the audience and jurors for believing in his song. Qualifying for Austria (after some years of near misses) felt like “a dream come true,” he said, promising to give even more in the Grand Final.

🇬🇷 Greece (Klavdia) – Qualified!

Klavdia’s soaring ballad “Asteromáta” earned Greece a spot in the final, but not before a suspenseful wait as one of the last names announced. Overwhelmed, Klavdia admitted, “I will never forget this moment in my life”. She thanked everyone for their support: “Thank you for the messages of love. People said, no matter what happens, we are proud… I love you, thank you, I have no words”. The young singer’s televised reaction – closing her eyes in prayer then bursting into tears and laughter – captured the “so intense” emotion of the night. “Whatever happens in the final, this was so crucial and intense,” she said, calling it a victory she’ll cherish forever. lifo.gr

🇱🇹 Lithuania (Katarsis) – Qualified!

The band Katarsis erupted with joy when Lithuania’s name was the first announced qualifier. The group later joked that the odds had been against them – “I calculated and there was only a 6% chance this would happen. We are very happy,” laughed member JokĹ«bas. Lead singer Lukas described their mindset on stage: “We feel a great power… it’s like our home up there”. Katarsis also revealed their secret to unity: “Muzika… we’ve been here two weeks and haven’t had a fight. We are happy together”. The Lithuanians were clearly thrilled to continue “the adventure” into the final. tv3.lt

🇲🇹 Malta (Miriana Conte) – Qualified!

With her upbeat anthem “SERVING,” Miriana Conte broke Malta’s streak of non-qualifications and could not contain her excitement. On social media the Maltese pop diva wrote, “FORZA MALTA!!!! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support”. She dedicated the achievement to her fans, adding in Maltese, “Grazzi ħafna lil kulħadd!” The Maltese delegation celebrated wildly; Miriana later admitted through happy tears that hearing Malta’s name as a qualifier was “unbearable suspense turned into pure joy”. She promised to keep “serving” her best for the final. timesofmalta.com

🇬🇪 Georgia (Mariam Shengelia) – Did Not Qualify.

Georgia’s Mariam Shengelia delivered a heartfelt performance of “Freedom,” accompanied by the Erisioni dance ensemble, but did not make the final cut. Ever positive, Mariam shouted on stage, “Georgia, I love you! Thank you, Europe!”. She expressed love for her country and gratitude to Europe for listening. Post-show, the 23-year-old singer thanked the Georgian public for their immense support, saying the Eurovision experience was “priceless” and that she hoped she made her nation proud even in defeat.   kvirispalitra.ge palitravideo.ge

🇩🇰 Denmark (Sissal) – Qualified!

Sissal’s gothic pop entry “Hallucination” carried Denmark to its first final since 2019, and her reaction was one of the night’s highlights. Upon qualifying, Sissal was overcome with “pure joy” – viewers saw her burst into happy tears and laughter, utterly shocked at the result. “I’m truly living my dream here,” she had said earlier in the week, “and I’m so grateful for it”. The Faroese-born singer admitted the odds were against her, which made the moment even sweeter: “This is the fulfillment of a dream and something I will remember for the rest of my life”. Sissal thanked everyone “for the love out there” and vowed to keep making Denmark proud in the final. avisen.dk

🇨🇿 Czechia (ADONXS) – Did Not Qualify.

ADONXS (Adam Pavlovčin) represented Czechia with the synth-pop track “Kiss Kiss Goodbye,” but he narrowly missed the top ten. The Slovak-born singer remained gracious and positive. In a message to fans, he wrote that he was “thankful for the love” he received throughout the journey. ADONXS noted that performing on the Eurovision stage was “like a little Olympic moment” for him, and he’s proud of his team’s bold artistic statement. “We knew it was a risk, but the positive reactions we’ve gotten mean the world,” he commented. Though disappointed, he told supporters in Czech “Děkuju vám všem” – “Thank you all” – and urged them to enjoy the final even without Czech participation. seznamzpravy.cz

🇱🇺 Luxembourg (Laura Thorn) – Qualified!

In a triumphant return for Luxembourg after years away, Laura Thorn earned a final spot with the retro-pop “La poupée monte le son”. The 21-year-old singer was overwhelmed by emotion when Luxembourg’s name was announced – she burst into tears of happiness, letting out a jubilant scream as her dancers hugged her. Later, Laura told reporters, “I sang as if it were the last time I could do it on the Eurovision stage”. She described the qualification as “a dream come true”, given Luxembourg’s long absence. Laura thanked the audience “merci du fond du cœur” (from the bottom of her heart) and said this moment validated the homage her song pays to Luxembourg’s Eurovision legacy. virgule.lu

🇮🇱 Israel (Yuval Raphael) – Qualified!

Yuval Raphael’s uplifting song “New Day Will Rise” took Israel to the final, a deeply poignant achievement for the 24-year-old. After his performance, Yuval held up a peace sign and later posted a simple, heartfelt message: “Thank you. Merci. תודה ❤️”. He expressed gratitude in English, French, and Hebrew. On Israeli media, Yuval said he felt everyone’s embrace: “Thank you for hugging my heart each time, and thank you for giving me your voice”. 

🇷🇸 Serbia (Princ) – Did Not Qualify.

Stefan Zdravković – stage name Princ – performed the soulful ballad “Mila” but did not advance. Still, representing Serbia was a milestone for him. “This is the fulfillment of a dream and something I will remember for the rest of my life”. After the elimination, Princ remained upbeat and “prezadovoljan” (more than satisfied) with his team’s efforts. He congratulated the qualifiers and thanked the Serbian public for believing in him. “I hope I presented Serbia in the most dignified way possible to make people proud,” he stated, and promised this experience is just the start for him. dnevnik.rs.

🇫🇮 Finland (Erika Vikman) – Qualified!

Closing the semi-final in style, Erika Vikman brought disco flair with “ICH KOMME” and sailed into the final. Erika was radiant with joy afterwards. “I’m truly living my dream and I’m grateful to be here,” she said – . Achieving a childhood ambition, she added, “This is what I’ve wanted since I was a child”. The Finnish star also laughed about a staging surprise – a giant prop microphone exploded with confetti at the end of her act, giving her a scare and then a good laugh. Erika thanked the Finnish fans (who had selected her via UMK) for their “insane support” and promised to bring “röyhkeästi minä” – her boldly authentic self – to the final. kaleva.fi

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Weekly Update

It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update! After we were unable to publish an update last week, we have extra information to cover this week. National finals are heating up across Europe, preparations for Eurovision 2026 are in full swing, and the debate over Israel’s participation continues. Here are the latest developments: Nordic & Baltic National Finals 🇸🇪 Sweden: SVT has announced the six-city tour for Melodifestivalen 2026, which will span five heats and a final. The shows kick off in Linköping on January 31 and continue to Gothenburg, Kristianstad, Malmö, and Sundsvall, culminating with the Grand Final in Stockholm on March 7. Notably, Sundsvall returns as a host city for the first time since 2011. SVT also received a record 3,888 song submissions for Melodifestivalen 2026. source: SVT 🇪🇪 Estonia: Eesti Laul 2026 is now underway. ERR opened song submissions on September 19, with entries accepted until October 20. The Eesti Laul 2026 shows are expected early next year, continuing Estonia’s tradition of a multi-show national final. source: info.err.ee Western Europe National Finals 🇩🇪 Germany: Germany will choose its Eurovision 2026 act via a public national final in late February. It will be broadcast on ARD’s Das Erste. Broadcaster SWR, taking over Eurovision duties from NDR, confirmed that no cooperation with Stefan Raab or RTL is planned for 2026. This means the earlier proposed Raab/RTL selection show will not go ahead. ARD will organize the selection alone. source: deutschlandfunk.de 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: The Grand Duchy’s return to Eurovision moves forward as the Luxembourg Song Contest 2026 submission window has closed. September 1 was the last day for artists to submit songs to represent Luxembourg in Vienna. National broadcaster RTL will now review all entries and invite selected candidates to audition before an international jury in October. That jury will pick finalists for Luxembourg’s televised national final. source: eurovoix.com 🇳🇱 The Netherlands: Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has been secretive about its selection. After receiving around 300 song submissions, the field has been narrowed to 10 entries still in the race to represent the Netherlands. An internal selection committee is reviewing the final contenders, with an announcement of the chosen artist expected by the end of the year. source: songfestivalweblog 🇦🇹 Austria: ORF has confirmed “Wer singt für Österreich?” – Austria’s national final – will take place on February 20, 2026. The show returns to choose Austria’s act for Vienna as the country hosts Eurovision 2026. ORF has not yet announced the format or artists. However, expectations are high after Austria’s victory in 2025. source: escxtra Southern Europe National Finals 🇵🇹 Portugal: RTP unveiled major changes for Festival da Canção 2026. For the first time, a special “Prova de Acesso” contest for music school talents is providing one spot in the FdC line-up via an online public vote. Additionally, last year’s FdC winners NAPA get to directly invite one competing artist for 2026. These new paths join the traditional open submissions and RTP wildcards to make up 16 entries in total. source: RTP 🇪🇸 Spain: RTVE has reported an overwhelming response for Benidorm Fest 2026, Spain’s Eurovision selection. Over 900 songs were submitted by the September 25 deadline. A panel will now shortlist semi-finalists for the Benidorm Fest shows slated for early 2026. This strong interest comes as Spain seeks to continue its recent Eurovision revival. Notably, Spain’s participation itself was under question due to the Israel controversy. However, the broadcaster has since confirmed Spain will have a Benidorm Fest. source: RTVE South-Eastern Europe National Finals 🇬🇷 Greece: Greek broadcaster ERT is reviving a multi-show national final. Ethnikós Telikós 2026 will feature two semifinals (up to 28 songs total) and a grand final. Song submissions opened September 17 and run through November 2. In the final, the winner will be decided by 50% televote, 25% Greek jury, and 25% international jury. ERT hopes the expanded competition will build excitement and deliver another strong result. source: ERT 🇦🇱 Albania: In Tirana, RTSH has closed song submissions for Festivali i Këngës 64. The long-running festival will once again select Albania’s entry. September 30 was the final deadline for artists to send in songs for FiK 64, which takes place this December. The FiK selection committee will now review the entries and pick the lineup for the festival shows. Notably, FiK 64 will introduce a new real-time voting app for the public alongside the jury voting. Albania’s Eurovision 2026 journey is assured after a financial dispute with the EBU was resolved (more on that below), so the FiK winner will indeed head to Vienna. source: Eurovoix 🇭🇷 Croatia: HRT has officially opened submissions for Dora 2026, Croatia’s national selection for Eurovision. Songwriters and performers can submit entries from September 22 until November 23, 2025. HRT also published the rules and confirmed that Dora 2026 will be broadcast in February. source: HRT Eurovision 2026 Preparations & Participation A Eurovision Song Contest workshop was held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, as part of preparations for the upcoming 70th contest. Heads of Delegation from all participating broadcasters traveled to the host country for this meeting. The workshop reportedly covered organizational aspects of Eurovision 2026. That includes discussions about the voting system and potential rule changes for next year. With Eurovision celebrating a milestone edition in 2026, officials are considering tweaks to ensure the contest remains fair and engaging. source: Eurovoix 🇫🇷 France has officially confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026. In a statement on social media, France Télévisions reaffirmed its support for the Eurovision event and the artists involved. France’s broadcaster emphasized the cultural importance of the contest and indicated it will be present in Vienna. Details of France’s selection process are still to be announced. Since 2023 France has internally selected its act, but it remains to be seen if that will continue.  🇦🇱 Albania will also be at Eurovision 2026 after a moment of uncertainty. RTSH’s Director General, Eni Vasili, successfully renegotiated the broadcaster’s debt with the EBU, averting a potential suspension. The EBU had been on the

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Martijn

Weekly Update

It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update! After we were unable to publish an update last week, we have extra information to cover this week. National finals are heating up across Europe, preparations for Eurovision 2026 are in full swing, and the debate over Israel’s participation continues. Here are the latest developments: Nordic & Baltic National Finals 🇸🇪 Sweden: SVT has announced the six-city tour for Melodifestivalen 2026, which will span five heats and a final. The shows kick off in Linköping on January 31 and continue to Gothenburg, Kristianstad, Malmö, and Sundsvall, culminating with the Grand Final in Stockholm on March 7. Notably, Sundsvall returns as a host city for the first time since 2011. SVT also received a record 3,888 song submissions for Melodifestivalen 2026. source: SVT 🇪🇪 Estonia: Eesti Laul 2026 is now underway. ERR opened song submissions on September 19, with entries accepted until October 20. The Eesti Laul 2026 shows are expected early next year, continuing Estonia’s tradition of a multi-show national final. source: info.err.ee Western Europe National Finals 🇩🇪 Germany: Germany will choose its Eurovision 2026 act via a public national final in late February. It will be broadcast on ARD’s Das Erste. Broadcaster SWR, taking over Eurovision duties from NDR, confirmed that no cooperation with Stefan Raab or RTL is planned for 2026. This means the earlier proposed Raab/RTL selection show will not go ahead. ARD will organize the selection alone. source: deutschlandfunk.de 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: The Grand Duchy’s return to Eurovision moves forward as the Luxembourg Song Contest 2026 submission window has closed. September 1 was the last day for artists to submit songs to represent Luxembourg in Vienna. National broadcaster RTL will now review all entries and invite selected candidates to audition before an international jury in October. That jury will pick finalists for Luxembourg’s televised national final. source: eurovoix.com 🇳🇱 The Netherlands: Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has been secretive about its selection. After receiving around 300 song submissions, the field has been narrowed to 10 entries still in the race to represent the Netherlands. An internal selection committee is reviewing the final contenders, with an announcement of the chosen artist expected by the end of the year. source: songfestivalweblog 🇦🇹 Austria: ORF has confirmed “Wer singt für Österreich?” – Austria’s national final – will take place on February 20, 2026. The show returns to choose Austria’s act for Vienna as the country hosts Eurovision 2026. ORF has not yet announced the format or artists. However, expectations are high after Austria’s victory in 2025. source: escxtra Southern Europe National Finals 🇵🇹 Portugal: RTP unveiled major changes for Festival da Canção 2026. For the first time, a special “Prova de Acesso” contest for music school talents is providing one spot in the FdC line-up via an online public vote. Additionally, last year’s FdC winners NAPA get to directly invite one competing artist for 2026. These new paths join the traditional open submissions and RTP wildcards to make up 16 entries in total. source: RTP 🇪🇸 Spain: RTVE has reported an overwhelming response for Benidorm Fest 2026, Spain’s Eurovision selection. Over 900 songs were submitted by the September 25 deadline. A panel will now shortlist semi-finalists for the Benidorm Fest shows slated for early 2026. This strong interest comes as Spain seeks to continue its recent Eurovision revival. Notably, Spain’s participation itself was under question due to the Israel controversy. However, the broadcaster has since confirmed Spain will have a Benidorm Fest. source: RTVE South-Eastern Europe National Finals 🇬🇷 Greece: Greek broadcaster ERT is reviving a multi-show national final. Ethnikós Telikós 2026 will feature two semifinals (up to 28 songs total) and a grand final. Song submissions opened September 17 and run through November 2. In the final, the winner will be decided by 50% televote, 25% Greek jury, and 25% international jury. ERT hopes the expanded competition will build excitement and deliver another strong result. source: ERT 🇦🇱 Albania: In Tirana, RTSH has closed song submissions for Festivali i Këngës 64. The long-running festival will once again select Albania’s entry. September 30 was the final deadline for artists to send in songs for FiK 64, which takes place this December. The FiK selection committee will now review the entries and pick the lineup for the festival shows. Notably, FiK 64 will introduce a new real-time voting app for the public alongside the jury voting. Albania’s Eurovision 2026 journey is assured after a financial dispute with the EBU was resolved (more on that below), so the FiK winner will indeed head to Vienna. source: Eurovoix 🇭🇷 Croatia: HRT has officially opened submissions for Dora 2026, Croatia’s national selection for Eurovision. Songwriters and performers can submit entries from September 22 until November 23, 2025. HRT also published the rules and confirmed that Dora 2026 will be broadcast in February. source: HRT Eurovision 2026 Preparations & Participation A Eurovision Song Contest workshop was held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, as part of preparations for the upcoming 70th contest. Heads of Delegation from all participating broadcasters traveled to the host country for this meeting. The workshop reportedly covered organizational aspects of Eurovision 2026. That includes discussions about the voting system and potential rule changes for next year. With Eurovision celebrating a milestone edition in 2026, officials are considering tweaks to ensure the contest remains fair and engaging. source: Eurovoix 🇫🇷 France has officially confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026. In a statement on social media, France Télévisions reaffirmed its support for the Eurovision event and the artists involved. France’s broadcaster emphasized the cultural importance of the contest and indicated it will be present in Vienna. Details of France’s selection process are still to be announced. Since 2023 France has internally selected its act, but it remains to be seen if that will continue.  🇦🇱 Albania will also be at Eurovision 2026 after a moment of uncertainty. RTSH’s Director General, Eni Vasili, successfully renegotiated the broadcaster’s debt with the EBU, averting a potential suspension. The EBU had been on the

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