41 countries in Rotterdam: one was never absent

As you might have noticed, today the participating countries for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest are announced. Exactly the same countries that were already on the list for Rotterdam 2020, will be back in 2021.

We would like to give a shout out to one country in particular: Germany. This country has had an entry at all of the Eurovision Song Contests so far. That means that, including the 2 entries in 1956 and the entry for this years cancelled contest, we will be able to greet the 67th German entry.

Only one time, the German entry did not manage to reach the Eurovision stage. In 1996, the songs first had to go through an audio preselection as only 23 countries could take part. Poor Leon, the singer who was supposed to represent Germany, did not make it to the best 23. An unexpected failure, as the Germans were pretty sure Leon’s “Planet of blue” was going to do very well in the contest. 

Leon, whose real name is Jürgen Göbel, did another attempt to represent his country in 1997, but became 2nd in the national preselection.

But, final or not, there wás a German entry in 1996. Let’s look forward to the 2021 entry, whatever and with whoever it is…

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📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Live music at Eurovision 2026 is making an unexpected return for Finland. The EBU has given Linda Lampenius special permission to play her violin live during the live shows in Vienna. Why Finland asked for live violin Lampenius represents Finland together with singer Pete Parkkonen. Their song, “Liekinheitin”, means “Flamethrower” in English. The act is built around a strong musical dialogue between Parkkonen’s voice and Lampenius’ violin. For that reason, the Finnish team asked the EBU to allow real violin playing on stage. A rare Eurovision exception This is a remarkable decision. Since 1999, Eurovision performances have mostly used pre-recorded instrumental tracks. Artists may sing live, but instruments on stage are usually not heard live. They are often used as part of the visual show. The rule helps the production team, because Eurovision has many acts and very quick stage changes. However, Finland’s request has been approved. According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the live violin was tested first. After that test, the EBU accepted the plan. The news is important because live music at Eurovision 2026 could give Finland a more natural and emotional performance. It also makes the act stand out in a year full of big staging ideas. Lampenius has said she is happy with the decision and sees it as a historic moment. There was a small exception in 2025, when Italy’s Lucio Corsi played harmonica on stage. That was possible because the sound could be picked up through the vocal microphone. Finland’s case is different, as Lampenius has official permission to play her violin live. What happens next? Finland will perform in the first semi-final on Tuesday 12 May. The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Vienna on Saturday 16 May. The decision does not mean that all countries can now use live instruments. For now, it looks like a special exception for Finland. Still, many fans will watch closely. If the live violin works well, it may start a new discussion about the future of live music at Eurovision.

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Vienna 12 points: Live music at Eurovision 2026

📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Live music at Eurovision 2026 is making an unexpected return for Finland. The EBU has given Linda Lampenius special permission to play her violin live during the live shows in Vienna. Why Finland asked for live violin Lampenius represents Finland together with singer Pete Parkkonen. Their song, “Liekinheitin”, means “Flamethrower” in English. The act is built around a strong musical dialogue between Parkkonen’s voice and Lampenius’ violin. For that reason, the Finnish team asked the EBU to allow real violin playing on stage. A rare Eurovision exception This is a remarkable decision. Since 1999, Eurovision performances have mostly used pre-recorded instrumental tracks. Artists may sing live, but instruments on stage are usually not heard live. They are often used as part of the visual show. The rule helps the production team, because Eurovision has many acts and very quick stage changes. However, Finland’s request has been approved. According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the live violin was tested first. After that test, the EBU accepted the plan. The news is important because live music at Eurovision 2026 could give Finland a more natural and emotional performance. It also makes the act stand out in a year full of big staging ideas. Lampenius has said she is happy with the decision and sees it as a historic moment. There was a small exception in 2025, when Italy’s Lucio Corsi played harmonica on stage. That was possible because the sound could be picked up through the vocal microphone. Finland’s case is different, as Lampenius has official permission to play her violin live. What happens next? Finland will perform in the first semi-final on Tuesday 12 May. The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Vienna on Saturday 16 May. The decision does not mean that all countries can now use live instruments. For now, it looks like a special exception for Finland. Still, many fans will watch closely. If the live violin works well, it may start a new discussion about the future of live music at Eurovision.

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