Weekly Update

Returning Countries in 2026

🇧🇬 Bulgaria Ends Three-Year Eurovision Hiatus

BNT (Bulgarian National Television) has confirmed that Bulgaria will return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 after a three-year hiatus. The broadcaster last participated in 2022. Preparations are underway to choose a new entry. BNT has not yet decided whether it will hold a national final or an internal selection for its 2026 act. BNT’s Director General Emil Koshlukov hailed Eurovision as a platform where cultures meet. He is proud that Bulgaria will once more have the chance to send an artist to an audience of millions. Source: bnt.bg

🇷🇴 Romania Returns After Two-Year Absence

Romania will be back for Eurovision 2026. Broadcaster TVR’s Board of Directors voted on October 30 to approve Romania’s return. This marks the country’s comeback after its last appearance in 2023. In a bid to improve on past results, Romania is reviving its traditional national selection, Selecția Națională. This will be the first Selecția Națională since 2022. TVR’s President-General Director, Dan Cristian Turturică, noted that the two-year break allowed the broadcaster to reflect on what needed to change. He promised a “fresh start” with better support for artists. source: Eurovision.tv

🇲🇩 Moldova Back in Eurovision After 2025 Withdrawal

Moldova confirmed its return to Eurovision 2026 after a one‑year break. Teleradio‑Moldova (TRM) withdrew from the 2025 contest because of financial and organizational issues. After consulting artists and producers, TRM will launch a revamped national selection for 2026. The format follows European best practices and fits Moldova’s music scene. The national final will feature a 20‑member jury, five international and fifteen local, to strengthen transparency and broaden perspectives. Song submissions open on 7 November and run for 30 days as Moldova searches for its next representative for Vienna. Source: trm.md

🇲🇰 North Macedonia Poised for Eurovision Comeback

North Macedonia is moving closer to rejoining Eurovision in 2026 after not participating since 2022. Although MRT (Macedonian Radio Television) has yet to make a final official decision, recent developments are promising. According to minutes from MRT’s Program Council, the broadcaster reports improved finances, a clear selection plan, and reviewed production capacities. MRT’s Director General confirmed that the 2026 budget is largely in place and the broadcaster is regaining stability. With these positive signs, North Macedonia’s comeback now looks more likely than ever, though formal confirmation is still pending. source: MKRTV

National Finals and Selections

🇵🇹 Portugal: Festival da Canção 2026 Gets Format Tweaks

RTP has unveiled the format for Festival da Canção 2026. The selection features 16 songs across two semifinals and a grand final. RTP will invite eight songwriters, while six spots go to the open submissions that closed on October 31. Last year’s winner, NAPA, will pick one act, and a new “Prova de Acesso” for music schools will award the final slot to an emerging artist. The headline change: the Festival da Canção winner does not have to go to Eurovision. RTP makes representing Portugal optional; an unprecedented shift in its selection strategy. source: Eurovoix

🇺🇦 Ukraine: Vidbir 2026 Draws 451 Entries

Ukraine’s Eurovision hopes look strong: Suspilne received 451 songs for Vidbir 2026 from 392 artists. The scale of interest promises fierce competition to represent Ukraine in Vienna. Suspilne appointed Jamala (Eurovision 2016 winner) as music producer to oversee shortlisting. An expert jury and the production team will review submissions, create a longlist, and run live auditions under Jamala’s supervision. By December 15, Suspilne plans to reveal nine finalists, while an online wildcard vote will add a tenth. Suspilne has scheduled the Vidbir 2026 national final for February 2026. source: suspilne

🇪🇪 Estonia: Eesti Laul 2026 Finalists Announced

In Estonia, the lineup for Eesti Laul 2026 is now complete. ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting) received 171 song submissions and has selected 12 finalists to compete for Estonia’s ticket to Eurovision. The national final is set for February 14, 2026, where all 12 acts will perform and a winner will be chosen. Notably, this year’s Eesti Laul roster includes some big names and returning stars. 2000s girl band Vanilla Ninja, famous for representing Switzerland in Eurovision 2005, have made the cut,. Another high-profile finalist is NOËP (Andres Kõpper), a popular electronic artist in Estonia, who will be bringing his distinctive sound to the contest. Facebook Eesti Laul

🇬🇷 Greece: 264 Songs Submitted for National Final

Greece’s upcoming Eurovision selection has attracted significant interest. ERT, the Greek national broadcaster, confirmed that 264 songs were submitted for its national final, titled Ethnikós Telikós 2026. According to ERT, a total of 28 songs will be chosen from the submissions to compete in the televised shows. The Greek selection format will include two semifinals, each featuring 14 songs, from which the finalists will be decided solely by public vote. In the final, however, the winner will be determined by a 50/50 voting split between the public and juries. The 28 semifinalists are expected to be unveiled by January, and excitement is building to see who will vie to represent Greece in Vienna. source: ERT

🇩🇰 Denmark: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026 Gets a Modern Makeover

Denmark’s road to Eurovision is gearing up with Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (DMGP) 2026 taking on a refreshed approach. Danish broadcaster DR is promising a “modern, renewed and innovative” DMGP show for 2026, complete with a new stage design, logo, and visual identity. In terms of the competition itself, DR has confirmed that eight songs will compete in DMGP 2026. The selection committee has already picked several of these entries, and interestingly, the lineup is said to include a few familiar names. Former DMGP participants and other established Danish artists are among those in the running. This suggests Denmark is aiming for a high-quality field with both experience and fan appeal. The DMGP 2026 final will be held on February 14 in Copenhagen, hosted by Sara Bro and actor Alex Høgh Andersen. source: DR

🇲🇹 Malta: MESC 2026 Final Set for January 17

Malta has confirmed the details of its national selection. The Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2026 (MESC 2026) will take place over two nights, with a semifinal on January 15 and the Grand Final on January 17, 2026. Maltese broadcaster PBS announced that the song submission window for MESC will be open for one week, from November 17 to November 23. During this period, Maltese artists and songwriters can send in their entries under the published rules. After submissions close, PBS will reveal the 18 songs selected for the semifinal on December 1. From that semifinal, a combined jury and public vote will pick the 12 finalists who will advance to the final on January 17. source: TVM

Martijn
November 4, 2025
8:00 pm
Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Malta, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Ukraine, Weekly Update

Martijn

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Blast from the past

🇬🇧 Blast from the past: UK 1967

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today, we go back to 1967, when Sandie Shaw brought the first victory to the United Kingdom with “Puppet On A String”. United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest Few countries have a Eurovision pedigree like the United Kingdom. Since debuting in 1957, the UK has won five times: Sandie Shaw (1967), Lulu (1969), Brotherhood of Man (1976), Bucks Fizz (1981) and Katrina & The Waves (1997). The country hosted on nine occasions, most recently Liverpool 2023. t also holds the record for most runner‑up finishes, with 16 second places; the last came in 2022 when Sam Ryder’s “SPACE MAN” topped the jury vote. Recent form has been mixed: in 2023, host act Mae Muller finished 25th with 24 points; in 2024, Olly Alexander placed 18th with 46 points; and in 2025, Remember Monday ended 19th on 88 points. Such swings epitomise the UK’s roller‑coaster history: long stretches of podiums and wins, punctuated by lean years, yet always central to Eurovision’s story and spectacle. Sam Ryder, EBU A Song For Europe 1967 The UK national final in those days was called A Song For Europe. One artist sang 5 or 6 songs. Sandie Shaw was chosen to do the job in 1967. The contest was held on February 25. The results were announced one week later.The 5 titles were: Tell The Boys, 2nd place I’ll Cry Myself To Sleep, 3rd place Had A Dream Last Night, 4th place Puppet On A String, 1st place Ask Any Woman, 5th place “Had A Dream Last Night” was written by another very popular pop star from those days: Chris Andrews. He is known for a lot of hits in the late sixties, “Yesterday Man” and “Pretty Belinda” being the biggest. You can watch a recap of all songs here in good quality. Sandie Shaw Sandie Shaw (born Sandra Ann Goodrich on 26 February 1947 in Dagenham) ranks among Britain’s defining 1960s pop voices. As a teenager, talent scouts noticed her; Pye Records signed her, and in 1964 she hit No. 1 with the Burt Bacharach–Hal David song “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me.” She followed it with a run of singles—“Girl Don’t Come,” “Long Live Love,” and “Message Understood”—that cemented her chart presence. Performing barefoot, she turned a quirk into a signature and a style statement. In 1967, Shaw won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom in Vienna with “Puppet on a String,” securing the country’s first victory, and the single topped charts across Europe. In the early 1970s, Shaw stepped away from pop to pursue stage roles and business ventures. She later challenged her recording contracts. In the 1980s she returned to the charts through collaborations with indie admirers, notably The Smiths. Her 1988 album “Hello Angel” showcased a mature voice. Through the 1990s and 2000s she recorded selectively. She curated reissues of her catalogue. Sandie trained as a psychotherapist, mentoring artists and advocating for performers’ rights. She published memoirs and kept performing. In 2017 the UK honoured her with an MBE for services to music. It’s an honour that recognized a career bridging eras while remaining unmistakably hers. I’m going to the toilet Boudewijn Büch (1948–2002) was a Dutch author, poet, bibliophile, and television presenter. He became famous for literary travel programs on VARA, a Dutch public broadcaster. In 1988, Büch invited Sandie Shaw onto his VARA show. He kept the conversation light, comparing music “then and now.” Sandie’s ground rules forbade any talk of the Eurovision Song Contest. When Büch raised the topic anyway, Shaw stood up, said “I’m going to the toilet,” and walked out, almost yanking her microphone cable free. Büch closed the episode in the restroom, singing “Puppet on a String,” and he concluded that the song had gone down the toilet. Puppet On A String “Puppet On A String” is Sandie Shaw’s bright, bouncy slice of 1960s Europop. Lyricist Bill Martin and composer Phil Coulter wrote the song. At Eurovision 1967 in Vienna, Shaw performed barefoot, locking onto the camera with crisp phrasing and a smile. The arrangement rides an oom‑pah, fairground swing with brisk brass and a skippy rhythm. The hook lodges instantly, and the melody aims squarely at continental tastes. The United Kingdom stormed to victory with 47 points. That is more than double the runner‑up. This way the UK its first Eurovision win. The single topped the UK charts, and Shaw recorded versions in multiple languages, cementing its cross‑European appeal. Lyrically, the song toys with the image of a lover manipulated like a marionette, “a puppet on a string”, while the upbeat pop setting turns the drama into perfect television. “Puppet On A String” stands as a defining Eurovision winner and an enduring cornerstone of Sandie Shaw’s catalogue today.

November 2, 2025 No Comments

Eurovision 2026

Weekly Update

It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update! This week sees multiple countries making their Eurovision comebacks for the 70th contest in 2026. Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and North Macedonia are stepping back onto the Eurovision stage after time away. Meanwhile, national selection season is kicking into high gear, with news ranging from song submission tallies to finalist announcements across Europe. Here are this week’s top stories: Returning Countries in 2026 🇧🇬 Bulgaria Ends Three-Year Eurovision Hiatus BNT (Bulgarian National Television) has confirmed that Bulgaria will return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 after a three-year hiatus. The broadcaster last participated in 2022. Preparations are underway to choose a new entry. BNT has not yet decided whether it will hold a national final or an internal selection for its 2026 act. BNT’s Director General Emil Koshlukov hailed Eurovision as a platform where cultures meet. He is proud that Bulgaria will once more have the chance to send an artist to an audience of millions. Source: bnt.bg 🇷🇴 Romania Returns After Two-Year Absence Romania will be back for Eurovision 2026. Broadcaster TVR’s Board of Directors voted on October 30 to approve Romania’s return. This marks the country’s comeback after its last appearance in 2023. In a bid to improve on past results, Romania is reviving its traditional national selection, Selecția Națională. This will be the first Selecția Națională since 2022. TVR’s President-General Director, Dan Cristian Turturică, noted that the two-year break allowed the broadcaster to reflect on what needed to change. He promised a “fresh start” with better support for artists. source: Eurovision.tv 🇲🇩 Moldova Back in Eurovision After 2025 Withdrawal Moldova confirmed its return to Eurovision 2026 after a one‑year break. Teleradio‑Moldova (TRM) withdrew from the 2025 contest because of financial and organizational issues. After consulting artists and producers, TRM will launch a revamped national selection for 2026. The format follows European best practices and fits Moldova’s music scene. The national final will feature a 20‑member jury, five international and fifteen local, to strengthen transparency and broaden perspectives. Song submissions open on 7 November and run for 30 days as Moldova searches for its next representative for Vienna. Source: trm.md 🇲🇰 North Macedonia Poised for Eurovision Comeback North Macedonia is moving closer to rejoining Eurovision in 2026 after not participating since 2022. Although MRT (Macedonian Radio Television) has yet to make a final official decision, recent developments are promising. According to minutes from MRT’s Program Council, the broadcaster reports improved finances, a clear selection plan, and reviewed production capacities. MRT’s Director General confirmed that the 2026 budget is largely in place and the broadcaster is regaining stability. With these positive signs, North Macedonia’s comeback now looks more likely than ever, though formal confirmation is still pending. source: MKRTV National Finals and Selections 🇵🇹 Portugal: Festival da Canção 2026 Gets Format Tweaks RTP has unveiled the format for Festival da Canção 2026. The selection features 16 songs across two semifinals and a grand final. RTP will invite eight songwriters, while six spots go to the open submissions that closed on October 31. Last year’s winner, NAPA, will pick one act, and a new “Prova de Acesso” for music schools will award the final slot to an emerging artist. The headline change: the Festival da Canção winner does not have to go to Eurovision. RTP makes representing Portugal optional; an unprecedented shift in its selection strategy. source: Eurovoix 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Vidbir 2026 Draws 451 Entries Ukraine’s Eurovision hopes look strong: Suspilne received 451 songs for Vidbir 2026 from 392 artists. The scale of interest promises fierce competition to represent Ukraine in Vienna. Suspilne appointed Jamala (Eurovision 2016 winner) as music producer to oversee shortlisting. An expert jury and the production team will review submissions, create a longlist, and run live auditions under Jamala’s supervision. By December 15, Suspilne plans to reveal nine finalists, while an online wildcard vote will add a tenth. Suspilne has scheduled the Vidbir 2026 national final for February 2026. source: suspilne 🇪🇪 Estonia: Eesti Laul 2026 Finalists Announced In Estonia, the lineup for Eesti Laul 2026 is now complete. ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting) received 171 song submissions and has selected 12 finalists to compete for Estonia’s ticket to Eurovision. The national final is set for February 14, 2026, where all 12 acts will perform and a winner will be chosen. Notably, this year’s Eesti Laul roster includes some big names and returning stars. 2000s girl band Vanilla Ninja, famous for representing Switzerland in Eurovision 2005, have made the cut,. Another high-profile finalist is NOËP (Andres Kõpper), a popular electronic artist in Estonia, who will be bringing his distinctive sound to the contest. Facebook Eesti Laul 🇬🇷 Greece: 264 Songs Submitted for National Final Greece’s upcoming Eurovision selection has attracted significant interest. ERT, the Greek national broadcaster, confirmed that 264 songs were submitted for its national final, titled Ethnikós Telikós 2026. According to ERT, a total of 28 songs will be chosen from the submissions to compete in the televised shows. The Greek selection format will include two semifinals, each featuring 14 songs, from which the finalists will be decided solely by public vote. In the final, however, the winner will be determined by a 50/50 voting split between the public and juries. The 28 semifinalists are expected to be unveiled by January, and excitement is building to see who will vie to represent Greece in Vienna. source: ERT 🇩🇰 Denmark: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026 Gets a Modern Makeover Denmark’s road to Eurovision is gearing up with Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (DMGP) 2026 taking on a refreshed approach. Danish broadcaster DR is promising a “modern, renewed and innovative” DMGP show for 2026, complete with a new stage design, logo, and visual identity. In terms of the competition itself, DR has confirmed that eight songs will compete in DMGP 2026. The selection committee has already picked several of these entries, and interestingly, the lineup is said to include a few familiar names. Former DMGP participants and other established Danish

November 4, 2025 No Comments