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 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

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Eurovision 2026

Weekly Update 1

🇧🇬 DARA returns home to a hero’s welcome in Bulgaria Bulgaria celebrated its first ever Eurovision victory in style this week. On Sunday, a red carpet, a “Bangaranga” flash mob at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport, and hundreds of fans waving posters and Bulgarian flags, some dressed in traditional kukeri costumes, greeted DARA upon her arrival from Vienna.  Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev and Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev were among the officials who welcomed her. That was before she disappeared into the sea of supporters gathered at the terminal. DARA addressed the crowd with an emotional speech. She thanked her fans and called on Bulgaria to support its many talented artists. Her music producer Sania Armutlieva told BNT: “There’s no slowing down now. This is her moment.”  DARA secured victory in Vienna on May 16 with the largest winning margin in Eurovision’s 70-year history, receiving 516 points in total, including 312 from viewers. source: brnnews 🇧🇬 Kirkorov claims involvement in “Bangaranga” — co-writer and team deny it The post-contest buzz has not been without controversy. Videos circulated online after the final showing Russian singer Philipp Kirkorov discussing Bulgaria’s Eurovision performance and claiming that his team had participated in preparing DARA’s stage production. Kirkorov is a long-standing public supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Eurovision’s official credits, Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos was among the writers of “Bangaranga.” Kontopoulos has an established history of collaboration with Kirkorov, having worked together on several Russian Eurovision entries in the 2010s. source:  united24media Philipp Kirkorov However, both denied Kirkorov’s involvement in this specific project. Kontopoulos told RFI on May 18 that while Kirkorov has supported him over the years, he was not involved in this particular project. Co-producer Kristian Tarcea also denied any Kirkorov involvement, stating the track was created by four contributors: himself, DARA, Kontopoulos, and a composer named Anna.  Ukrainian stage designer Nicholas Chobb, who worked on the performance, said he first learned of Kirkorov’s claims on social media and could not confirm his participation at any stage of the production process. Neither DARA nor Bulgaria’s public broadcaster BNT publicly commented on Kirkorov’s statements. source: united24media 🇧🇬 Four Bulgarian cities want to host Eurovision 2027 The race for the Eurovision 2027 host city has already begun. Bulgarian Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev confirmed that the Council of Ministers will create an organisational structure for the country’s hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest.  Sofia, Bulgaria Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas have all expressed interest in staging the event. The minister indicated that Sofia’s infrastructure gives it an advantage, but called the interest shown by three other major cities a positive sign. He said the most reasonable approach is to consider all options before making a final decision. No timeline for that decision has been announced yet. source: bnrnews 🇱🇺 🇲🇨 In memoriam: Romuald (1938–2026) The Eurovision community lost a unique figure this week. Romuald Figuier, known simply as Romuald, passed away on 14 May 2026. He was 87 years old. Born on 9 May 1938 in Saint-Pol-de-Léon, Finistère, Romuald was a French singer and composer who represented three different countries at Eurovision. He remains the only French-speaking artist to have achieved that distinction. Romuald represented Monaco in 1964 with “Où sont-elles passées?”, finishing third, then Luxembourg in 1969 with “Catherine”, and Monaco again in 1974 with “Celui qui reste et celui qui s’en va”, finishing fourth.  He began his career at the Théâtre des Variétés and later provided the French voice of George Chakiris in “Les Demoiselles de Rochefort” in 1967. Throughout his career he composed numerous songs, many in collaboration with lyricist Magali Fallourd. You can read his full biography in our encyclopedia. source: Le Figaro That’s it for this week’s Eurovision Universe weekly update. Stay tuned for more Eurovision 2026 and Eurovision 2027 news as it develops.

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May 19, 2026 No Comments
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

Weekly Update 1

🇧🇬 DARA returns home to a hero’s welcome in Bulgaria Bulgaria celebrated its first ever Eurovision victory in style this week. On Sunday, a red carpet, a “Bangaranga” flash mob at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport, and hundreds of fans waving posters and Bulgarian flags, some dressed in traditional kukeri costumes, greeted DARA upon her arrival from Vienna.  Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev and Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev were among the officials who welcomed her. That was before she disappeared into the sea of supporters gathered at the terminal. DARA addressed the crowd with an emotional speech. She thanked her fans and called on Bulgaria to support its many talented artists. Her music producer Sania Armutlieva told BNT: “There’s no slowing down now. This is her moment.”  DARA secured victory in Vienna on May 16 with the largest winning margin in Eurovision’s 70-year history, receiving 516 points in total, including 312 from viewers. source: brnnews 🇧🇬 Kirkorov claims involvement in “Bangaranga” — co-writer and team deny it The post-contest buzz has not been without controversy. Videos circulated online after the final showing Russian singer Philipp Kirkorov discussing Bulgaria’s Eurovision performance and claiming that his team had participated in preparing DARA’s stage production. Kirkorov is a long-standing public supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Eurovision’s official credits, Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos was among the writers of “Bangaranga.” Kontopoulos has an established history of collaboration with Kirkorov, having worked together on several Russian Eurovision entries in the 2010s. source:  united24media Philipp Kirkorov However, both denied Kirkorov’s involvement in this specific project. Kontopoulos told RFI on May 18 that while Kirkorov has supported him over the years, he was not involved in this particular project. Co-producer Kristian Tarcea also denied any Kirkorov involvement, stating the track was created by four contributors: himself, DARA, Kontopoulos, and a composer named Anna.  Ukrainian stage designer Nicholas Chobb, who worked on the performance, said he first learned of Kirkorov’s claims on social media and could not confirm his participation at any stage of the production process. Neither DARA nor Bulgaria’s public broadcaster BNT publicly commented on Kirkorov’s statements. source: united24media 🇧🇬 Four Bulgarian cities want to host Eurovision 2027 The race for the Eurovision 2027 host city has already begun. Bulgarian Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev confirmed that the Council of Ministers will create an organisational structure for the country’s hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest.  Sofia, Bulgaria Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas have all expressed interest in staging the event. The minister indicated that Sofia’s infrastructure gives it an advantage, but called the interest shown by three other major cities a positive sign. He said the most reasonable approach is to consider all options before making a final decision. No timeline for that decision has been announced yet. source: bnrnews 🇱🇺 🇲🇨 In memoriam: Romuald (1938–2026) The Eurovision community lost a unique figure this week. Romuald Figuier, known simply as Romuald, passed away on 14 May 2026. He was 87 years old. Born on 9 May 1938 in Saint-Pol-de-Léon, Finistère, Romuald was a French singer and composer who represented three different countries at Eurovision. He remains the only French-speaking artist to have achieved that distinction. Romuald represented Monaco in 1964 with “Où sont-elles passées?”, finishing third, then Luxembourg in 1969 with “Catherine”, and Monaco again in 1974 with “Celui qui reste et celui qui s’en va”, finishing fourth.  He began his career at the Théâtre des Variétés and later provided the French voice of George Chakiris in “Les Demoiselles de Rochefort” in 1967. Throughout his career he composed numerous songs, many in collaboration with lyricist Magali Fallourd. You can read his full biography in our encyclopedia. source: Le Figaro That’s it for this week’s Eurovision Universe weekly update. Stay tuned for more Eurovision 2026 and Eurovision 2027 news as it develops.

Read More »
May 19, 2026 No Comments
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