It’s Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and time for another weekly update! This week saw a Eurovision icon bow out, national finals making headlines, and key developments for the 2026 contest in Vienna. Conchita Wurst announced her departure from all Eurovision activities, Ukraine’s Vidbir added its final wildcard act, and Moldova set the stage for its national final. Meanwhile, Eurovision 2026 preparations accelerated with ticket sales (which sold out within an hour) and the Semi-Final Allocation Draw results. Plus, we’ve introduced new features on Eurovision Universe – including a country-by-country lyrics search and a dedicated 2026 page. Here are this week’s top stories:
Conchita Wurst
Conchita Wurst has shared a personal statement on social media. In her message, she reflects on recent developments in her life and career. She explains that she will step back from all Eurovision-related activities. According to Conchita, the contest will remain an important part of her history, but no longer a place for future projects.
📷 EBU
She thanks Eurovision for the opportunities it gave her and for the impact it had on her personal growth. Fans and colleagues reacted quickly to the statement. Many expressed support and appreciation for her openness. Conchita’s words once again underline her role as a strong voice within the Eurovision community. Her influence reaches far beyond her victory in 2014. source: Facebook Conchita Wurst
National finals: Ukraine and Moldova
🇺🇦 In Ukraine, broadcaster Suspilne has confirmed the final participant for Vidbir 2026. The artist won the public vote for the remaining spot in the national final. This result completes the line-up for the Ukrainian selection show. Vidbir continues to attract strong interest from the public. It remains an important platform for Ukrainian artists. Source: suspilne.media
🇲🇩 Moldova has also shared new details about its national final. The show will take place on 17 January. Broadcaster TRM confirmed that Paula Seling and Jamala will appear as special guests. Their participation adds international attention to the Moldovan selection. The event marks Moldova’s official return to the Eurovision stage. source: RTM
Agenda:
| January 15 | 🇲🇹 Malta | semifinal | 21.00 CET | TVM |
| January 17 | 🇲🇩 Moldova | final | 18.00 CET | TRM or YouTube |
| January 17 | 🇲🇹 Malta | final | 21.00 CET | TVM |
| January 20 | 🇮🇱 Israel | final artists | 20.30 CET | To be announced |
Eurovision 2026: tickets and allocation draw
Ticket sales for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna started today. Demand proved extremely high. The first range of tickets sold out within around one hour after sales opened. This result highlights the strong interest in the contest. It also suggests that future ticket waves may sell quickly. source: instagram eurovision
The allocation draw has also taken place. Participating countries learned in which semi-final they will compete. The draw also decided whether they will perform in the first or second half of the show. With this step completed, the on-screen Eurovision season for 2026 has officially begun. Find all about the draw here.
New on Eurovision Universe
Eurovision Universe has expanded its online encyclopedia. A new tool now allows visitors to search Eurovision lyrics by country. This feature offers a fresh way to explore songs and themes. Have a look at it here!
In addition, the dedicated Eurovision 2026 page is now online. It brings together confirmed news, background information, and updates about the upcoming contest. Readers who want to follow the road to Vienna are encouraged to explore both new sections.
