Weekly Update

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.

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Road to Vienna: Norway

As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Road to Vienna: Norway   Jonas Lovv: From the Voice to Eurovision Early Life and Local Music Scene Jonas Lovv is a Norwegian singer and songwriter from Bergen. Before gaining national attention, he spent years building his craft on the local music scene, performing in clubs and bands across the city. An early attempt on Idol in 2014 did not lead to a breakthrough, but it strengthened his focus on live performance and artistic development. Shuffle Baby and Musical Growth Lovv later became the frontman of synth-pop trio Shuffle Baby, known for blending 1980s-inspired electro-pop with modern production. The group released the EP Posers in 2019 and the single “Over It” in 2020. Although the band gained traction, the project eventually slowed down, leading Lovv toward a full solo career. Solo Career and Expanding Sound From 2020 onward, Jonas Lovv steadily released solo music in both Norwegian and English. His work ranges from pop and rock to more emotional, stripped-back tracks. With multiple singles and the EP Fotografisk minne (2023), he built a diverse catalogue that showcased his evolving sound and songwriting identity. The Voice Norway Breakthrough His national breakthrough came in 2025 on The Voice Norway, where his powerful audition of “Play That Funky Music” turned all chairs. Mentored by Espen Lind, he impressed audiences with versatile performances and quickly became a standout contestant. After the show, he expanded his live presence with major festival appearances and orchestral collaborations. Ya Ya Ya: A High-Energy Song About Intense Attraction Ya Ya Ya is an energetic track that explores desire, temptation, and emotional intensity. At its core, the song captures the feeling of being pulled into a powerful attraction that is both thrilling and overwhelming. Desire and Emotional Loss of Control The lyrics describe a relationship where passion takes over completely. The narrator becomes consumed by someone irresistible, unable to maintain control. This emotional and physical intensity reflects a connection that feels exciting but also slightly destructive. Pleasure, Pain, and Emotional Conflict A key theme in the song is contradiction. The attraction brings both excitement and frustration, highlighting the unstable nature of the relationship. While the connection feels euphoric, there is also an awareness of emotional risk and instability. Hypnotic Repetition and Emotional Impact The repeated “ya-ya-ya-ya” chorus acts like a hypnotic loop, symbolizing obsessive desire. This repetition enhances the song’s energy and reflects how emotions can feel inescapable when attraction becomes overwhelming.                                                                                                                                                      Ultimately, “Ya Ya Ya” is about surrendering to intense attraction despite the risks. It explores the balance between control and emotional abandon, capturing the excitement, vulnerability, and chaos of passionate relationships.   Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest Norway has a storied history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated since 1960. The country boasts three victories: in 1985 with Bobbysocks‘ “La det swinge,” in 1995 with Secret Garden‘s “Nocturne,” and in 2009 with Alexander Rybak‘s “Fairytale.” Despite holding the record for the most last-place finishes, Norway has also achieved numerous top-ten results, reflecting its resilience and commitment to the competition. The Bookmakers Norway may be ranked 18th with the bookmakers and 9th in the semi-final, but a place in the final is anything but certain.        

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Road to Vienna: Norway

As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Road to Vienna: Norway   Jonas Lovv: From the Voice to Eurovision Early Life and Local Music Scene Jonas Lovv is a Norwegian singer and songwriter from Bergen. Before gaining national attention, he spent years building his craft on the local music scene, performing in clubs and bands across the city. An early attempt on Idol in 2014 did not lead to a breakthrough, but it strengthened his focus on live performance and artistic development. Shuffle Baby and Musical Growth Lovv later became the frontman of synth-pop trio Shuffle Baby, known for blending 1980s-inspired electro-pop with modern production. The group released the EP Posers in 2019 and the single “Over It” in 2020. Although the band gained traction, the project eventually slowed down, leading Lovv toward a full solo career. Solo Career and Expanding Sound From 2020 onward, Jonas Lovv steadily released solo music in both Norwegian and English. His work ranges from pop and rock to more emotional, stripped-back tracks. With multiple singles and the EP Fotografisk minne (2023), he built a diverse catalogue that showcased his evolving sound and songwriting identity. The Voice Norway Breakthrough His national breakthrough came in 2025 on The Voice Norway, where his powerful audition of “Play That Funky Music” turned all chairs. Mentored by Espen Lind, he impressed audiences with versatile performances and quickly became a standout contestant. After the show, he expanded his live presence with major festival appearances and orchestral collaborations. Ya Ya Ya: A High-Energy Song About Intense Attraction Ya Ya Ya is an energetic track that explores desire, temptation, and emotional intensity. At its core, the song captures the feeling of being pulled into a powerful attraction that is both thrilling and overwhelming. Desire and Emotional Loss of Control The lyrics describe a relationship where passion takes over completely. The narrator becomes consumed by someone irresistible, unable to maintain control. This emotional and physical intensity reflects a connection that feels exciting but also slightly destructive. Pleasure, Pain, and Emotional Conflict A key theme in the song is contradiction. The attraction brings both excitement and frustration, highlighting the unstable nature of the relationship. While the connection feels euphoric, there is also an awareness of emotional risk and instability. Hypnotic Repetition and Emotional Impact The repeated “ya-ya-ya-ya” chorus acts like a hypnotic loop, symbolizing obsessive desire. This repetition enhances the song’s energy and reflects how emotions can feel inescapable when attraction becomes overwhelming.                                                                                                                                                      Ultimately, “Ya Ya Ya” is about surrendering to intense attraction despite the risks. It explores the balance between control and emotional abandon, capturing the excitement, vulnerability, and chaos of passionate relationships.   Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest Norway has a storied history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated since 1960. The country boasts three victories: in 1985 with Bobbysocks‘ “La det swinge,” in 1995 with Secret Garden‘s “Nocturne,” and in 2009 with Alexander Rybak‘s “Fairytale.” Despite holding the record for the most last-place finishes, Norway has also achieved numerous top-ten results, reflecting its resilience and commitment to the competition. The Bookmakers Norway may be ranked 18th with the bookmakers and 9th in the semi-final, but a place in the final is anything but certain.        

Read More »
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