Weekly Update

National Finals and Selections

Cyprus: Antigoni Chosen via Two-Part Internal Selection

Cyprus will be represented in 2026 by Antigoni Buxton, selected through a new two-stage internal process. A five-member jury evaluated nine candidate artists, while a public online poll gathered fan input. Antigoni received the highest overall score. She has now been officially confirmed as Cyprus’s Eurovision 2026 artist. source: RIK

Portugal: Festival da Canção 2026 Composers Revealed

Portugal’s RTP unveiled the 16 songwriters for Festival da Canção 2026. The roster features 8 invited composers and 6 chosen from the open submissions. In addition, one was chosen via the new “Prova de Acesso” public vote and one picked by last year’s winners, band NAPA. source: media.rtp.pt

Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2026 Submission Deadline Nears

In Iceland, RÚV opened song submissions for Söngvakeppnin 2026, with a deadline of November 20, 2025. The broadcaster noted it has already received more entries than last year so far. Interestingly, RÚV has not yet confirmed Iceland’s participation in Eurovision 2026. However, if the country does compete, the Söngvakeppnin winner will go on to represent Iceland in Vienna. source: RÚV

Croatia: Dora 2026 to Be Held in Zagreb

Croatia’s Dora 2026 will be held at HRT’s TV studios in Zagreb, moving from its usual home in Opatija. HRT cited an exceptionally busy 2026 as the reason for relocating the show. Song submissions are open until November 23. Thereafter an expert panel will pick 24 entries for the shows in February. The winner will be chosen by a combination of jury and public voting. Opatija.hr

Malta: MESC 2026 Semi-Final and Final Dates Set

Malta announced that MESC 2026 will consist of a semi-final on January 15 and a final on January 17, 2026. A total of 18 songs will compete, with the submission window open from November 17 to 23, 2025. PBS will reveal the 18 semi-finalists on December 1. A combined jury-public vote will then decide which 12 acts advance to the final night. source: PBS

Other News

Norway: Bobbysocks Biopic “La det swinge” in Development

A new feature film titled “La det swinge” will bring the story of Bobbysocks’ 1985 Eurovision victory to the big screen. The Norwegian Film Institute has granted 8.8 million kroner in funding to the project, which has a total budget of about 52.7 million NOK. Acclaimed director Per-Olav Sørensen is at the helm of the movie. According to the NFI’s description, the film will portray “the wild, true story of how Bobbysocks changed Norway – taking us from a gray daily life to three minutes that changed everything.” It promises to be a colorful, music-filled crowd-pleaser. The strong backing behind this nostalgic Eurovision tale shows high confidence in its appeal. The film is hoped to resonate with audiences across generations. source: nettavisen.no

Sweden: Melfest WKND 2026 Pre-Party Weekend Announced

In Sweden, the popular fan event Melfest WKND will return in 2026. Organizers have announced that the festivities will take place on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7. The schedule aligns with the weekend of the Melodifestivalen grand final in Stockholm. Like last year, both the Friday night pre-party and the main Saturday night event will be held at Nalen. This classic venue in central Stockholm has become the home of Melfest WKND. Melfest WKND has become a highlight for Eurovision fans. The weekend features appearances by Melodifestivalen and Eurovision artists. It also draws international fans to Stockholm to celebrate ahead of Sweden’s national final. source: eurovoix

Italy: Damiano David Wins OGAE Song Contest 2025

The results are in for the OGAE Song Contest 2025, an annual competition among Eurovision fan clubs worldwide. Italy took the crown for the second year in a row. Italian singer Damiano David (of Måneskin fame) won with his song “Born With a Broken Heart,” earning 279 points in the final tally. This is Italy’s second consecutive victory in the fan contest – a back-to-back achievement last seen in 2020. Finland finished in second place with “Kaistaa” by BESS & Käärijä, while Australia came third thanks to pop icon Kylie Minogue’s track “Lights Camera Action”. The OGAE Song Contest is a fan-organized, non-EBU event that helps keep Eurovision spirits high in the off-season. You can watch the contest on Vimeo.

Germany: Kessler Sisters Pass Away Together at 89

Twin sisters Alice and Ellen Kessler – Germany’s Eurovision 1959 representatives – have died at the age of 89. The Kessler Twins were legendary entertainers in Europe during the 1950s and ’60s. According to German media reports, the sisters chose to end their lives together via legal euthanasia in their longtime home in Bavaria. This fulfilled their pact that neither would have to live without the other. The Kesslers leave behind a remarkable legacy as pioneers of European pop entertainment and beloved Eurovision icons. (For more on their life and career, see our in memoriam tribute.)

Martijn
November 18, 2025
8:00 pm
2026, Croatia, Cyprus, Iceland, Malta, Norway, obituaries, Portugal, winners

Martijn

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News

Kessler Sisters passed away

Alice and Ellen Kessler, the famous German-born twin sisters who dazzled Europe’s stages and screen in the 1950s and 1960s, have died at the age of 89. German newspaper Bild reports that the identical twins chose to end their lives together via legal euthanasia. The Kessler Sisters passed away in their longtime home in Grünwald, Bavaria. With this they fulfilled a lifelong wish to remain side by side even in death. From Post-War Beginnings to Eurovision Stage Alice and Ellen Kessler were born in 1936 in the Saxony region of Germany. They grew up in a divided, post-war Europe. Trained in ballet from childhood, the twins fled East Germany as teenagers in 1952 to seek artistic freedom in the West. Their leap of faith quickly paid off. By 19, they were performing at the famed Lido cabaret in Paris, marking the start of an international career. The Kessler Twins soon became one of Germany’s most successful entertainment acts. The sisters shared stages with legends like Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Harry Belafonte during the 1960s. They even turned down a chance to appear with Elvis Presley in a Hollywood film, keen to chart their own path in show business. In 1959, the sisters’ rising stardom led them to the Eurovision Song Contest. Alice and Ellen were selected to represent West Germany at that year’s competition in Cannes where they performed the upbeat “Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh’n”. Their lively entry earned 8th place in the contest. Though they did not take home the trophy, the Kessler Twins’ Eurovision appearance amplified their fame and endeared them to audiences beyond Germany. Stardom in Germany and Italy The Kessler Sisters continued to conquer Europe’s entertainment scene. In the 1960s they moved to Italy, where they became beloved television stars on the RAI variety show Studio Uno. They were known as “Le Gemelle Kessler”. Italian viewers were captivated by the twins’ synchronized dancing, fashionable costumes, and catchy musical numbers. At the same time, the sisters remained popular in their native Germany. They headlined many TV specials and stage revues during the post-war entertainment boom. Their ability to cross cultural boundaries made them symbols of a new, optimistic Europe. Two German performers who could sing in multiple languages and light up screens from Munich to Rome. Throughout their long career, Alice and Ellen Kessler made significant contributions to music and entertainment across the continent. They recorded numerous singles. The sisters appeared in films and theatrical productions, and even graced American TV with spots on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Red Skelton Hour. Both the German and Italian governments recognized the twins’ cultural impact. The sisters received honors including the prestigious Rose d’Or television award and Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit for their artistic achievements. Decades later, in 1986, the Kesslers returned to Germany. However, they continued to perform occasionally on television in both countries, embodying a living bridge between Italian and German popular culture. A Lasting Bond and Legacy In their final years, the Kessler Twins lived quietly as neighbors in Munich, remaining as close as ever. The duo decided together that neither would have to live without the other, electing to depart this life on their own terms. The twins had even stipulated in their will that their ashes be kept together in one urn, underlining their lifelong unity. As news of their passing spread, many across Europe have been reflecting on the joy and unity Alice and Ellen brought to the post-war generation. Alice once summed up the secret to their enduring success and sisterhood. “Every day discipline, always gratitude, humility instead of arrogance, and togetherness. Until death.” In the end, that togetherness truly lasted until death. The Kessler Sisters leave behind a legacy as trailblazers of European entertainment and Eurovision pioneers, forever remembered for the sparkle, elegance, and heartfelt harmony they brought to the stage.

November 17, 2025 No Comments

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Weekly Update

It’s Tuesday, November 18, 2025, and time for another weekly update! There’s no single headline dominating Eurovision news this week, but plenty of notable stories. National selection season is in full swing across Europe, with updates from Cyprus, Portugal, Iceland, Croatia, and Malta. Meanwhile, outside the selections, a new film is in the works about a Eurovision classic and a Swedish pre-party weekend has been announced. A fan contest crowned its latest winner, and we bid farewell to two Eurovision legends. Here are this week’s top stories: National Finals and Selections Cyprus: Antigoni Chosen via Two-Part Internal Selection Cyprus will be represented in 2026 by Antigoni Buxton, selected through a new two-stage internal process. A five-member jury evaluated nine candidate artists, while a public online poll gathered fan input. Antigoni received the highest overall score. She has now been officially confirmed as Cyprus’s Eurovision 2026 artist. source: RIK Portugal: Festival da Canção 2026 Composers Revealed Portugal’s RTP unveiled the 16 songwriters for Festival da Canção 2026. The roster features 8 invited composers and 6 chosen from the open submissions. In addition, one was chosen via the new “Prova de Acesso” public vote and one picked by last year’s winners, band NAPA. source: media.rtp.pt Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2026 Submission Deadline Nears In Iceland, RÚV opened song submissions for Söngvakeppnin 2026, with a deadline of November 20, 2025. The broadcaster noted it has already received more entries than last year so far. Interestingly, RÚV has not yet confirmed Iceland’s participation in Eurovision 2026. However, if the country does compete, the Söngvakeppnin winner will go on to represent Iceland in Vienna. source: RÚV Croatia: Dora 2026 to Be Held in Zagreb Croatia’s Dora 2026 will be held at HRT’s TV studios in Zagreb, moving from its usual home in Opatija. HRT cited an exceptionally busy 2026 as the reason for relocating the show. Song submissions are open until November 23. Thereafter an expert panel will pick 24 entries for the shows in February. The winner will be chosen by a combination of jury and public voting. Opatija.hr Malta: MESC 2026 Semi-Final and Final Dates Set Malta announced that MESC 2026 will consist of a semi-final on January 15 and a final on January 17, 2026. A total of 18 songs will compete, with the submission window open from November 17 to 23, 2025. PBS will reveal the 18 semi-finalists on December 1. A combined jury-public vote will then decide which 12 acts advance to the final night. source: PBS Other News Norway: Bobbysocks Biopic “La det swinge” in Development A new feature film titled “La det swinge” will bring the story of Bobbysocks’ 1985 Eurovision victory to the big screen. The Norwegian Film Institute has granted 8.8 million kroner in funding to the project, which has a total budget of about 52.7 million NOK. Acclaimed director Per-Olav Sørensen is at the helm of the movie. According to the NFI’s description, the film will portray “the wild, true story of how Bobbysocks changed Norway – taking us from a gray daily life to three minutes that changed everything.” It promises to be a colorful, music-filled crowd-pleaser. The strong backing behind this nostalgic Eurovision tale shows high confidence in its appeal. The film is hoped to resonate with audiences across generations. source: nettavisen.no Sweden: Melfest WKND 2026 Pre-Party Weekend Announced In Sweden, the popular fan event Melfest WKND will return in 2026. Organizers have announced that the festivities will take place on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7. The schedule aligns with the weekend of the Melodifestivalen grand final in Stockholm. Like last year, both the Friday night pre-party and the main Saturday night event will be held at Nalen. This classic venue in central Stockholm has become the home of Melfest WKND. Melfest WKND has become a highlight for Eurovision fans. The weekend features appearances by Melodifestivalen and Eurovision artists. It also draws international fans to Stockholm to celebrate ahead of Sweden’s national final. source: eurovoix Italy: Damiano David Wins OGAE Song Contest 2025 The results are in for the OGAE Song Contest 2025, an annual competition among Eurovision fan clubs worldwide. Italy took the crown for the second year in a row. Italian singer Damiano David (of Måneskin fame) won with his song “Born With a Broken Heart,” earning 279 points in the final tally. This is Italy’s second consecutive victory in the fan contest – a back-to-back achievement last seen in 2020. Finland finished in second place with “Kaistaa” by BESS & Käärijä, while Australia came third thanks to pop icon Kylie Minogue’s track “Lights Camera Action”. The OGAE Song Contest is a fan-organized, non-EBU event that helps keep Eurovision spirits high in the off-season. You can watch the contest on Vimeo. Germany: Kessler Sisters Pass Away Together at 89 Twin sisters Alice and Ellen Kessler – Germany’s Eurovision 1959 representatives – have died at the age of 89. The Kessler Twins were legendary entertainers in Europe during the 1950s and ’60s. According to German media reports, the sisters chose to end their lives together via legal euthanasia in their longtime home in Bavaria. This fulfilled their pact that neither would have to live without the other. The Kesslers leave behind a remarkable legacy as pioneers of European pop entertainment and beloved Eurovision icons. (For more on their life and career, see our in memoriam tribute.)

November 18, 2025 No Comments