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EUROVISION 2026: FINLAND - UMK 2026 HOSTS REVEALED

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EUROVISION 2026: WE HAVE HOSTS - VICTORIA & MICHAEL

Last week Ebu and ORF shared the news we have hosts for the 70th Eurovision song contest 2026 in Vienna. Earlier hotly speculated Conchita Wurst announced she won't be part of Eurovision anymore in any form.  Victoria Swarovski (32) sparkles with her surname and yes, she an heir to that crystal empire. But she's not been waiting for the family money but created her own empire as tv-presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer as Victoria S. Her musical started already at the age of 16 and later took her to Los Angeles where she worked with likes of Diane Warren. Later she went on to win Austrian Let's dance and later become a long running judge while hosting other nig shows. She has her own beauty brand ORIMEI, as a model she has been in covers of ELLE, Glamour, L'Officiel, Gala style and Forbes. And just like Finnish hopeful Linda Lampenius she's also a rally driver! Michael Ostrowski (53) is an actor and presenter. But also comedian, screenwriter, director....

EUROVISION 2026: BULGARIA - DARA WINS NATSIONALNATA SELEKTSIYA

Bulgaria returns to Eurovision song contest after three editions away and staged a selection show to choose the artist and doing so managed to engage big and most popular names in the Bulgarian scene. After semi-final and final the winner is out: Dara. Another show later on will select an entry for her as she will perform three songs and one will be voted for Vienna. Read more here . Dara (or Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, 27) is a big name in the Bulgarian entertainment business as she has built her career in the past ten years through X Factor, Bulgarian version of Your Face sounds familiar, being the coach in The Voice and Dancing with stars besides releasing hit singles in regular basis. Nearly 30 singles as solo or featuring including three #1s and eight Top-10 hits and two album under her belt she's off to Vienna next. Countless nominations in Bulgarian annual music awards winning the Artist of the year in 2018 and video of the year in 2021. In 2016 her song was the most played one...

EUROVISION 2026: NOAM BETTAN/ נועם בת WINS ISRAEL'S HAKOKHAV HABA 2026

Israel's selection show HakokHav Haba or Rising Star for the Eurovision song contest 2026 artist came to conclusion last week and was won by Noam Bettan. The selections and eliminations startd in November 2025 and a total of 21 singers took part in the televized shows this time. The final was a foursome with Noam Bettan, Gal De Paz, Shira Sloof and Alona Erez.. As usual only the artist was chosen and the song he will perform in Vienna on behalf of Kan is revealed later, on March 5, 2026 Noam (27) comes from a French Jewish family and grew up in Israel. He has already experience from other talent shows and has released his debut album and several singles and scored some hits, too.  Below are some of his songs and covers for your enjoyment along with his Rising star performances:

EUROVISION 2026: EVA MARIJA WINS LUXEMBURG SONG CONTEST 2026

Luxemburg had its national final for Eurovision song contest on January 24, 2026 and was won by Eva Marija.with Mother nature. Eva Marija Kavaš Puc (20) was born and raised in Luxemburg by Slovenian parents. She has studied singing (from jazz to pop, rock and classical), violin, bass and piano in Conservatoire de Luxemburg. Her music writing studies continue in London. She took a clear win by winning both jury and televotes. Mother nature is her fifth single after When 2 lovers meet , Toxic trait , Time to go and Sweet child in the past five years.  Out of 83 submission came through different ways to enter and 15 were invited for an audition and an international jury chose the 8 for the final. In final the top-3 entered the superfinal. The other placements haven't been revealed yet. (Full results published January 30 and added below) Luxemburg song contest (jury + televote) 1. Eva Marija - Mother nature (94 + 128)  222 2. Steve Castile - Sweet tooth (80 + 65)  136...

EUROVISION 2026: SATOSHI WINS FINALA NATIONALA 2026 IN MOLDOVA

  Moldova had its national final Finala Națională for Eurovision song contest 2026 on January 17 and it was won by Satoshi and his Viva, Moldova! Satoshi (aka Vlad Sabajuc, 27) is a Moldovan singer, songwriter, rapper and composer. He's been involved in music as Satoshi since 2019 and has already released four albums and 40 singles since 2022! However so far only two have apparently charted: Noaptea pe la 3 (#16 in Moldova) and Diferente (#81 in Romania).  Satoshi won in the final both international and national jury and also the televote by huge margin: he got 13.084 votes versus CatalinaSolomac's 861! Originally 37 songs were submitted, 34 attended the auditions round in December and 16 acts reached the final. Both the national and international jury included several Eurovision artists who also performed during the show.  Finala Națională 2026 (nat jury + int jury + televote) 1. Satoshi - Viva, Moldova! (12 + 12 + 12) 36 2. Pavel Orlov - Can't say goodbye (10 + 8 + 8)...

EUROVISION 2026: AIDAN WINS MALTA EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2026

It was third time lucky for Aidan (aka Aidan Cassar, 26) winning the ticket to Eurovision after placing 4th in 2018 with Dai laga and second in 2022 with Ritmu .  In 2023 was set to participate with Regina but was disqualified. He won the jury vote by far and placed second in the public vote after Matt Blxck those two being runaway favorites by public. Seasoned performer he has taken part also in Junior Eurovision selection in 2015 , X Factor Malta, Muzika Muzika festival in 2021 . He has released one album so far, an EP and over 20 singles since 2015. He has 13 #1 singles in Malta.  The semi-final was hold on January 15 and the final on January 17, 2026. The jury had ten members: five from Malta and one from Cyprus, UK, Germany, Turkey and Greece.  Malta Eurovision song contest 2026 (jury + televote) 1. Aidan - Bella   113 + 170 = 283 2. Matt Blxck -  Ejja lejja ħdejja 'l hawn (The Flute)   68 + 200 = 268 3. Mychael Bartolo Chircop - My sweet ...

FRANCE: JÉRÉMY FREROT - ADIEU

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: M. POKORA - MILLE FOIS

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: JECK - SANS TOI

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: PIERRE GARNIER - ADIEU, NOUS DEUX

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: CLARA LUCIANI - CETTE VIE

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: KENDRI GIRAC - OUBLIER

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: VIANNEY - JE SUIS FOU

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: LINH - J'AVOUE

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: CLAUDIO CAPEO - T'EN ALLER

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

FRANCE: SLIMANE - MIEUX QUE MOI

As I'm off to France for some well deserved holidays and will get back to this blog afterwards I will feature a song a day. From France as my travelling tradition goes. By my favorite French singers bien sur. Enjoy!

EUROVISION ICELAND: MY FAVOURITES OVER THE YEARS

Now as Iceland has withdrawn from Eurovision song contest at least in 2026, let's have a look of some Icelandic favorites of mine over the years. Starting off with Euroband's banger that is one of my all time favourite and sure to put me in the mood anytime in seconds! This is my life!  Enjoy! 2008 Euroband - This is my life (14th) 1997 Páll Òskar - Minn hinsti dans (20th) 2003 Birgitta - Open your heart (8th) 1994 Sigga - Nætur (12th) 2019 Hatari - Hatrið mun sigra (10th) 2022 - Systur - Með hækkandi sól (23rd) 2009 Yohanna - Is it true? (2nd) 2025 Væb - Róa (25th) 2010 Hera Björk - Je ne sais quoi (19th) There would have been quite a few to pick up as well but these sounded the ones at this time and space.  Special mentions go to: 2013 Eyþór Ingi - Ég á líf (17th) 2007 Eirikur Hauksson - Valentine lost (sf 13th) 2005 Selma - If I had your love (sf 16th) 1985 ICY - Gleðibankinn (16th) 2018 Ari Olafsson - Our choice (sf 19th)

EUROVISION SLOVENIA: MY FAVOURITES OVER THE YEARS

Now as Slovenia has withdrawn from Eurovision song contest at least in 2026, let's have a look of some Slovenian favorites of mine over the year. I have always had a soft spot for their debut entry in 1993.  Enjoy! 2011 Maja Keuc - No one (13th) 1997 Tanja Ribič - Zbudi se (10th) 2001 Nuša Derenda - Energy (7th) 2006 Anžej Dežan - Mr Nobody (sf 16th) 2015 Maraaya - Here for you (14th) 1993 IX Band - Tih deževen dan (22nd) 2008 Rebeka Dremelj - Vrag naz vzame (sf 11th) 2019 Zalagasper - Sebi (15th) 2012 Eva Boto - Verjamem (sf 17th) There would have been quite a few to pick up as well but these sounded the ones at this time and space.  Special mentions go to: 1996 Regina - Dan najlepših sanj (21st) 2002 Sestre - Samo ljubezen (13th) 2023 Joker Out - Carpe diem (21st) 2018 Lea Sirk - Hvala, ne! (22nd) 2025 Klemen - How much time do we have left (sf 13)

EUROVISION 2026: GEORGIA - BZZZZ..... BZIKEBI RETURN!

It's no secret I'm not a big fan of Junior Eurovision but one song, one winner has left an everlasting mark in my books: Georgia's 2008 JESC winner Bzikebi with their Bzzz. It's just what I think Jesc should be: fun, a bit silly, childish and age appropriate. I don't know what they have been up to in between but last month they re-appeared in Jesc 2025 that was held in Tbilisi as interval act. And from that the step to Vienna was short! They have been interbally chosen by GPB. The trio is made of Giorgi Shiolashvili ( გიორგი შიოლაშვილი), Mariam Kikuashvili ( მარიამ კიკუაშვილი) and Mariam Tatulashvili ( მარიამ თათულაშვილი). Back then they were all 10, now 27. Their entry for Vienna 2026 will be revealed later. Meanwhile enjoy some Bzzz below:

EUROVISION 2026: FINLAND - UMK 2026 ARTISTS REVEALED

Tonight was the official date but as usual the list leaked already last night as Etta published the group photo and details of her entry in her IG by mistake and obviously someone got a screenshot. Or was it a PR stunt from Yle to boost attention and hype? We will probably never know. And yes, all names were circulating more or less during the past months with the exception of Antti Paalanen. Apparently very well known and famous in his music genre circuit but I have never ever even heard of him I admit.  As for the artists I will go deep with them later after their songs are out (and my holidays over) but I am very, very happy to see Linda and Pete in the list as I have been wishing and hoping both of them for years by now. Not sure about Antti and Komiat but let's hear the songs first. Kiki and Sinikka I'm also happy for, Etta ... not so sure and Chachi is a mystery as she's so far only been as the wife of Jukka Hilden of Duudsomit/The Dudesons fame. But then again she...

EUROVISION IRELAND: MY FAVOURITES OVER THE YEARS

Now as Ireland has withdrawn from Eurovision song contest at least in 2026, let's have a look of some Irish favorites of mine over the year. Among them quite a few winners as usually Ireland has won with their best efforts. My favorite of them all is however a  completely forgotten runner up, Mysterious woman.  Enjoy! 1980 Johnny Logan - What's another year (1st) 1981 Sheeba - Horoscopes (5th) 1993 Niamh Kavanagh - In your eyes (1st) 1986 Luv Bug - You can count on me (4th) 1997 Marc Roberts - Mysterious woman (2nd) 1984 Linda Martin - Terminal 3 (2nd) 2018 Ryan O'Shaughnessy - Togerher (16th) Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan - Rock'n'roll kids (1st) 1987 Johnny Logan - Hold me now (1st) There would have been quite a few to pick up as well but these sounded the ones at this time and space.  Special mentions go to: 2013 Ryan Dolan - Only love survives (26th) 1965 Butch Moore - I'm walking the streets in the rain (6th) 1991 Kim Jackson - Could it be that I...

EUROVISION THE NETHERLANDS: MY FAVOURITES OVER THE YEARS

  Now as the Netherlands has withdrawn from Eurovision song contest at least in 2026, let's have a look of some Dutch favorites of mine over the year. 't is OK seems to be totally forgotten but I loved it to bits as kid.  And I have very fond memories of talks with two of these artists: Ilse and Edsilia. Enjoy! 2014 The Common Linnets - Calm after the storm (2nd) 1980 Maggie MacNeal - Amsterdam (5th) 2022 S10 - De diepte (11th) 2016 Douwe Bob - Slow down (11th) 2019 Duncan Laurence -  Arcade (1st) 1990 Maywood - Ik wil alles met je delen (15th) 1993 Ruth Jacott - Vrede (6th) 1978 Harmony - 't is OK (13th) 1998 Edsilia Rombley - Hemel en aarde (4th) There would have been quite a few to pick up as well but these sounded the ones at this time and space.  Special mentions go to: 1988 Gerard Joling - Shangri-La (9th) 1987 Marcha - Rechtop in de wind (5th) 1979 Xandra - Colorado (12th) 1992 Humphrey Campbell - Wijs me de weg (9th) 1984 Maribelle - Ik hou van jou (13th)

EUROVISION SPAIN: MY FAVORITES OVER THE YEARS

 Now as Spain has withdrawn from Eurovision song contest at least in 2026, let's have a look of some Spanish favorites of mine over the year. Starting with totally undeserved null pointer.  Enjoy! 1983 Remedios Amaya - Quien maneja mi barca (last, zero points) 1991 Sergio Dalma - Bailar pegados (4th) 1990 Aucar Moreno - Bandido (5th) 1985 Paloma San Basilio - La fiesta termino (14th) 1980 Trigo Limpio - Quedate esta noche (12th) 2004 Ramón - Para llenarme de ti (10th) 2003 Beth - Dime (8th) 2012 Pastora Soler - Quédate conmigo (10th) 2022 Chanel - SloMo (3rd) There would have been quite a few to pick up as well but these sounded the ones at this time and space.  Special mentions go to: 1995 Anabel Conde - Vuelve conmigo (2nd) 1982 Lucia - El (10th) 1997 Marcos Llunas - Sin rencor (6th) 1973 Mocedades - Eres tu (2nd) 2024 Nebulossa - La zorra (22nd)

EUROVISION 2026: THE SEMI-FINAL ALLOCATION DRAW

  It's time. The Vienna's City hall aka Wiener Rathaus will host the ceremony on Monday January 12, 2026 at 7pm CET hosted by You can watch it live right here .  As usual there will be three rounds of voting. First the Big4 (only 4 as Spain withdraw) and host country Austria will be drawn into voting and performing in one of the two semi-final. Then the semi-finalists will be first drawn into the first or the second semi-final pot by pot, and after that also they will be drawn into the first or second half of that previously drawn semi-final. Sounds a bit chaotic but it's very straight forward and simple in the end.  Later once all the entries have been chosen and published and handed over to Ebu and their staging and props and all that is sorted out the producers will determinate the running order for each semi-final to make it smooth and dynamic and interesting, as they say.  As a Finn I am of course hoping for the second semi-final and second half as since introdu...