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The season is very much ‘on’ with Malta having the first actual national final of the new year. But while all that’s going on, I’m here to update you on the little things that don’t need a whole page of their own. Just enough so you can hold your own in any Eurovision anorak gathering.
First up, tickets went on sale. Then sold out. Like there was ever any doubt about it. There will be second and third waves, and the resale market, plus a barrel-scarping ‘Eurovision on Tour’ for anyone who isn’t going to Vienna. If you’d like to back the EBU’s attempt to rip off emulate what fan organisations have been doing for years with pre-parties and in-concert events, tickets are expected to go on sale very soon. Read all about it here.
Abd in news absolutely nobody was surprised to hear – Canada isn’t taking part in Eurovision this year. And neither is Kazakhstan.
The political context around Israel’s inclusion remains a major theme. Conchita Wurst, Austria’s 2014 Eurovision winner, announced she is withdrawing entirely from Eurovision involvement going forward. Her decision comes ahead of the contest’s return to Austria, although she described the move as personal rather than explicitly political. Some Maltese civic groups are urging Malta to also withdraw over human-rights concerns, though the Maltese broadcaster (PBS) remains committed to competing and running its national selection. In Iceland, RÚV has cancelled the 2026 edition of Söngvakeppnin on the grounds there’s not much point if they’re sitting the contest itself out. Obvs RÚV Program Director Eva Georgs Ásudóttir didn’t put it quite like that, but…
In Greece, ERT has rescheduled ‘Sing for Greece 2026’. The semi-finals are now on 11 and 13 February and the final on Sunday (!) 15 February – all at 20:00 CET.
Germany’s ARD has revealed a shortlist of nine acts competing for the German spot at Eurovision 2026. Confirmed competitors are: Sarah Engels, Ragazzki, Malou Lovis, Myle, Molly Sue, wavvyboi, Dreamboys The Band, Laura Nahr, and Bela. The German national final is scheduled for 28 February 2026 on Das Erste, with an international jury selecting finalists and the public choosing the song that goes to Vienna. There are song snippets on Instagram.
Google is your friend if you want to find more of the Lithuanian hopeful songs. There’s about twenty out there at last count. Variable is my mot-du-jour.
Remember just before Christmas when Montenegro chose its song? No, me neither. But if you do, you’ll probably like to know “Nova Zora” is to remain in Montenegrin when Tamara Živković takes to the Vienna stage.
In Norway, Ylvis, known for their song The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?) – no, me neither – have pulled out of Melodi Grand Prix 2026 because of Israeli participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. So there are upsides to this mess!
Romania has woken and TVR will use Selecţia Naţională to select its Eurovision 2026 entry. Songs are being accepted until 2 February, with auditions scheduled for 5th and 6th February. A reveal of who made the semi-final cut that second day with semi-finals between 9 and 11 February. The ten-song final line-up will be announced on 12 February, with the event itself on 4 March.
Swedish SVT has released photographs of the stage design for Melodifestivalen. It’s breaking no new ground. The green room is in front of the stage, connected by a catwalk. They’re shifting some of the tech gubbins out to sell a few more seats, but that’s it really. Honestly, if you’ve seen one Melodifestivalen stage, you’ve seen them all. But if you absolutely must… go here.
Songs are being released gradually from YLE Finland for the 2026 UMK. Today’s entry is all wind machines, a violin and a man with curly hair getting angsty about life in general…
If you’re playing catch-up, yesterday’s walloper parading around a kid’s playground in her underpants and a bolero wrap is here…
