Eurovision build up 2026

[EurovisionFanGirl]

Yes it is early this year but here we are, back for 2026.

Two songs are out already. I think I prefer Montenegro over Albania on first listen but obviously very early days.

The Scoreboard app has updated for this year. The Aussievision podcast is two episodes in. A new season is beginning.

Ready sad about the controversies and boycotts but hoping for a positive thread discussing the songs as they are released.

I enjoyed Viva Moldova - I like the rowdy and raucous Eurovision songs!

i hope that the UK song is better than last years effort. The girls sung well, but it just didn’t land for me.

I agree about What the Hell Just Happened. Every time you felt you could get into it it changed again. Remember Monday have some other great songs that would have been better. I think the problem is that the BBC choose the artist first and then the song is written with all the Eurovision pressure. It needs to be the whole package and not a song written with Eurovision in mind. Although having said that I think Wasted Love was written at a writers camp specifically as a song that could do well at Eurovision so maybe it does work sometimes.

I have been thinking about the national finals and whether that would work here (I know a song for Europe didn't really) and I guess the downside for the broadcaster is that then they have to find at least 8 songs and come up with interesting staging for each of them so it must be expensive. But at least that way the winning song has been performed live and people have voted for it in that scenario which must bode well for Eurovision. I wonder if 8 + British artists would be keen to do it. San Remo in Italy has a lot of prestige in the country and the winner doesn't necessarily go to Eurovision but has the option. We could have The Great British Song Contest like we have The Great British Menu, Pottery Through Down, Bake Off, Sewing Bee etc and see who enters. But I think it should only be one song each so more like the Great British Menu where they go through to the final with just one course which they have cooked before in the previous rounds. I am getting carried away - as you say hopefully this year we will get something amazing announced to us in early March.

I remember ‘ song for Europe’ on tv. At least the public had a vote on it back then.

So happy to have found this thread!

I'm half-Cypriot and really excited about Jalla Jalla. Definitely the most positive I've felt about a Cyprus entry since Fuego (and, to a lesser extent El Diablo). Interestingly, this one is getting similar levels of negative comments from the Cypriot government and media as both those two. Whenever they like an entry, it bombs in the semis. I don't think this is a winner but I think it will qualify and get onto the left side of the board. It reminds me a little of Jako from Armenia, which did really well. I think the inclusion of Stavros Flatley in the video will garner some UK points too.

Also gutted that we're not seeing Jerry Heil again this year. Haven't heard Ryback's comeback attempt yet. I'm not against folk returning but I think there should be a 2 x limit. Mind you that might discount my beloved epic sax guy.

I've heard some rumours about the UK entry. Not sure if I can post them here but if true, it's an interesting choice which has the potential to do well if only they get the right song and staging. Remember Monday are clearly very talented but that song was a mistake and the staging was embarrassing.

The UK don’t really seem to try with the staging. Apart from with Ollie Alexander which was quite cool to watch with the spinning through space concept - just a bit too much on the raunchy side.

Jalla seems to be really popular on the Facebook groups - I think it will do well as you say. Fuego is one on my ultimate playlist - it was brilliant.

All the hype at the moment seems to be for Akylas who is through to the Greek final with Ferto.

And I’m sure it’s absolutely fine to post any UK rumours that you have heard (or at least DM them to enthusiastic people on this thread) 😀

I have heard they had to change their mind at the last minute due to previous social media postings of whoever they have chosen originally, but who knows how true that is.

Yes, I heard the same thing about dumping the original choice. The rumour I have read (on several sources) is that Loren Allred will now represent the UK. If this is true, we shouldn't have any issue with vocals at least.

Fuego is an all-time Eurovision favourite now. I wish it had managed the win. I have to admit to loving Mans' slowed down cover of it too.

I'd love to see a win for an island nation. If not Cyprus then Malta or Iceland. Obviously Ireland aren't taking part this year and I daren't even imagine a UK victory - at least not for a very long time.

Ignore the above - Reddit is full of two additional very different names this morning so who knows? It's all just rumours at this point.

@Douzepoints have you seem Jalla performed live at the Greek semi final? Antigoni was great! 😀

Three new songs last night.

Denmark - Sissal didn’t make it 😢. But I do like the song that did and it is top of my rankings for now. Will just have learn how to say it or write it!

Estonia - Too Easy is to be true by Vanilla Ninja won. They represented Switzerland in 2005 and are a female band with guitars. I think a bit of a suprise for the fans who liked Ollie with Slave.

Latvia - Arvada with Ēnā. A haunting ballad.

Greece and Croatia tonight.

My favourite from last night’s selections is Denmark.

Too Epic to be True just seems like a worse version of The Show (Reddi - Denmark, 2022), and that didn’t make it out of the semis. It’s not for me!

I’m not sure about Latvia. I don’t love it, but maybe it’s one that will grow on me as I listen to it more.

I’m off to track down Antigoni’s live performance. I do quite like the song. I see the parallels with Jako, but I think it’s also reminiscent of Cleopatra (Efendi - Azerbaijan, 2020 - the year that didn’t happen).

The two Fan favourites both got through last night.

Ferto by Akylas for Greece is a fun performance and will probably do well at least with the public. One of my favourites.

Croatia’s Andromeda by Lelek was really well done - not sure the song is totally to my taste but it is compelling to watch.

I thought her vocals were a little shaky in parts but performances like this are great practice to ensure a polished performance in Vienna. It's probably not a winner but I can see it placing top 10 and definitely the strongest Cypriot entry in years.

Ferto is fun and with two good entries from Cyprus and Greece, it's a rare year where the reciprocal 12 points is probably deserved - Greece haven't played ball with this recently so let's see what happens this year. I'm sure both will qualify.

I’ll be rooting for Lelek, that is right up my street! Have loved Vesna and Tautumeitas in recent years, so glad Croatia will be keeping up those vibes.

WTF is the UK entry ? He sounds nuts

I think we need to reserve judgement until we hear the song. He seems to do live touring so might be good live. Just hope no furbies will be involved!

Scott Mills tried to describe the song on radio 2 this morning just after 8 and then a bit later has a chat about it with Rylan. Sounds good based on what he said but who knows.

Having listened a few times to the first 12 songs I am now really loving Denmark with Før Vi Går Hjem. (See I can write it now and everthing!). Apparently there is talk of translating it to English, not sure how I feel about that.

Guilty pleasure but I am also liking Estonia with Too Epic to be True. I’m going to say it’s retro rather than dated. A upbeat sing along tune and lots of fun.

I have also been listening to the 12 songs released so far, and I also love Denmark. Definitely my favourite so far!

I’m not keen on Estonia though! It’s certainly bottom of my rankings so far.

Biggest grower for me is Latvia, with an honourable mention to Albania.

Not heard the UK entry , but the BBC news played a clip of the artist in front of a weird looking computer and whatever he was playing sounded awful.
I am hoping the actual song they choose isn’t as bad.
It’s either this or the UK definitely don’t want to win it !

A mid week song announcement from Belgium with Dancing on the Ice by Essyla. Quite like it on first listen.

A quieter weekend this week but Austria had their national final last night and Cosmó won with Tanzschien. Mixed reviews online but I really like it. Another song not in the country’s language about 8/14 now depending how you define it. I think that’s heading in a good direction.

I have just seen on socials that Myrkur competed in Denmark’s Melodie Grand Prix - what a gorgeous performance, would have loved to see her get through! Really enjoy her sound.

This is the problem with watching the national finals - songs that you love not getting through!

A busy weekend and especially this evening. Last night Lithuania had their final. The fan favourite did win this time. I’m not yet convinced but will give the song some more listens.

Tonight we have finals from Germany, Norway, Finland, Italy and Serbia. Bulgaria has a song selection, they already have their artist. Heats from Portugal and Sweden. I am going out so will see none of it but rooting for a few songs.

Not sure for Norway - I quite like Alexander Rybek’s song but I don’t think it popular. For Finland it’s all about Linda and Pete with Liekinheitin and that song is pushing Finland up in the odds for winning Eurovision entirely and it is currently no 1 there. For Germany I like Black Glitter by Wavvyboi.

Then tomorrow evening Australia will release their song.

So 8 more songs by Monday night. Compared to yesterday morning.

I get the impression that Look Mum No Computer’s song will be out one morning next week. He has done a few teasers about it bending very soon.

Linda and Pete safely through to Eurovision - delighted with the Finnish selection. Great song!

Ambivalent about the songs selected by Norway and Bulgaria at the moment.