Day 8: Of good voices and proper acts from the Big Five!

It’s the end of the individual rehearsals every year: those of the Big Five. And every year it is the disappointment of a group of countries that seem to be unable to bring anything good to the stage. Last year there was already a noticeable change in this, but this year the countries really surprise!

Rehearsals Big Five

FRANCE: For the first time since 1996, the Breton language can be heard at the Eurovision Song Contest. Back then France finished at the bottom. That won’t happen now, but the act made quite a messy impression during rehearsals. The points will really have to come in thanks to the song and enthusiasm of Alvan and Ahez.

ITALY: The performance of Italy, now that Blanco is around, is rather disappointing. This is mainly due to the poor vocals of both. Mahmood is dressed in black, Blanco in white and there is a lot of light. But that doesn’t help much if the vocals remain as bad as they are now. However, our friends from songfestivalweblog.nl remember that Mahmood did not excel during the rehearsals in 2019 either, but when it came to the jury final and the final, he really showed his best. Perhaps that will happen again three years later.

UNITED KINGDOM: Sam Ryder stands amid scaffolding singing his song. And that is all he needs for this song. His strong voice seems to be enough for a very high score, something for which the British have to go way back. The British will also finally experience that you can end up high with a good song.

SPAIN: We remember the act, in which singing and dancing are combined, from the Spanish national final. This usually has an effect on the singer’s voice. Not so with Chanel. Because with this performance she proves that she is more, much more than an average pop singer. Like the British, the Spaniards can look forward to the festival with confidence.

GERMANY: With guitar and drum machine Malik Harris manages to show an act that is not bad at all. As far as vocals go, Malik continues to do well. The act is not directly in the top-5 with the bookmakers, and the song is perhaps just a bit too anonymous for that. One thing is certain: Germany is also out of the lower regions this year.

Conclusion: unlike in previous years, the Big Five seem to be doing reasonably well this year and there is even a potential winner. Has Måneskin’s win brought new impetus to these five countries? Who’ knows…?

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Weekly Update

It’s Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and time for another weekly Eurovision update! The past week was one of the busiest yet on the road to Vienna. Nine countries revealed their entries for Eurovision 2026, adding fresh songs and artists to the line-up. Sweden launched a new preview show to hype up the contest, and two countries released revamped versions of their songs. Czechia also confirmed its representative. Meanwhile, the betting odds shifted as new favorites emerged. Here are this week’s top stories: New Eurovision Entries Confirmed 🇷🇴 Romania Alexandra Căpitănescu won Romania’s Selecția Națională 2026 with her power ballad “Choke Me,” earning her the ticket to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. 🇮🇱 Israel Israel revealed its entry “Michelle,” which Noam Bettan will perform in Vienna. Noam secured his spot by winning HaKokhav Haba (The Next Star), and the upbeat track features lyrics in Hebrew, English, and French. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom The BBC internally selected electronic artist Look Mum No Computer (Sam Battle) to represent the UK. His song “Eins Zwei Drei” premiered this week, bringing an experimental electro-pop flair to Britain’s 2026 entry. 🇫🇷 France France Télévisions announced that 17-year-old singer Monroe will represent France with the song “Regarde !”. This theatrical pop track blends elements of opera and modern pop, delivering a universal love message. Its reveal also shot France up the betting rankings. 🇸🇲 San Marino San Marino is sending a familiar face. Senhit will represent the nation for a third time, this round featuring ’80s pop icon Boy George. They won Una Voce per San Marino and will perform the synth-pop song “Superstar” in the second semifinal. 🇸🇪 Sweden Melodifestivalen 2026 concluded with Felicia taking the crown. Her catchy pop song “My System” won the jury and public vote (161 points total). Felicia will fly the Swedish flag in Vienna, aiming to continue Sweden’s strong Eurovision track record. 🇵🇹 Portugal Folk group Bandidos do Cante triumphed at Festival da Canção 2026 with their song “Rosa.” Despite pre-contest rumors that some acts might decline the ticket, Bandidos do Cante confirmed they will proudly represent Portugal in Eurovision 2026. 🇵🇱 Poland Poland chose Alicja as its act for Vienna. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter will perform her emotive song “Pray,” which she co-wrote. Alicja was originally set to be Poland’s entrant in 2020, making this a long-awaited second chance on the Eurovision stage. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan completed its Eurovision 2026 line-up by internally selecting singer JIVA (Jamila Hashimova) and releasing her entry “Just Go.” It’s an emotional ballad about love and inner strength that adds intensity to this year’s contest. 🇸🇪 Sweden Launches Eurovisionklubben Preview Show Sweden’s broadcaster SVT has launched a new weekly TV program called Eurovisionklubben. This Eurovision preview show airs every Wednesday evening on SVT Play and serves as a “club” for fans to obsess over all things Eurovision. Hosts Torbjörn Averås Skorup and Tina Mehrafzoon invite experts and enthusiasts to chat about the latest news, entries, and predictions. Eurovisionklubben marks the first dedicated Eurovision preview series on SVT since 2016, ramping up the excitement in Sweden as the contest approaches. source: Instagram Melodifestivalen 🇲🇪 Montenegro Releases Revamped “Nova Zora” Montenegro released a revamped version of “Nova Zora,” its Eurovision entry performed by Tamara Živković. The final version of the song debuted on March 8 (International Women’s Day), a date Tamara deliberately chose for its significance. The revamp features enhanced production and a richer sound to better suit the big stage in May. Tamara notes that “Nova Zora” (“New Dawn”) carries an empowering message for women, making the song’s new arrangement even more impactful. Montenegro will present this updated power ballad live in the first semi-final on May 12. 🇺🇦 Ukraine Unveils Updated “Ridnym” Ukraine’s Eurovision entry “Ridnym” by LELÉKA has undergone a makeover. The Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne released an updated version of the song, now with an even stronger bandura presence – a traditional Ukrainian harp-like instrument. The new arrangement amplifies the folk elements of “Ridnym” to emphasize its cultural roots and emotional depth. LELÉKA, who won Vidbir 2026 to earn the ticket to Vienna, says the Eurovision version of “Ridnym” brings the song “closer to home.” Ukraine will showcase this refreshed track in the second semi-final on May 14. 🇨🇿 Czechia Selects Daniel Zizka Czechia has confirmed its representative for Eurovision 2026. ČT (Czech Television) announced that 23-year-old Daniel Zizka will carry the Czech flag in Vienna. Daniel is set to perform the song “Crossroads,” with the track due out on March 11. The artist reveal has generated buzz – Daniel Zizka has earned praise for his soulful voice and authentic style. The Czech delegation noted that when Daniel first performed “Crossroads” in the studio, the room fell silent. They hint that the entry will be a powerful one. source: eurovision.com 📷 Hana Kinzova/EBU Betting Odds Update With nearly all songs now revealed, the betting markets are shifting daily. As of March 10, Finland remains the odds-on favorite to win Eurovision 2026. This status is thanks to the buzz around Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen’s rock-violin track “Liekinheitin.” France has surged into second place after Monroe’s “Regarde !” came out late last week, overtaking Denmark. Denmark’s entry (Søren Torpegaard Lund’s Danish ballad) now sits in third. Rounding out the current top five are Greece (Akylas with “Ferto”) and Australia (pop star Delta Goodrem with “Eclipse”). Sweden and Israel are just outside that upper tier. With two months until showtime, fans are watching the odds closely. But anything can still change on the Eurovision stage. Agenda Date Country National Final Time Watch here: 11 March Czechia Song 00:00 YouTube   Switzerland Song 12:00 YouTube Eurovision   Georgia Song ? YouTube Nobody knows Armenia Song/Artist ? ?!?!?!?!?!?!?

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Martijn

Weekly Update

It’s Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and time for another weekly Eurovision update! The past week was one of the busiest yet on the road to Vienna. Nine countries revealed their entries for Eurovision 2026, adding fresh songs and artists to the line-up. Sweden launched a new preview show to hype up the contest, and two countries released revamped versions of their songs. Czechia also confirmed its representative. Meanwhile, the betting odds shifted as new favorites emerged. Here are this week’s top stories: New Eurovision Entries Confirmed 🇷🇴 Romania Alexandra Căpitănescu won Romania’s Selecția Națională 2026 with her power ballad “Choke Me,” earning her the ticket to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. 🇮🇱 Israel Israel revealed its entry “Michelle,” which Noam Bettan will perform in Vienna. Noam secured his spot by winning HaKokhav Haba (The Next Star), and the upbeat track features lyrics in Hebrew, English, and French. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom The BBC internally selected electronic artist Look Mum No Computer (Sam Battle) to represent the UK. His song “Eins Zwei Drei” premiered this week, bringing an experimental electro-pop flair to Britain’s 2026 entry. 🇫🇷 France France Télévisions announced that 17-year-old singer Monroe will represent France with the song “Regarde !”. This theatrical pop track blends elements of opera and modern pop, delivering a universal love message. Its reveal also shot France up the betting rankings. 🇸🇲 San Marino San Marino is sending a familiar face. Senhit will represent the nation for a third time, this round featuring ’80s pop icon Boy George. They won Una Voce per San Marino and will perform the synth-pop song “Superstar” in the second semifinal. 🇸🇪 Sweden Melodifestivalen 2026 concluded with Felicia taking the crown. Her catchy pop song “My System” won the jury and public vote (161 points total). Felicia will fly the Swedish flag in Vienna, aiming to continue Sweden’s strong Eurovision track record. 🇵🇹 Portugal Folk group Bandidos do Cante triumphed at Festival da Canção 2026 with their song “Rosa.” Despite pre-contest rumors that some acts might decline the ticket, Bandidos do Cante confirmed they will proudly represent Portugal in Eurovision 2026. 🇵🇱 Poland Poland chose Alicja as its act for Vienna. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter will perform her emotive song “Pray,” which she co-wrote. Alicja was originally set to be Poland’s entrant in 2020, making this a long-awaited second chance on the Eurovision stage. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan completed its Eurovision 2026 line-up by internally selecting singer JIVA (Jamila Hashimova) and releasing her entry “Just Go.” It’s an emotional ballad about love and inner strength that adds intensity to this year’s contest. 🇸🇪 Sweden Launches Eurovisionklubben Preview Show Sweden’s broadcaster SVT has launched a new weekly TV program called Eurovisionklubben. This Eurovision preview show airs every Wednesday evening on SVT Play and serves as a “club” for fans to obsess over all things Eurovision. Hosts Torbjörn Averås Skorup and Tina Mehrafzoon invite experts and enthusiasts to chat about the latest news, entries, and predictions. Eurovisionklubben marks the first dedicated Eurovision preview series on SVT since 2016, ramping up the excitement in Sweden as the contest approaches. source: Instagram Melodifestivalen 🇲🇪 Montenegro Releases Revamped “Nova Zora” Montenegro released a revamped version of “Nova Zora,” its Eurovision entry performed by Tamara Živković. The final version of the song debuted on March 8 (International Women’s Day), a date Tamara deliberately chose for its significance. The revamp features enhanced production and a richer sound to better suit the big stage in May. Tamara notes that “Nova Zora” (“New Dawn”) carries an empowering message for women, making the song’s new arrangement even more impactful. Montenegro will present this updated power ballad live in the first semi-final on May 12. 🇺🇦 Ukraine Unveils Updated “Ridnym” Ukraine’s Eurovision entry “Ridnym” by LELÉKA has undergone a makeover. The Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne released an updated version of the song, now with an even stronger bandura presence – a traditional Ukrainian harp-like instrument. The new arrangement amplifies the folk elements of “Ridnym” to emphasize its cultural roots and emotional depth. LELÉKA, who won Vidbir 2026 to earn the ticket to Vienna, says the Eurovision version of “Ridnym” brings the song “closer to home.” Ukraine will showcase this refreshed track in the second semi-final on May 14. 🇨🇿 Czechia Selects Daniel Zizka Czechia has confirmed its representative for Eurovision 2026. ČT (Czech Television) announced that 23-year-old Daniel Zizka will carry the Czech flag in Vienna. Daniel is set to perform the song “Crossroads,” with the track due out on March 11. The artist reveal has generated buzz – Daniel Zizka has earned praise for his soulful voice and authentic style. The Czech delegation noted that when Daniel first performed “Crossroads” in the studio, the room fell silent. They hint that the entry will be a powerful one. source: eurovision.com 📷 Hana Kinzova/EBU Betting Odds Update With nearly all songs now revealed, the betting markets are shifting daily. As of March 10, Finland remains the odds-on favorite to win Eurovision 2026. This status is thanks to the buzz around Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen’s rock-violin track “Liekinheitin.” France has surged into second place after Monroe’s “Regarde !” came out late last week, overtaking Denmark. Denmark’s entry (Søren Torpegaard Lund’s Danish ballad) now sits in third. Rounding out the current top five are Greece (Akylas with “Ferto”) and Australia (pop star Delta Goodrem with “Eclipse”). Sweden and Israel are just outside that upper tier. With two months until showtime, fans are watching the odds closely. But anything can still change on the Eurovision stage. Agenda Date Country National Final Time Watch here: 11 March Czechia Song 00:00 YouTube   Switzerland Song 12:00 YouTube Eurovision   Georgia Song ? YouTube Nobody knows Armenia Song/Artist ? ?!?!?!?!?!?!?

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