Malmö Messages: A draw among the Big 5 and Sweden

Malmö Messages:the Big 5 and Sweden

The big five and Sweden had their second rehearsal today. However, there is more happening: the draw also took place to decide in which part of the show the participants will perform. There is a change happening: half of the countries will draw a ‘producers choice‘. They can be placed anywhere.

United Kingdom

He might have called it the most homosexual act ever. Olly Alexander has four dancers around him, who seem to be dancing around each other somewhat combatively. The men have bare torsos, except for Olly’s torn shirt. Whether it is indeed the most homosexual act ever or not? No idea, but not much is left to the imagination. He seems to be rising in the bookmakers’ ratings, where he is now in tenth place. Olly Alexander drew the first half of the final.

EBU/Corinne Cumming

Germany

Little has changed since last time for Germany. The act was already so well-defined that there is little left to change. The singing is important in the German entry. But whether Isaak makes enough of an impression to break Germany’s negative streak remains to be seen. The bookmakers give him a 23rd place. Isaak drew in the first half of the final.

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

Sweden

The Swedes are number three in line to create a full music video of their performance. It is exactly the same performance as during Melodifestivalen. We see Marcus and Martinus everywhere and nowhere. This afternoon in the press center, someone enthusiastically told of having done five interviews with them. We already knew that Sweden will open the final.

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

France

Less is more, the French must have thought. Slimane stands alone on the stage in white clothing while singing his “Mon amour”. He stands, sits, and lies down while singing. The a cappella part makes a deep impression. The bookmakers currently predict just shy of a top-5 spot, placing him sixth. France will perform in the second half of the final.

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

Spain

With a lot of gold in the background, a red sofa, and the two members of Nebulossa in black clothing, the act is complete. The lyrics of “Zorra” caused a lot of controversy, but the Spanish audience enthusiastically roars along with the song. The bookmakers have no faith in it. They rank the song in 24th place. Nebulossa drew producers’ choice this afternoon.

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

Italy

Fortunately, not everything remains exactly the same as during the previous rehearsal. Angelina Mango has a different dress: a black one, with much fewer flowers on it. That makes the overall busy impression during the performance a bit less intense. “La Noia” is currently fourth with the bookmakers. Angelina Mango drew producers’ choice.

EBU/Alma Bengtsson

As mentioned, except for Italy, there are few changes. The big five and Sweden will be heard and seen for the first time during the semifinals, so there are equal opportunities for everyone. We think: abolish the big five if they really want equal chances. But then, who are we…

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In the Spotlight: Finland

Tonight is the night: The big final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna. One of the big favorites for the win is Finland, represented by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen.  But who are they? Let’s give them a spotlight. Peter Parkkonen Early Life and Music Beginnings Pete Parkkonen was born in Pihtipudas, Finland, and grew up surrounded by music. He first played drums before discovering his talent for singing as a teenager. Performing with local bands helped him gain early stage experience and build a strong connection with live audiences. Idols Finland and Breakthrough Success Parkkonen rose to national fame in 2008 after finishing third in Idols Finland. Soon after, his debut single “Girl In a Uniform” became a hit, followed by The First Album, which reached number one in Finland. His early career combined chart success, television appearances and live performances across the country. Finnish Pop Career and Major Hits After starting with English-language rock, Parkkonen successfully transitioned into Finnish pop music. Songs like “Mitä mä teen” with JVG became some of his biggest hits. He also won Dancing with the Stars Finland and Tähdet, tähdet, further expanding his popularity. Recent Music and Television Work In recent years, Parkkonen continued releasing successful singles and albums, including PETE. His appearance on Vain elämää introduced new music and showcased his versatility as an artist. Today, he is known as one of Finland’s most recognizable pop and rock performers. Linda Lampenius Early Life and Musical Training Linda Lampenius ( aka Linda Brava) was born on 26 February 1970. She grew  up in Helsinki and Lapinjärvi, Finland, surrounded by both theatre and music. She chose the violin at the age of five and quickly showed exceptional talent. As a child, she performed with the Helsinki Strings youth orchestra, appeared on Finnish television and became the youngest recipient of a scholarship from the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland. International Career and Musical Success Lampenius studied at the Sibelius Academy while gaining orchestral and solo experience. Her international breakthrough came in the late 1990s with both pop and classical music success. The album Linda Brava became a worldwide hit and made her one of Finland’s best-selling classical artists. Throughout her career, she has performed with major orchestras and artists, including Andrew Lloyd Webber. Television, Media and Finnish Comeback Beyond music, Lampenius built a strong television presence through shows such as X Factor Finland and Sweden’s Let’s Dance. She also shared her personal story in the award-winning documentary series Linda. In recent years, her appearance at UMK 2025 introduced her to a new generation and confirmed her lasting influence on Finnish music and pop culture. Eurovision 2026 Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen started collaborating for Finland’s Eurovision journey through UMK 2026, the country’s national selection. Their duet “Liekinheitin” combined Pete’s pop and rock vocals with Linda’s classical violin playing, making the song stand out immediately within the competition. Linda received special permission to perform live on stage during Eurovision — an exceptional decision, as instruments are normally never played live at the Eurovision Song Contest. Can they live up to the sky-high expectations? Tonight, we’ll find out.  

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Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

In the Spotlight: Finland

Tonight is the night: The big final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna. One of the big favorites for the win is Finland, represented by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen.  But who are they? Let’s give them a spotlight. Peter Parkkonen Early Life and Music Beginnings Pete Parkkonen was born in Pihtipudas, Finland, and grew up surrounded by music. He first played drums before discovering his talent for singing as a teenager. Performing with local bands helped him gain early stage experience and build a strong connection with live audiences. Idols Finland and Breakthrough Success Parkkonen rose to national fame in 2008 after finishing third in Idols Finland. Soon after, his debut single “Girl In a Uniform” became a hit, followed by The First Album, which reached number one in Finland. His early career combined chart success, television appearances and live performances across the country. Finnish Pop Career and Major Hits After starting with English-language rock, Parkkonen successfully transitioned into Finnish pop music. Songs like “Mitä mä teen” with JVG became some of his biggest hits. He also won Dancing with the Stars Finland and Tähdet, tähdet, further expanding his popularity. Recent Music and Television Work In recent years, Parkkonen continued releasing successful singles and albums, including PETE. His appearance on Vain elämää introduced new music and showcased his versatility as an artist. Today, he is known as one of Finland’s most recognizable pop and rock performers. Linda Lampenius Early Life and Musical Training Linda Lampenius ( aka Linda Brava) was born on 26 February 1970. She grew  up in Helsinki and Lapinjärvi, Finland, surrounded by both theatre and music. She chose the violin at the age of five and quickly showed exceptional talent. As a child, she performed with the Helsinki Strings youth orchestra, appeared on Finnish television and became the youngest recipient of a scholarship from the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland. International Career and Musical Success Lampenius studied at the Sibelius Academy while gaining orchestral and solo experience. Her international breakthrough came in the late 1990s with both pop and classical music success. The album Linda Brava became a worldwide hit and made her one of Finland’s best-selling classical artists. Throughout her career, she has performed with major orchestras and artists, including Andrew Lloyd Webber. Television, Media and Finnish Comeback Beyond music, Lampenius built a strong television presence through shows such as X Factor Finland and Sweden’s Let’s Dance. She also shared her personal story in the award-winning documentary series Linda. In recent years, her appearance at UMK 2025 introduced her to a new generation and confirmed her lasting influence on Finnish music and pop culture. Eurovision 2026 Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen started collaborating for Finland’s Eurovision journey through UMK 2026, the country’s national selection. Their duet “Liekinheitin” combined Pete’s pop and rock vocals with Linda’s classical violin playing, making the song stand out immediately within the competition. Linda received special permission to perform live on stage during Eurovision — an exceptional decision, as instruments are normally never played live at the Eurovision Song Contest. Can they live up to the sky-high expectations? Tonight, we’ll find out.  

Read More »
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