Iceland: winner of the 2020 contest?

It was 1986 when Iceland first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision fans were anxious to know what this new country would bring. And they brought three of their stars, singing the song “Gleðibankinn”. They became 16th, which seemed to be their destiny in the beginning. Also the previous two years, Iceland became 16th. In 1989, they even got no points at all.
Things all changed in 1990. Sigriður Beinteinsdóttir and Grétar Örvarsson, also known as Stjórnin, sang “Eitt lag enn” and reached the 4th place. It was celebrated at the island as if it was a victory.

Another time Iceland came very close to a victory was with Selma in 1999. She was the first one to sing in English for Iceland. “All out of luck” was in the lead for some time, but in the end Sweden was the winner.

This remained the best score for Iceland, shared with the 2009 contestant Johanna.

Iceland’s songs are often chosen via a national final called “Söngvakeppnin”. Although in some years, Icelandic broadcaster RÚV decided not to have one. One time, back in 1994, the winner of Söngvakeppnin dit not enter Eurovision. RÚV decided that the original singer, Sissa, was not the right person to perform the song, so she was replaced by her colleague Sigga.
Iceland is not ashamed to send controversial songs. In 2019 the BDSM act of Hatari, “Hatrið mun sigra”, appeared on stage. RÚV received a fine because Hatari waved a Palestine flag in the greenroom.

Also the 2020 contestant Daði & Gagnamagnið caught a lot of attention with their green shirts and their anti-hero performance. It was not the number 1 at the bookmakers, but nobody would have been surprised if their entry “Think about things” would have been the first Icelandic entry to win the contest. Unfortunately, we all know why that didn’t happen. But who knows what Iceland will do next year. We are looking forward to it!

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Martijn

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Eurovision 2026

🇭🇷 National: Lelek wins Dora 2026

Croatia has chosen their representatives! The annual edition of Dora has taken place, and Lelek have crowned themselves the winner! The group won over both the jury and televote. The girls will represent croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. photo: HRT/ Dario Njavro date: 15 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ananda Dora 20 7 13   l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         2 Sergej Scream 42 9 33   l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         3 Noelle Uninterrupted 38 11 27   l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         4 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame 56 15 41   l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         5 Irma Ni traga 43 11 32   l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         6 Lara Demarin Mantra 40 18 22   l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica         7 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas 12 9 3   l & m: Lara Pilepić         8 Lima Len Raketa 56 36 20   l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         9 Lana Mandarić Tama 32 11 21   l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         10 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare 40 35 5   l & m: Moris Orbanić         11 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo 42 22 20   l & m: Marko Kutlić         12 Devin Over Me 61 39 22   l & m: Devin Juraj         13 Lelek Andromeda 173 96 77   l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić         14 ToMa Ledina 71 27 44   l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         15 Stela Rade Nema te 93  47 46   l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         16 Cold Snap Mucho Macho 108 70 38   l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak           1st semifinal date: 12 februaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Lima Len Raketa advanced       l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         2 Jasmina Makota Higher eliminated       l: Jasmina Makota  m: Jasmina Makota & Marin Hraščanec         3 Ananda Dora advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         4 Tony Sky O Ne! eliminated       l & m: Toni Volar         5 Fran Uccellini Ako bolje bude sutra eliminated       l & m: Fran Uccellini         6 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas advanced       l & m: Lara Pilepić         7 Noelle Uninterrupted advanced       l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         8 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame advanced       l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         9 Fenksta Momento Mori eliminated       l: Abby Dank, Emma Louise Gale & Saša ‘Fenksta” Stević  m: Abby Dank & Saša ‘Fenksta’ Stević         10 Cold Snap Mucho Macho advanced       l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak         11 ToMa Ledina advanced       l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         12 Lelek Andromeda advanced       l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić           2nd semifinal date: 13 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare advanced       l & m: Moris Orbanić         2 Irma Ni traga advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         3 Gabrijel Ivić Light Up eliminated       l & m: Gabrijel Ivić & Jun Ishida         4 Zevin My Mind eliminated       l & m: Jernej Drnovšek, Nives Cilenšek         5 Ivan Sever Crying Eyes eliminated       l & m: Aidan O’Connor, Ivan Sever & John Doherty         6 Lana Mandarić Tama advanced       l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         7 Stela Rade Nema te advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         8 Devin Over Me advanced       l & m: Devin Juraj         9 Kandžija 3 ujutro eliminated       l & m: Stjepko ‘Kandžija’ Galović         10 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo advanced       l & m: Marko Kutlić         11 Sergej Scream advanced       l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         12 Lara Demarin Mantra advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica          

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February 15, 2026 No Comments
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

🇭🇷 National: Lelek wins Dora 2026

Croatia has chosen their representatives! The annual edition of Dora has taken place, and Lelek have crowned themselves the winner! The group won over both the jury and televote. The girls will represent croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. photo: HRT/ Dario Njavro date: 15 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ananda Dora 20 7 13   l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         2 Sergej Scream 42 9 33   l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         3 Noelle Uninterrupted 38 11 27   l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         4 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame 56 15 41   l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         5 Irma Ni traga 43 11 32   l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         6 Lara Demarin Mantra 40 18 22   l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica         7 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas 12 9 3   l & m: Lara Pilepić         8 Lima Len Raketa 56 36 20   l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         9 Lana Mandarić Tama 32 11 21   l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         10 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare 40 35 5   l & m: Moris Orbanić         11 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo 42 22 20   l & m: Marko Kutlić         12 Devin Over Me 61 39 22   l & m: Devin Juraj         13 Lelek Andromeda 173 96 77   l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić         14 ToMa Ledina 71 27 44   l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         15 Stela Rade Nema te 93  47 46   l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         16 Cold Snap Mucho Macho 108 70 38   l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak           1st semifinal date: 12 februaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Lima Len Raketa advanced       l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         2 Jasmina Makota Higher eliminated       l: Jasmina Makota  m: Jasmina Makota & Marin Hraščanec         3 Ananda Dora advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         4 Tony Sky O Ne! eliminated       l & m: Toni Volar         5 Fran Uccellini Ako bolje bude sutra eliminated       l & m: Fran Uccellini         6 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas advanced       l & m: Lara Pilepić         7 Noelle Uninterrupted advanced       l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         8 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame advanced       l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         9 Fenksta Momento Mori eliminated       l: Abby Dank, Emma Louise Gale & Saša ‘Fenksta” Stević  m: Abby Dank & Saša ‘Fenksta’ Stević         10 Cold Snap Mucho Macho advanced       l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak         11 ToMa Ledina advanced       l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         12 Lelek Andromeda advanced       l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić           2nd semifinal date: 13 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare advanced       l & m: Moris Orbanić         2 Irma Ni traga advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         3 Gabrijel Ivić Light Up eliminated       l & m: Gabrijel Ivić & Jun Ishida         4 Zevin My Mind eliminated       l & m: Jernej Drnovšek, Nives Cilenšek         5 Ivan Sever Crying Eyes eliminated       l & m: Aidan O’Connor, Ivan Sever & John Doherty         6 Lana Mandarić Tama advanced       l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         7 Stela Rade Nema te advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         8 Devin Over Me advanced       l & m: Devin Juraj         9 Kandžija 3 ujutro eliminated       l & m: Stjepko ‘Kandžija’ Galović         10 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo advanced       l & m: Marko Kutlić         11 Sergej Scream advanced       l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         12 Lara Demarin Mantra advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica          

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February 15, 2026 No Comments
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