When Vasil Garvanliev is on the podium for North Macedonia, he will be relieved. He was already there as a backing vocalist when Tamara Todevska finished seventh. In 2020 he would represent North Macedonia himself. This was canceled due to the Corona crisis. North Macedonian broadcaster selected him for the 2021 contest. But when the clip of “Here I stand” was published, it turned out that it contained three paintings in the colors of the Bulgarian flag. A petition was held by extreme nationalists not to send Vasil to the Eurovision song contest. The broadcaster started an investigation.
Fortunately, the whole story fizzled out. Eurovision fans organized a counter-petition and Vasil is allowed to go to Rotterdam after all.

Eurovision 2026
Vienna 12 points: here are the 10 finalists
Here are the 10 finalists! After an exciting semi-final full of standout performances, tense voting and memorable staging, the countries advancing to the Grand Final have now been revealed. These acts will return to the Eurovision stage for one more performance, keeping their hopes alive of taking home this year’s Eurovision Song Contest trophy soon. Moldova EBU/Corinne Cumming Sweden EBU/Alma Bengtsson Croatia EBU/Corinne Cumming Greece EBU/Corinne Cumming Finland EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Israel EBU/Corinne Cumming Belgium EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Lithuania EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Poland EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Serbia EBU/Alma Bengtsson