PORTUGAL 2026

The Portuguese act and song was chosen on 7th March through the national final "Festival da Canção". A winner was selected via a 50-50 mix of regional juries and public televoting. Going to Vienna is the group Bandidos do Cante with "Rosa" (Rose)

We begin with the members of the band singing a capella and the music joins in soon after. The music is gentle, lilting and full of strings. This is a folky ballad in the style of 'Cante Alentejano' a UNESCO protected style of singing from Portugal. The text is in Portuguese and describes the different faces of love - its beauty, its absence, its loss and the hope it gives you. Bandidos do Cante is a group made up of 5 male singers. They are spread out on stage and step forward when it is their turn. They are all dressed in earthy coloured suits. The background starts off like a blue twilight sky then turns red, yellow, green and then all together. Near the end, they are joined on stage by a female violinist, who is all in white. The song ends with one of the singers offering a rose the the camera. The song reminds me of entries from Klapa s Mora, Salvador Sobral and Maro.

The song has a lot of heart, soul and emotion and this comes though in the harmonies, lilting rhythms and vocal trills. However, because this song is quietly confident, controlled, culturally proud and simply staged, this entry will do well with juries but may become memory holed by the non-Portuguese speaking televote. The delegation could attempt to be more ambitious with the staging, maybe with a narrative video behind them. As pleasant as this is, this may falter when it comes to qualification.

ARTIST - Bandidos do Cante
SONG – Rosa
WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – JL. Aleixo, G. Alface, M. Costa, D. Farias, G. Narciso, F. Pereira, F. Pestana, F. Raposo, J.C. Tavares

SWEDEN 2026

The Swedish act and song was chosen on 7th March through the national final "Melodifestivalen". A winner was selected via a 50-50 mix of international juries and public app & phone voting. Going to Vienna is Felicia with "My System"

Felicia starts off alone, but is soon flanked by 6 male dancers. The staging is dark - predominantly red and black - with lots of flashing, strobing and lasers involved. The dancers are all dressed in black and Felicia in a black top, skirt and gloves with red intertwined ribboning. The choreography is enhanced by the lighting as the strobe effect gives it a robotic sheen. This said, the timing for all people on stage has to be impeccable or it does not work. At the end, Felicia removes her face covering and places on intricate glasses. The song, which is in English, describes the feeling of wanting to forget about a past relationship but too many things trigger you to want them back again. The backing track, especially in the instrumental, is hypnotic, electronic and repetitive - all of which influences the dance moves. The song puts me in mind of Europapa, Unbreakable and Shum.

The song is in a Swedish vein but has a harder edge to previous entries. The backing track is intricate but aggressive and this gives it a much needed rawness. The lyrics, however, are awkward and odd, particularly the line including the phrase 'body parts' which feels a little shoved in like the writers couldn't think of anything better for the rhyme. I'd love the lighting to be a touch brighter and I hope Felicia's face covering intrigues people rather than putting them off. This should be a shoo-in for the final.

ARTIST - Felicia
SONG – My system
WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – Julie Bergan, Felicia Eriksson, Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen, Emily Harbakk, Theresa Rex

SAN MARINO 2026

The San Marinese act and song was chosen on 6th March through the national final "San Marino Song Contest". A five-member jury judged the songs. Returning, for the third* time, to Eurovision is Senhit (featuring Boy George) with the song "Superstar".

Senhit starts alone, wearing a silver outfit which is tight at the top, a flared hem, a white baggy hood and fabric along the arms. Later, she is joined by 4 male dancers although at the end of the song you can glimpse extra dancers in the aisles also doing the dance routine. The background has a crystal, kaleidoscopic, glinty, mirrored feel to it. At the two minute mark, a (badly) animated video of Boy George appears on the part he sings. Senhit has a warm, friendly and encouraging rapport with the camera - and audience - and the stage setup works well with close-up and wide shots. The English text celebrates confidence and individuality but also recognising we need to lift ourselves up as much as lifting those around us. The song puts me in mind of modern classics such as "Zorra" and "Because of you" although the stagings are vastly different.

Senhit is a seasoned performer who always brings something sassy and professional This is a catchy 80/90s club banger with a Chic-like repetitive bassline. Senhit sings quite well, although the change from chorus back to verse leaves little time for breathing. This entry brings jeopardy -like in 2021 with Flo Rida - will Boy George turn up? To be honest, his contribution is so small it's almost not worth it - maybe someone else can enjoy the spot or maybe they'll just keep the animation. Am hoping for the best in May!

*4, if you include the cancelled 2020 entry "Freaky"

ARTIST - Senhit ft. Boy George
SONG – Superstar
WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – J Aagaard, J-E Johansson, G O'Dowd, T Stengaard, A Wrethov, S Zadik Zadik

FRANCE 2026

The song and act representing France was formally revealed on 6th March with the unveiling of the offical music video on youtube. Going to Vienna is Monroe performing "Regarde!" (Look!)

The video is very dancer/choreography heavy with a number of different dancing styles in indoor and outdoor settings. Monroe is dressed what I can only describe as a high fashion school uniform with blazer, white shirt, tie and long black skirt. Her hair is in long blonde braids with some metal rings intertwined on one side. The song starts as a bog standard dramatic, orchestral French ballad but soon operatic elements are added and this alternation happens throughout the song, ending on a high note. The text is in French and is full of simple recognisable words that will catch the ears of even the non-fluent speakers. According to the songwriters, this was written to showcase the breadth of France's musical background and heritage. The song has an obviously Gallic flair and takes its cues from last year's winner.

I think the live show will have elements of the video but the juxtaposition between how Monroe looks and the stereotypical view we might have about how she sounds, should be the main sell. I also hope they do not lean into the 'Voila'-ness and give this its own identity. I would say that the juries will appreciate Monroe's talent and score this highly. This song starts with intrigue and promise but doesn't really go anywhere. I wish the beat in the last verse came earlier or had some kind of twist in the build up.

ARTIST -  Monroe

SONG – Regarde!

WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – Christopher Cohen, Fredie Marche, Maxime Morise, Fred Savio

UNITED KINGDOM 2026

The song representing the United Kingdom premiered on 6th March with the song's release on streaming platforms, the video premiere on youtube and the first play on BBC Radio 2. A few weeks before, the BBC announced the name of their act and that the song would also be internally selected. Going to Vienna is Look Mum No Computer performing "Eins, zwei, drei" (One, two, three)

The story arc of the video sees Sam Battle (the man behind the act name) shun office life to turn a Mini Metro into a a plane and attempts to fly it across the English Channel. Also seen are many of Sam's musical inventions and Sam plays the part of 'eccentric English scientist' very well although this describes him in real life quite well. The song is highly electronic and Sam's vocals gives the song a Johnny Rotten/Gorillaz style edge. The text - full of British cultural touchstones, idioms and sayings - talks about escaping the humdrum; making and taking the most out of life and trying to do something you love. Although it has a German title, the rest of the song is in English. Midnight Gold from Georgia is probably the nearest we have had like this at Eurovision although chart acts like Digitalism and Everything Everything are also near the mark.

The response to the song has been warm and welcome; pleased that the UK are sending something with character and a positive British identity. Currently, it is actually 10s too long so I am intrigued to see the solution. "Eins, zwei, drei" is catchy and has a shouty chorus that would go down well with the locals in Austria and other Germanic countries, but I wonder how eclectic it could've been without the added ESC songwriters to 'tame' it. Let's hope the unusual contraptions and embroidered overalls make it Vienna!

ARTIST - Look Mum No Computer

SONG – Eins, zwei, drei

WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – Julie Aagaard, Sam Battle, Lasse Midtsian Nymann, Thomas Stengaard

ROMANIA 2026

The Romanian act and song was chosen on 4th March through the national final "Selecția Națională". A seven-person jury was used to find a winner. Going to Vienna is Alexandra Căpitănescu singing "Choke me". 

Alexandra is with a drummer and keyboard player (both on plinths and behind bars) and two guitarists . All five are in black leather with metal embellishments. The stage is black with an unusual light green glints of light that are almost macabre. A video of her singing is on the backdrop as well as flashes of numbers and codes. You can easily see her during the wide shots and she can find the camera when singing down the lens. There is no full on choreo but she moves around - including floor work - emotes through her poses and interacts with the band. Alexandra has a clear voice and creates unexpected moments by adding in some operatic twists. The English text talks about a longing desire which can take your breath away but can become something more like a stranglehold. Previous Eurovision entries from Eldrine and Hanna Pakarinen may also put you in mind of this song.

The song gets an enthusiastic response and there was much relief that this song won. The setting is basic however Alexandra's performance elevates this; a 'less is more' approach lets Alexandra's skills shine. The ch-ch-ch earworm is a clever one. The spikey top needs rethinking; it lost its shape and could get in the way of her movements. Some on screen effects during the operatic parts could give it more identity. The song is dated but this simple professional setup and Alexandra's rock vocal could make it qualify.


ARTIST -  Alexandra Căpitănescu
SONG – Choke Me
WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – Alexandra Căpitănescu, Ștefan Condrea, Călin-Alexandru Grăjdan, Elvis Silitră

AUSTRALIA 2026

The song and act representing Australia were both unveiled on 1st March with the premiere of the music video on youtube. Going to Vienna is Delta Goodrem performing "Eclipse".

The video has a very Australian, sandy, summery feel which uses mirrors and reflections to create flashes of light and cause optical illusions. This setting also is reminiscent of Voyager's video from 2023. The song is in an adult contemporary style with a number of different orchestral parts - prominent drum, piano and harp - which adds to the ethereal feel. The song structure shows off Delta's vocal range. The song also has a key change during the last chorus. Delta wears a number of similar floaty gowns in different colours and there is a lot of wind used to show them off. The song is in English and uses the astronomical event of an eclipse as a metaphor for when people make connections and how amazing things can happen when the timing is right. The song feels like "In Too Deep" from 2017 and runner-up "Undo" but with a bit more beat.

Delta's name has been banded about as a possible Eurovision contestant for a while. This in itself will bring people to the contest and pique interest for the live show. My guess would be that she will be on the piano for part of the performance as this is what she is known for. I quite like the sunny desert backdrop of the video but I also think that moving mirrors with some beams of light could also create an interesting atmosphere on stage. It's a very safe song, bound to be lapped up by the juries in particular.

ARTIST -  Delta Goodrem

SONG – Eclipse

WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – Ferras Alqaisi, Michael Fatkin, Delta Goodrem, Jonas Myrin

ITALY 2026

The Italian act and song was confirmed on 1st March. The previous evening saw the completion of The annual Sanremo Festival (76º Festival della canzone Italiana) held from February 24th to 28th. On the final evening, the rankings of the radio jury, press jury and televote created a top 5. All vote segments were re-opened to find an overall winner. During the press conference the next morning, the winner of the festival confirmed they had accepted the invitation to represent Italy at Eurovision. Going to Vienna is Sal Da Vinci with "Per sempre sì" (Forever yes)

During the competition Sal was dressed very smartly in a a range of formal tailored suits. As per the Sanremo stage, he was flanked by the orchestra on both sides and, although he had no dancers, Sal would quite often start dancing with someone sat on the front row. The stage had flashing neon blue pillars to create a disco feeling as well as a good range of camera shots to create movement. Sal commands the stage very well considering he is the only one there. He also utilises a number of poses and arm movements to emphasise the meaning of the song. The entry, entirely in Italian, harks back to the Italian Disco scene of the 70s and is effectively a playful poetic take on wedding vows with a Neapolitan feel. This entry takes me back to the orchestral disco songs of the 70s and 80s such as Krøller eller ej, Telegram and Parlez-vous français? 

The song is already the right length, which helps with the transition from Sanremo to Eurovision. I could easily see the setting having dancers - either on the stage or on the screen - although I could also see him being alone, front and centre, captivating the audience with his personality. The song is a little dated, but that kind of gives it a memorability. This probably won't be rocking up the charts or scoreboard but the Italian public are proud of this song and what it means and doing well will be a bonus.

ARTIST -  Sal Da Vinci

SONG – Per sempre si

WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – F. Abbate, A. La Cava, G. Cremona, E. Maimone, F. Mercuri, F. Sorrentino, S.M. Sorrentino

SERBIA 2026

The Serbian act and song was chosen on 28th February through the national final "Pesma za Evroviziju". A winner was declared after equally weighted jury and televoting points were added together. Getting maximum points and going to Vienna is the band Lavina with the song "Kraj mene" (Next to me) 

The band - comprising of three guitarists, a drummer, keyboard player and singer - are spread out in a triangle formation. They are dressed in different black leather outfits in front of a strobing blue stage. The lead singer stumbles to the front and eventually places his microphone into the top of a long sword. As the song progresses, the singer starts adding in long protracted gravelly screams and the stage colour turns from dark to orange. Fireworks also start to appear and as the song wraps up the stage turns back to blue. This rock ballad is in Serbian and tells the tale of an unbalanced and one-sided relationship that turns into hatred and even self-hatred. Although Eurovision has had a rich history of metal songs, notably Lordi, Blind Channel and AWS, this is a hard rock ballad which is a less tested genre.

The performance is dramatic - I feel like the singer is (over)exaggerating and emoting to try and get the meaning of the song across to those not fluent in Serbian. It may be memorable - but this does not mean it is good. The style of the show is what one recollects as the tune lacks a real hook to place it by. That said, the staging is dark and bleak and possibly too negative for many to vote for positively. The people who like this genre will love it but others may turn their noses up - or turn their volumes down. 

ARTIST -  Lavina

SONG – Kraj mene

WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – L. Aranđelović, P. Aranđelović, A. Cvetanović, B. Ilić, I. Jegdić, N. Petrović, P. Samardžić

GERMANY 2026

The German act and song was chosen on 28th February through the national final "Das Deutsche Final". In the first round, an international jury created a superfinal of three, then voting lines opened for the public to solely decide the winner. Going to Vienna is Sarah Engels with the song "Fire".

The staging is fairly rudimental with no props or extra staging. Sarah is in a red bejewelled leotard with knee high boots while her dancers are in similar black outfits. The staging is primarily black which allows the different 'fire' representations and motifs to stand out behind them. In addition, some of the words in the bridge appear on the backdrop. Although there is a fair amount of conventional commercial choreography throughout, there is one particularly short (and not too taxing) dance break before a final belt out of the chorus. The lyrics, which are in English, depict someone - who has been ignored and not heard for too long - take control as they realise they are stronger than they first believed. This entry comes straight out of the Slomo, Fuego, Solo, My Number One et al. playbook in terms of song style, outfits and dancing.

On a positive note, Sarah handles herself well on stage. The choreo is tight but at the right level for her dance and vocal ability. She sings confidently and with control and has the right tone and personality. Unfortunately the whole entry is old hat, providing no innovation or freshness to the competition. It will feel familiar with its well-trodden tropes but this does not guarantee any votes or post-Eurovision success. If Javine's "Touch My Fire" was a knock-off 21 years ago, then this is downright lazy.

ARTIST -  Sarah Engels

SONG – Fire

WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS – Valentin Boes, Sarah Engels, Luisa Heinemann, Raphael Lott, Dario Schürmann