All articles tagged with #eurovision
The Netherlands will not participate in Eurovision 2027, arguing the contest can no longer be considered neutral due to divisions over the Gaza war. AVROTROS says recent changes fail to restore the event’s independent character. Next year’s contest will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, while the 2026 edition drew 131 million viewers but saw multiple countries boycott over Israel’s participation.
Avrotros, the Dutch public broadcaster, has pulled out of Eurovision 2027, arguing the contest cannot be neutral while a country remains in a large-scale conflict and citing insufficient clarity from the EBU on which nations can compete; the Netherlands could still be represented by another broadcaster via NPO, and the move follows the Netherlands’ boycott of a recent contest.
Eurovision’s chief dismisses claims of financial woes tied to boycotts, confirms CBC’s full membership and Canada’s upcoming participation, reiterates Israel’s continued eligibility, and outlines plans for a first-ever Eurovision Asia in Thailand—expanding the brand beyond Europe while keeping its core identity.
Canada will take part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2027 after CBC and the EBU announced the move, backed by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s 2025 funding of C$150 million to pursue participation; Canada’s full EBU membership made entry possible, with Bulgaria hosting 2027 as the 2026 winner. The piece notes Canada’s ties to Eurovision, including Céline Dion’s 1988 win for Switzerland and prior non-European entrants such as Israel and Australia.
Canada has become a full member of the European Broadcasting Union and will participate in Eurovision next year, after approval at the EBU general assembly in Prague. The country has long shown enthusiasm for the contest, ranking among top voting blocs and ticket buyers outside Europe, and will announce its first official contestant selection later this year; notable Canadian Eurovision history includes Céline Dion’s 1988 win representing Switzerland.
Canada will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, becoming the first new country to join since Australia in 2015 after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union. The entry is set to debut in the semi-finals in Sofia, Bulgaria, with details on how Canada’s act will be selected to be announced later this year.
Eurovision's 70-year tradition is overshadowed by politics as protests over Israel's participation in the Gaza war spark the largest boycott in the contest's history; the European Broadcasting Union defends Eurovision as non-political even as five countries pull out and fans wrestle with rooting for songs amid geopolitical tensions, with next year's event set to take place in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian singer Dara won Eurovision 70 in Vienna with 'Bangaranga,' giving Bulgaria its first victory after outperforming 24 rivals; the night featured a wide range of acts and political protests over Israel's participation, with Israel’s Noam Bettan finishing second and Romania's Alexandra Căpitănescu third, amid ongoing tensions and talk of a future Eurovision Asia spinoff in Bangkok.
Bulgaria’s Dara won Eurovision 2026, the country’s first victory, while Israel finished second to boos amid a boycott that saw several nations withdraw over Israel’s participation, contributing to low attendance and viewership; the controversy over the EBU’s decision to let Israel compete has sparked debate about Eurovision’s future and its broadcasters.
Bulgaria pulled off a surprise victory at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna as Dara won with Bangaranga, Bulgaria’s first Eurovision title since joining the contest in 2005; despite not being a favorite, the performance captured a special energy inspired by kukeri rituals. Israel finished second with Noam Bettan’s 'Michelle', followed by Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu with 'Choke Me' in third, Australia’s Delta Goodrem with 'Eclipse' in fourth, and Italy’s Sal da Vinci with 'Per Sempre Si' in fifth; the United Kingdom finished last. The win secures hosting duties for Bulgaria in Eurovision 2027, traditionally held in the winning country.
Five countries boycott Israel’s Eurovision participation, prompting scrutiny of eligibility rules and how the EBU enforces them, as Bulgaria’s winner underscores the contest’s political tensions.
A Rolling Stone preview spotlights Denmark, Italy, Cyprus, and Lithuania as early frontrunners for Eurovision 2026, highlighting Denmark’s Før Vi Går Hjem, Italy’s Per Sempre Sì, Cyprus’ Jalla, and Lithuania’s Sólo Quiero Más as standout entries among 25 finalists, with Belgium’s Essyla also in contention for the win in Vienna.
Vienna hosts the 70th Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on May 16, 2026 at Wiener Stadthalle, featuring 25 finalists after two semi-finals. Viewers can watch on 35 participating broadcasters or online via YouTube; in the US, Peacock carries the show. Non-participants can vote via esc.vote (Rest of World voting) with up to 10 votes per person. Voting runs from before the first performance until about 40 minutes after the last song. The show includes a paper-boat opening sequence tied to JJ’s Basel 2025 win, three interval acts (including Lordi, Verka Serduchka and Parov Stelar), and a Vienna closing moment, followed by a 24/7 Eurovision stream and an invite to join Eurofan for exclusive updates.
BBC invites readers to test their Eurovision knowledge with a pre-final quiz ahead of Europe’s biggest pop spectacle.
The Eurovision Song Contest final in Vienna features a mix of daring performances and dramatic staging—from Finland’s violin-driven Liekinheitin to Australia’s Delta Goodrem and Moldova’s Viva—along with eye-catching moments like Norway’s Ya Ya Ya. Protests over Israel’s participation shadow the event as acts from across Europe compete for the trophy on Saturday night.