Country Updates - Eurovision 2023

Three more tickets to Liverpool have been distributed across Europe this weekend, with Moldova, Iceland and Serbia all having selected their entries to the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night.

As well as that, however, Saturday 4 March saw 2 more countries continue their quest to find the right entry to represent them at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in May. 

Here's your round-up of what else transpired across the latest installment of pre-selection season in Europe: 

Portugal 

Portugal held the second of 2 semi finals of its renowned Festival da Canção pre-selection on Saturday night. As the last semi-final played out, we saw 10 songs being reduced to 6 ahead of the grand final on Saturday 11 March. The 6 confirmed finalists, after Saturday night's show, are: 

Edmundo Inácio – A Festa
Bárbara Tinoco – Goodnight
Inês Apenas – Fim do Mundo
Ivandro – Povo
Dapunksportif – World Needs Therapy
Voodoo Marmalade – Tormento

Sweden

The Scandinavian nation is not yet done with its mega Melodifestivalen extravaganza. After 4 heats concluded last week, this Saturday it was time for a semi final, before the big final takes place next Saturday 11 March. In this semi final, we had 8 entries performed (the 3rd and 4th placers from the aforementioned 4 heats), with voters giving them one last chance to make it into that all-important final. 4 songs were given that opportunity by Swedish TV viewers, with this lot being the lucky 4:

Nordman - Släpp Alla Sorger
THEOZ - Mer Av Dig
Kiana - Where Did You Go
Mariette - One Day

Coming up this week...

Finland has decided. San Marino has decided. And as well as that, Saturday 25 February saw 3 more countries accelerate their mission to find the perfect entry to represent them at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in May. 

Here's your round-up of what went on!

Iceland

The 2023 edition of Söngvakeppnin kick-started 3 weeks of proceedings last week, with the first of 2 semi-finals. Icelandic viewers this week watched the second semi. 5 entries performed, and viewers got to vote their favourite 2 songs to the final which takes place on Saturday 4 March. The next 2 songs taking part in Söngvakeppnin's grand final are:

Langi Seli og Skuggarnir – OK
Sigga Ózk – Gleyma þér Og Dansa

Portugal

Moving down to the south of Europe, Portugal commenced its beloved Festival da Canção on Saturday night. The first of 2 semi-finals played out, with 10 songs being reduced to 7 ahead of the grand final on Saturday 11 March. Next Saturday we'll have the second semi-final, but for now, the first 7 confirmed finalists are: 

Churky – Encruzilhada
Cláudia Pascoal – Nasci Maria
SAL – Viver
Mimicat – Ai Coração
You Can’t Win, Charlie Brown – Contraste Mudo
NEON SOHO – Endless World
Esse Povo – Sapatos de Cimento

Sweden

Over in Sweden, meanwhile, the last of 4 heats was broadcast on Saturday evening as part of the 6-week show Melodifestivalen. 7 songs competed, 2 went through to next month's final, and a further 2 went through to next week's semi final, earning a second chance to make that final.

These were the results in Sweden on Saturday night; the 4 songs still in the competition are:

To the Final: Loreen - Tattoo
To the Final: Smash Into Pieces - Six Feet Under
To the Semi-Final: Kiana - Where Did You Go 
To the Semi-Final: Mariette - One Day

Coming up this week...

Sunday 26 February
🇵🇱 Poland / Tu Bije Serce Europy! Wybieramy Hit Na Eurowizję ⭐️ - 17:30 CET

Wednesday 1 March
🇳🇱 Netherlands / Song Reveal ⭐️
🇷🇸 Serbia / Pesma za Evroviziju 23 (First Semi-Final) - 21:00 CET RTS YouTube 🔗

Thursday 2 March
🇨🇾 Cyprus / Song Reveal ⭐️
🇷🇸 Serbia / Pesma za Evroviziju 23 (Second Semi-Final) - 21:00 CET RTS YouTube 🔗

Friday 3 March
🇩🇪 Germany / Unser Lied für Liverpool ⭐️ - 22:20 CET Eurovision.de 🔗

Saturday 4 March
🇮🇸 Iceland / Söngvakeppnin (Grand Final) ⭐️ - 20:45 CET RÚV 🔗
🇲🇩 Moldova / Etapa Națională 2023 ⭐️
🇵🇹 Portugal / Festival da Canção 2023 (Second Semi-Final) - 22:00 CET RTP Play 🔗
🇷🇸 Serbia / Pesma za Evroviziju 23 (Grand Final) ⭐️ - 21:00 CET RTS YouTube 🔗
🇸🇪 Sweden / Melodifestivalen (Semi Final) - 20:00 CET SVTPlay 🔗

As well as the big news story on the night - Lithuania's Pabandom Iš Naujo! came to its conclusion and we have a winner - European eyes were otherwise on the Nordics on Saturday evening, as the Eurovision Song Contest pre-selections of 2 more countries voted a few more songs ever closer to a journey to Liverpool.

Iceland

The 2023 edition of Söngvakeppnin kick-started 3 weeks of proceedings on Saturday evening, with the first of 2 semi-finals. Icelandic viewers watched 5 entries perform, and got to vote their favourite 2 songs to the final which takes place on the first Saturday of next month. The first 2 songs of Söngvakeppnin's all-important final are:

Diljá – Lifandi inni í mér
BRAGI – Stundum snýst heimurinn gegn þér

Sweden

Over in Sweden, meanwhile, the third of 4 heats was broadcast on Saturday evening as part of the 6-week show Melodifestivalen. 7 songs competed, 2 went through to next month's final, and a further 2 went through to the semi final, getting a second chance to make the final once all the heats have played out.

These were the results in Sweden on Saturday night; the 4 songs still in the competition:

To the Final: Marcus & Martinus - Air
To the Final: Paul Rey - Royals
To the Semi-Final: Nordman - Släpp Alla Sorger 
To the Semi-Final: Melanie Wehbe - For The Show

Coming up this week...

In a Super Saturday that saw no less than 7 countries conclude their own national finals, we now have a septuplet of songs that have emerged as pre-selection winners. If you've yet to, you can now get acquainted with:

🇭🇷 Croatia
🇩🇰 Denmark
🇪🇪 Estonia 
🇮🇹 Italy
🇱🇻 Latvia
🇲🇹 Malta 
🇷🇴 Romania

On top of this influx of new music, we also watched as 2 more countries continued their pre-selection journeys; getting ever closer to their own finals in which they'll select more winning entries for us to put on repeat. Let's take a look at those results!

Lithuania

Up in the Baltics, Lithuania held the second of 2 semi finals for its pre-selection Pabandom Iš Naujo!. 10 songs competed, but only 5 could progress to the final. The remaining 5 slots in next Saturday's grand final went to these 5 tunes:

Beatrich – Like a Movie
Paulina Paukštaitytė – Let Me Think About Me
Moon Bee – Rumor
Monika Linkytė – Stay
Mario Junes – Do What You Do

Sweden

In Sweden, the second heat of 4 took place in the nation's favourite TV show, Melodifestivalen. 7 songs competed, 2 went through to next month's final, and a further 2 went through to the semi final, getting a second chance to make the final once all the heats have played out.

These were the results in Sweden on Saturday night:

To the Final: Maria Sur - Never Give Up
To the Final: Panetoz - On My Way
To the Semi-Final: THEOZ - Mer Av Dig
To the Semi-Final: Tennessee Tears - Now I Know

Coming up this week...

Wednesday 15 February
🇵🇱 Poland / Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję (Song and Artist reveal)

Saturday 18 February
🇮🇸 Iceland / Söngvakeppnin (First Semi-Final) - 20:45 CET RÚV 🔗
🇱🇹 Lithuania / Pabandom Iš Naujo! 2023 (Grand Final) ⭐️ - 20:00 CET LRT 🔗
🇸🇪 Sweden / Melodifestivalen (Heat Three) - 20:00 CET SVTPlay 🔗

In a week that saw Ireland, Norway and Spain conclude their Eurovision Song Contest pre-selections for 2023, we also had a number of other countries either commence or continue their search for that all-important entry to the Contest in Liverpool in May.

Here's a round-up of all of the national finals that this week inched ever-closer to finding their winning song:

Latvia

In Latvia, a 14-song semi-final took place in the first stage of the Baltic nation's Supernova. A 50% jury vote and a 50% public vote resulted in those 14 songs rounded out to just 10; 10 songs that will make up Supernova's final next Saturday, 11 February. These are the 10 songs that made it through the semi-final round: 

Artūrs Hatti – Love Vibes
Alise Haijima – Tricky
Avéi – Let Me Go
Patrisha – Hush
Raum – Fake Love
Luīze – You To Hold Me
Sudden Lights – Aijā
Toms Kalderauskis – When It All Falls
24. Avēnija – You Said
Markus Riva – Forever

Lithuania

South of the border in Lithuania, the country's Pabandom Iš Naujo! continued. With 2 heats out of the way, it was time to move on to semi-final 1 on Saturday night. In that first semi, we saw 10 songs reduced to 5, after a combined public and jury vote. The 10 songs progressing to the final (on Saturday 18 February) are:

Rūta Mur – So Low
Gabrelius Vagelis – Šauksmas
Justė Kraujelytė – Need More Fun
Petunija – Love of My Life
Il Senso – Sparnai

Sweden

Up in Sweden, 6 weeks of Melodifestivalen kicked off, with the first of 4 heats taking place in Gothenburg. 7 songs competed this first week, with the Swedish viewers voting through 2 to the final in mid-March, and 2 to the semi-final, which takes place on the first Saturday in March. These were the results that Sweden decided upon:

To the final: Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North feat. Adam Woods – Where Are You (Sávečan)
To the final: Tone Sekelius – Rhythm of My Show
To the semi-final: Victor Crone – Diamonds
To the semi-final: Elov and Beny – Raggen Går

Germany

German pre-selection Unser Lied für Liverpool had already announced its first 8 songs to compete in the one-show affair on Friday 3 March. But subsequently, a vote was opened on TikTok for a wildcard entry to be chosen, as the ninth finalist. Voting closed over the weekend and it was revealed that the winning song from the TikTok vote, and the last finalist for March, is Lied Mit Gutem Text by Ikke Hüftgold.

Malta

In Malta, the results of 3 quarter-finals, each of which had taken place throughout January, were announced during this first week of February. From 39 songs that had competed in the quarter-final stages, we now have 24 songs that progress to the semi-final stage, as a result of both a public vote and a jury vote. The 24 songs that make it to the semi-final, which takes place on Thursday 9 February, are: 

Andre’ – Broken Hill
Bradley Debono – Blackout
Cheryl Balzan – La La Land
Dominic and Anna – Whatever Wind May Blow
Greta Tude – Sound of My Stilettos
Ryan Hill – In the Silence
Stefan Galea – Heartbreaker
Giada – I Depend on You
Chris Grech – Indescribable
The Busker – Dance (Our Own Party)
Maxine Pace – Alone
Ian – On My Own
Dario Bezzina – Bridle Road
Brooke – Checkmate
Mark Anthony Bartolo – Tears
Dan – It’ll Be Ok
Matt Blxck – UP
Fabrizio Faniello – Try To Be Better
Eliana Gomez Blanco – Guess What
Christian Arding – Eku Ċar
Geo Debono – The Mirror
Mike – Leħen Fiċ-Ċpar
Nathan – Creeping Walls
Klinsmann – Piranah

Coming up this week...

Tuesday 7 February 
🇨🇿 Czech Republic / ESCZ 2023 (Winner Reveal) ⭐️
🇮🇹 Italy / Festival di Sanremo (Opening Night) - 21:00 CET RaiPlay 🔗

Wednesday 8 February 
🇮🇹 Italy / Festival di Sanremo (Second Night) - 21:00 CET RaiPlay 🔗

Thursday 9 February
🇮🇹 Italy / Festival di Sanremo (Third Night) - 21:00 CET RaiPlay 🔗
🇲🇹 Malta / Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (Semi-Final) - TVMi 🔗

Friday 10 February 
🇮🇹 Italy / Festival di Sanremo (Fourth Night) - 21:00 CET RaiPlay 🔗

Super Saturday 11 February
🇭🇷 Croatia / Dora 2023 (Grand Final) ⭐️ - 20:05 CET HRTi 🔗
🇮🇹 Italy / Festival di Sanremo (Final Night) ⭐️ - 21:00 CET RaiPlay 🔗
🇱🇻 Latvia / Supernova (Grand Final) ⭐️ 20:10 CET LTV 🔗
🇱🇹 Lithuania / Pabandom Iš Naujo! 2023 (Second Semi-Final) - 20:00 CET LRT 🔗
🇲🇹 Malta / Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (Grand Final) ⭐️ - TVMi 🔗
🇩🇰 Denmark / Dansk Melodi Grand Prix ⭐️ - 20:00 CET DR 🔗
🇪🇪 Estonia / Eesti Laul (Grand Final) ⭐️ - ERR 🔗
🇷🇴 Romania / Selecţia Naţională (Grand Final) ⭐️ - 19:30 CET TVR 🔗
🇸🇪 Sweden / Melodifestivalen (Heat Two) - 20:00 CET SVTPlay 🔗

This weekend in national-final season, we saw 2 countries, Norway and Lithuania, continue their pre-selection process to find their entry to the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. We also had Moldova commence its Liverpool preliminaries, with the first stage of Etapa Naţională 2023.

Before our Saturday nights turn into Super Saturday evenings/nights/mornings next month, we watched a total of 55 songs across the 3 countries, be reduced to just 23. Here's how it went down:

Norway

Up in Scandinavia, NRK hosted the third of 3 Melodi Grand Prix semi-finals. 7 songs competed, and viewers voted their favourite 3 entries through to the all-important final, which takes place next week, on Saturday 4 February. 

The last 3 finalists completing the lineup are:

Eline Thorp - Not Meant to Be
Atle Pettersen - Masterpiece
Skrellex - Love Again

Lithuania

The Baltic nation's Pabandom Iš Naujo! continued on Saturday night. In the second of 2 heats, 15 songs were performed, with 10 qualifying to the semi-final stage of the competition. 

After a combined jury vote and viewer televote, these were the 10 songs voted through to the semi-finals, which begin next Saturday:

Beatrich – Like a Movie
Monika Linkytė – Stay
Mario Junes – Do What You Do
Matt Len – Midnight Train
Petunija – Love of My Life
Agnė – New Start
Moon Bee – Rumor
Gebrasy – Saw Your Ghost
Donata – Dreamer
Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys – Sėdi ir važiuoji

Moldova

In Moldova, Etapa Naţională 2023 took its first step in narrowing down its batch of Liverpool potentials. And it was certainly no small step. For 6 hours on Saturday afternoon, an expert jury watched as 33 songs were performed live at what is known as the contest's 'audition stage'. Following the jury's vote, those 33 were cut down to a neat 10, all of which will be performed at the Etapa Naţională final in a few weeks from now. 

Your 10 Etapa Naţională finalists:

Sunstroke Project – Yummy Mommy
Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna
Donia – Red Zone
Aliona Moon – Du-mă
OL – Why You Play It Cool
Surorile Osoianu – Bade, Bădişor, Bădiţă
NÖRDIKA – Damn and Down
Victor Gulick – Let’s Dance
COSMINA – Indestructible
Corina Ivanov – When Love’s Real

Coming up this week...

Sunday 29 January 
🇪🇸 Spain / Benidorm Fest (Opening Ceremony) - 19:00 CET RTVE Play 🔗

Monday 30 January 
🇨🇿 Czech Republic / ESCZ 2023 (Grand Final) - 21:00 CET - Official Eurovision YouTube 🔗

Tuesday 31 January 
🇬🇧 Eurovision Song Contest 2023: Handover and Allocation Draw - 20:00 CET - Live from Liverpool

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the Handover and Allocation Draw via iPlayer and BBC TWO.

🇪🇸 Spain / Benidorm Fest (First Semi-Final) - 22:50 CET RTVE Play 🔗

Thursday 2 February
🇪🇸 Spain / Benidorm Fest (Second Semi-Final) - 22:50 CET RTVE Play 🔗
🇬🇪 Georgia / The Voice Georgia (Final)* Artist will be chosen ⭐️ 

Friday 3 February
🇮🇪 Ireland / Late Late Show, Eurosong 2023 (Final) ⭐️ - 22:35 CET RTÉ Player 🔗
🇲🇹 Malta / Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (Fourth Quarter-Final) - 21:00 CET TVMi 🔗

Saturday 4 February
🇱🇻 Latvia / Supernova (Semi-Final) - 20:10 CET LTV 🔗
🇱🇹 Lithuania / Pabandom Iš Naujo! 2023 (First Semi-Final) - 20:00 CET LRT 🔗
🇳🇴 Norway / Melodi Grand Prix (Grand Final) ⭐️ - 19:50 CET NRK 🔗
🇸🇮 Slovenia / Misija Liverpool (Joker Out - Song Reveal) ⭐️
🇸🇪 Sweden / Melodifestivalen (Heat One) - 20:00 CET SVTPlay 🔗
🇪🇸 Spain / Benidorm Fest 2023 (Grand Final) ⭐️ - 22:05 CET RTVE Play 🔗 

Over the past 7 days, we've seen 1 Nordic nation continue its search for its Eurovision Song Contest entry in May, and we've also had 1 Baltic country commence its annual pre-selection process. As a result, we now have 13 songs which find themselves that much closer to claiming a ticket to Liverpool.

Norway

Over in Trondheim, NRK hosted the second of 3 Melodi Grand Prix semi-finals. 7 songs competed, and viewers voted their favourite 3 through to the final which takes place on Saturday 4 February. 

The 3 finalists are:

JONE — Ekke Inni Meg
Swing’it — Prohibition
Elsie Bay — Love You In A Dream

Lithuania

The immensely popular Pabandom Iš Naujo! kicked off in Lithuania on Saturday night. In the first of 2 heats in the 2023 contest, 15 songs competed, with 10 qualifying to the semi-final stage. 

After a combined jury vote and viewer televote, these were the 10 songs progressing in the competition:

Rūta MUR – So Low
Gabrielius Vagelis – Šauksmas
Alen Chicco – Do You
Justė Kraujelytė – Need More Fun
NOY – Destiny’s Child
Paulina Paukštaitytė – Let Me Think About Me
Il Senso – Sparnai
Joseph June – Vacuum
Baiba – When the Lights Go Out
Luknė – Paradise

Coming up this week...

Friday 27 January
🇲🇹 Malta / Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (Third Quarter-Final) - 21:00 CET TVMi 🔗

Saturday 28 January
🇱🇹 Lithuania / Pabandom Iš Naujo! 2023 (Heat 2) - 20:00 CET LRT 🔗
🇳🇴 Norway / Melodi Grand Prix (Semi-Final 3) - 19:50 CET NRK 🔗

Sunday 29 January 
🇪🇸 Spain / Benidorm Fest (Opening Ceremony)

The 33 songs that will advance to the live audition stage of Moldova's Etapa Națională 2023 have been announced by broadcaster TRM, with familiar names including previous Eurovision participants Aliona Moon and Sunstroke Project.

The audition will take place in front of a jury, who will decide which songs and artists are put forward to the live national final. More details will be revealed soon.

It’s mid-January, and the national final season across Europe is already heating up.

This week, along with Gustaph winning in Belgium with Because of You, we’ve also seen 13 other songs across 2 countries inch that much closer to nabbing a ticket to Liverpool.

Estonia

In the past 7 days, over in Estonia, ETV has hosted 2 semi finals of the Baltic nation’s immensely popular Eesti Laul competition. With those semis complete, the 2023 Eesti Laul final now has a competitive lineup to be held on Saturday February 11.

The initial 20 songs have been whittled down to these final 10:

• Alika - Bridges

• Andreas - Why Do You Love Me

• Anett and Fredi - You Need to Move On

• Bedwetters - Monsters

• Inger - Awaiting You

• Janek - House of Glass

• M Els - So Good at What You Do

• Meelik - Tuju

• Ollie - Venom

• Sissi - Lighthouse

Norway

Meanwhile, over in Norway, broadcaster NRK kicked off four weeks of Melodi Grand Prix magic, with the first of 3 semi finals taking place in Trondheim.

Seven songs competed, but only 3 could progress to the final, which will take place on Saturday February 3.

The 3 songs chosen by Norwegian voters were:

• Alessandra - Queen of Kings

• Ulrikke - Honestly

• Unami Tsunami - Geronimo

Coming up this week...

Saturday 21 January
🇱🇹 Lithuania / Pabandom Iš Naujo! 2023 (Heat 1)
🇳🇴 Norway / Melodi Grand Prix (Semi-Final 2)

Friday 27 January
🇲🇹 Malta / Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (Third Quarter-Final) TVMi 🔗

Saturday 28 January
🇱🇹 Lithuania / Pabandom Iš Naujo! 2023 (Heat 2)
🇳🇴 Norway / Melodi Grand Prix (Semi-Final 3)

Sunday 29 January 
🇪🇸 Spain / Benidorm Fest (Opening Ceremony)

Don't forget to check out our Calendar to see what's in store!

Malta has published previews of all 40 songs vying to represent the island nation at the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool next May.

You can hear them on a YouTube playlist created by Maltese broadcaster PBS.

We might be approaching midwinter but things are hotting up on the Spanish coast! 

All 18 songs competing in Benidorm Fest 2023 have been released, and you can listen to them right now on the RTVE website.

The songs are....

• Agoney - Quiero arder

• Alfred García - Desde que tú estas

• Alice Wonder - Yo quisiera

• Aritz Arén - Flamenco

• Blanca Paloma - Eaea

• E'Femme - Uff!

• Famous - La Lola

• Fusa Nocta - Mi familia

• José Otero - Inviernos en Marte

• Karmento - Quiero y duelo

• Megara - Arcadia

• Meler - No nos moverán

• Rakky Ripper - Tracción

• Sharonne - Aire

• Siderland - Que esclati tot

• Sofía Martín - Tuki

• Twin Melody - Sayonara

• Vicco - Nochentera

Belgian broadcaster VRT has released snippets of the songs in the running to represent the nation in Liverpool. You can check them out here.

Official music videos for all 16 Junior Eurovision 2022 songs are now available to watch on the official Junior Eurovision YouTube channel... here's a handy playlist featuring all 16 videos.

• 🇦🇱 Albania: Kejtlin Gjata - Pakëz Diell

• 🇦🇲 Armenia: Nare - DANCE!

• 🇫🇷 France: Lissandro - Oh Maman!

• 🇬🇪 Georgia: Mariam Bigvava - I Believe

• 🇮🇪 Ireland: Sophie Lennon - Solas

• 🇮🇹 Italy: Chanel Dilecta - BLA BLA BLA

• 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan: David Charlin - Jer-Ana (Mother Earth)

• 🇲🇹 Malta: Gaia Gambuzza - Diamonds In The Skies

• 🇳🇱 Netherlands: Luna - La Festa

• 🇲🇰 North Macedonia: Lara feat. Jovan & Irina - Životot E Pred Mene

• 🇵🇱 Poland: Laura - To The Moon

• 🇵🇹 Portugal: Nicolas Alves - Anos 70

• 🇷🇸 Serbia: Katarina Savić - Svet Bez Granica

• 🇪🇸 Spain: Carlos Higes - Señorita

• 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Zlata Dziunka - Nezlamna (Unbreakable)

• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Freya Skye - Lose My Head

It was revealed yesterday that Junior Eurovision 2021 champion Maléna and international sensation Rosa Linn will perform during the interval of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest when it returns to Armenia on Sunday 11 December.

Rosa Linn represented Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin earlier this year, and has since seen her song Snap become an international hit. The track, which placed 20th at the Grand Final in Italy, has broken international records by becoming one of the most streamed Eurovision songs of all time, picking up multiple platinum plaques across the planet along the way.

Recently Rosa performed a new version of Snap on The Late Late Show with James Corden in the United States, and will rework the song to include traditional Armenian instruments for her Junior Eurovision performance.

The 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, in Yerevan, Armenia, on Sunday 11 December.

Don't forget to follow the official Junior Eurovision Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook channels.

Tune in to Eurovision This Month when it premieres at 20:00 CET this evening on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel.

We recap all the Eurovision news from this month, including: Changes to the voting system; the familiar faces heading to Yerevan for Junior Eurovision; Dutch duo Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper; and we finish off with news about Måneskin and ABBA.

Make sure to click on 'Notify me 🔔' to be alerted when the show goes live!

Preparations are nearly complete for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. 

Earlier, it was revealed that Junior Eurovision 2021 champion Maléna and international sensation Rosa Linn will perform during the interval of the Contest when it returns to Armenia on Sunday 11 December.

Rosa Linn represented Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin earlier this year, and has since seen her song Snap become an international hit. The track, which placed 20th at the Grand Final in Italy, has broken international records by becoming one of the most streamed Eurovision songs of all time, picking up multiple platinum plaques across the planet along the way.

Maléna won Junior Eurovision in 2021 when her song Qami Qami impressed both viewers and juries, earning a grand total of 224 points, which was enough to finish in first place, with runners-up Poland and hosts France scoring 218 and 187 points respectively.

You can read more about the show over on JuniorEurovision.tv.

Hosted by music presenter and reporter Steve Holden, the latest episode of the Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast features interviews with a grand total of 5 Eurovision champions!

Listen and subscribe now to hear exclusive interviews with Duncan Laurence, Katrina, Lordi, Netta, and Måns! 

Hola, mi bebé-bés!

Romanian broadcaster TVR has released initial details of their selection process for Liverpool 2023.

Interested applicants have between November 14 and December 11 to submit songs via the instructions listed on the official website.

The final of Selecţia Naţională is tentatively earmarked for Saturday 11 February. We’ll update you with full details of the show, along with the names of the artists involved, when they’re released in December. 

UA:PBC has completed their search for the Vidbir national final jury. This year, they decided to let the public vote on who should sit on the professional jury to select Ukraine’s Eurovision entry.

The broadcaster received over half a million votes, and so the top 3, as chosen by the public, are: Tara Topolya (lead vocals in the band Antytila), Jamala (Eurovision 2016 champion), and Julia Sanina (lead vocals in the band The HARDKISS). They'll now help to decide who will represent Ukraine in Liverpool next year.

The grand final of Vidbir will broadcast live on Saturday 17 December with 36 artists still in the running.

For the second successive year, the winning Eurovision Song Contest artist will perform at the MTV EMAs.

Kalush Orchestra will join Stormzy, Gayle, One Republic and others on Sunday 13 November when the awards take place in Düsseldorf.

Albania’s ‘Festivali i Këngës’ returns to screens in December, with a new set of competitors hoping to win the title of ‘Best Song’ along with the chance of representing the nation at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Albanian broadcaster RTSH has announced the 26 participants: 

1. 2 Farm - Atomike

2. Alban Kondi & Lorela Karoshi - Melodi

3. Albina Kelmendi - Duje

4. Anduel Kovaçi - Malli

5. Arsi Bako - Sonte dua të jem me ty

6. Melodajna Mancaku - Gjysma e zemrës sime

7. Elsa Lila - Evita

8. Enxhi Nasufi - Burrë

9. Erma Mici - Kozmosi i dashurisë

10. Evi Reçi - Ma kthe

11. Fabian Basha - Një gotë

12. Fifi - Stop

13. Franc Koruni - Në pritje

14. Genti Hoxha - Ajër

15. Gjergj Kaçinari - Dje

16. Luna Causholli - Jetën ta fal

17. LYNX - Nëse ke besim

18. Manjola Nallbani - Dua

19. Permit of Stay - Fobia

20. Petrit Çarkaxhiu - Emri yt mirësi

21. Rezearta Smaja - N’Eden

22. Rovena Dilo - Motit

23. Sara Kapo - Para teje

24. Serxhio Hajdini - Vështirë

25. Urban Band - Në çdo hap

26. Vanesa Sono - Aroma jonë

More details of the 61st Festivali i Këngës will follow shortly, along with broadcast dates and format news.

UA:PBC has released the 36 artist long-list for Vidbir - the national selection show which determines the Ukrainian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.

The acts are…

1. 2TONE

2. Angelina

3. DAYTON 

4. DEMCHUK

5. Drevo

6. Elysees   

7. FIINKA

8. Havkа

9. Jerry Heil

10. Iana Kovaleva

11. Kozak Siromaha

12. KRUTЬ

13. Lue Bason

14. Moisei

15. Olivan

16. OOHLA

17. Oy Sound System

18. SASHA 

19. Seréen

20. sexnesc

21. Shy

22. SKYLERR 

23. SOWA

24. Tember Blanche  

25. Tery

26. TVORCHI 

27. Victoria Niro

28. Vynohradova

29. Zetetics

30. Лилу45

31. Макс Пташник

32. Мія Рамарі

33. Роялькіт

34. Саша Фадєєва

35. ТÓНКА

36. Циферблат

Musician and Vidbir producer, Pianoboy said: 

‘I am personally interested in ensuring that Ukrainian music does not freeze and develops in all directions, so that we have our heroes in all possible musical niches and styles. In my opinion, now, during the war, and with complete uncertainty in the lives of musicians, this selection takes on a special significance: we not only choose those worthy to represent Ukraine at the competition, but also have the opportunity to hear a wide range of Ukrainian music that is being created here and now, no matter what.’

He continued: 

‘I am glad that during the selection process, many musicians were motivated, inspired, and encouraged to create new songs and interesting ideas. It was difficult for many of them to start writing again, many musicians are in forced emigration or on the verge of changing professions, or even surviving. There are musicians who volunteer and fight. However, we have a 36-song longlist that has everything from original songs, dream pop and rock to indie, rap and ethnic. 

All this speaks of how creative our nation is, how much we strive to create. I am grateful to the society and the Society for the trust to musically produce the selection, I am already personally listening to this longlist in the car, I hope that after the publication of all the songs, you will too.’

Interest in the national final has been high, with the broadcaster receiving nearly 400 song from 299 participants, all hoping to replicate Ukraine’s success in Turin where Kalush Orchestra won with their song Stefania; an ode to a mother, which became the first Eurovision winning song to feature a rap.

Long-list auditions will continue, with the final lineup of acts announced no later than November 17.

More details have emerged about Una Voce Per San Marino (the Sammarinese selection competition) following an interview with Ludovico Di MeoFederico (Director General of SMRTV), Pedini Amati (Secretary of State for Tourism), and Assistant Head of Delegation, Alessandro Capicchioni.

Ludovico told reporters:

‘Achille Lauro’s involvement [last year] helped to make [Una Voce Per San Marino] known. Like everything new we need to grow, and we will grow, year after year. We will have to be lucky and also good to find a new, real talent to bring to Liverpool, the home of the Beatles’

International interest in the contest has been high, with SMRTV receiving applications from 32 different countries. In total, over 500 submissions have been made via the broadcaster’s website, with Italian and Spanish artists leading the pack

It was also announced that Senhit (who represented San Marino in 2011, 2020 and 2021) will host the show, joined by a number of guest performers, including last year’s winner Achille Lauro.

The Grand Final of Una Voce Per San Marino will take place on Saturday 25 February.

Spanish broadcaster RTVE will announce their Benidorm Fest participants on Thursday 27 October.

The sensational 16 have been whittled down from 876 hopefuls, and will be presented during a press conference hosted by Inés Hernand and Rodrigo Vázquez, alongside artists from the 2022 edition. 

We’ll also find out more about last year’s Benidorm Fest champ Chanel, and her new single Toke which is set to inspire the Spanish national football team at the World Cup in Qatar.

You’ll be able to watch the reveal on La 1 and RTVE Play.

Eurovision 2022 participant Konstrakta has revealed that she’s being considered for a Grammy award in 2 categories: Best New Artist and Best Global Music Performance for In Corpore Sano.

The Serbian superstar is, however, quick to point out in her Instagram announcement that this doesn’t mean she’s definitely been nominated for a Grammy as yet, but with enough votes she might just make it to the nominees shortlist at the 65th Grammy Awards in February.

In Corpore Sano won a Marcel Bezençon award in Turin for best artistic performance, as voted for by the commentators from each participating broadcaster.

Can it pick up another prestigious award across the Atlantic? We can't wait to find out!

News of another unofficial fan event has been announced!

Eurovision In Concert will take place on Saturday 15 April at the AFAS Amsterdam concert hall in the Netherlands, with tickets going on sale on this Friday (October 14).

Eurovision fans from across the globe will head to the Dutch capital ahead of Liverpool 2023 to catch a glimpse of the artists taking part in the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, alongside familiar favourites. 

The Amsterdam event joins Madrid's PrePartyES and Barcelona Eurovision Party in confirming their dates for 2023.

Today marks your last opportunity to apply for Benidorm Fest - the national selection Spain uses to choose their Eurovision Song Contest participant.

You've got big boots to fill though! Chanel finished 3rd in Turin with the banger SloMo.

Applications can be made via the RTVE website.

Well, if you aren't aware of the Eurovision 2023 Host City by now - where have you been?

The EBU and BBC announced last night that we're off to Liverpool in the United Kingdom!

We've added some crucial dates to the calendar:

Tuesday 9 May - 21:00 CEST
🇬🇧 Eurovision Song Contest, First Semi-Final live from Liverpool, United Kingdom

Thursday 11 May - 21:00 CEST
🇬🇧 Eurovision Song Contest, Second Semi-Final live from Liverpool, United Kingdom

Saturday 13 May - 21:00 CEST
🇬🇧 Eurovision Song Contest, Grand Final live from Liverpool, United Kingdom 🏆

Tickets are expected to go on sale in due course - you can find out more about them on the tickets page of this very site.

Here's some further reading for your Saturday morning:

• A History of the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
• A History of Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest

Graham Norton will confirm the Host City and date of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on the One Show on BBC One (United Kingdom) this evening. He will be joined by Sam Ryder.

If you can't access BBC One, don't worry! We'll be announcing the Host City across the official Eurovision YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook platforms, as well as the official Eurovision Song Contest newsletter.

On Tuesday, at a press conference in Madrid, Spain revealed their pick for Junior Eurovision in Yerevan.

But as well as revealing more information about the talented Carlos Higes and his trip to Armenia, the Spanish broadcaster also confirmed that tickets for Benidorm Fest - Spain’s week-long national selection party on the Costa Blanca - will go on sale on Tuesday 1 November.

Benidorm Fest runs from Sunday 29 January until Saturday 4 February, 2023 - and if you want a hint of what to expect, the Grand Final of Benidorm Fest 2022 is still available to watch on RTVE play.

There's never a quiet month at Eurovision.tv!

In Eurovision This Month we recap all the news and events that took place in September...

Buckle up! National final season is just around the corner - and with it comes an avalanche of information, broadcast times, hyperlinks, selections, parties, and artists. 

To help you keep on top of everything you need to know, we'll be adding important dates to the Eurovision 2023 Calendar and updating this rolling blog from now until March 2023.