Eurovision Song

• The running order for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 semi-finals has been officially released, detailing the performance sequence and the planned semi-final introduction. • In a significant shift for the competition, five nations—Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland—have confirmed they will not participate in this year's event. • These withdrawals represent a notable loss of traditional contenders, potentially altering the competitive landscape and voting dynamics of the contest.

• Several European public broadcasters have confirmed they will not televise this week's Eurovision Song Contest. • The decision serves as a boycott specifically targeting the competition's decision to allow Israel to participate. • This move highlights growing geopolitical tensions and protests regarding Israel's ongoing actions and presence in the event.

• The 70th Eurovision Song Contest is returning, with the event featuring a Grand Final and two preliminary semifinals to determine the winner. • The first semifinal includes 17 countries, such as Sweden, Italy, and Israel, while the second semifinal features 18 nations, including the UK, France, and Australia. • This milestone anniversary celebration draws a massive global audience, prompting a search for official free streaming options to watch the competition online.

• Vienna is set to host the 70th Anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final in 2026. • The competition will feature 25 participating countries vying for a single winner's trophy. • TechRadar is providing guidance on how viewers can stream the event online for free from any global location.

‘We know that Mark Carney wants to sort of embrace Europe,’ says competition director Martin GreenCanada is welcome to join Eurovision if it wishes, its director has said, months after the country revealed it wanted to “explore” joining the song contest in its federal budget.Eurovision director Martin Green told the BBC on Wednesday that Canada hadn’t yet applied, but would be welcome to. Continue reading...

National broadcaster confirms it will not broadcast world’s largest live music eventNational broadcasters in Ireland, Spain and Slovenia will not air the Eurovision song contest this year, after they decided to boycott the event over Israel’s participation.Having already announced it would not submit a national entry, Slovenian broadcaster RTV confirmed on Thursday it would implement a broadcasting blackout of the world’s largest live music event and instead show a series of films about Palestine. Continue reading...

As the original event faces discord and boycotts on its 70th anniversary, Bangkok will host the inaugural spin-offEurovision is seeking to expand into the Asian market by hosting a version of its song contest in Bangkok this year, just as the original annual event is being buffeted by discord and boycotts on the eve of its 70th anniversary edition.The grand final of the inaugural Eurovision song contest Asia will take place in Thailand’s capital on Saturday 14 November, the Switzerland-based organisation announced on Tuesday. Broadcasters from 10 countries have confirmed their participation. Continue reading...

Calls for Alexandra Căpitănescu’s Choke Me to be banned as campaigners say lyrics are ‘dangerous’ and ‘reckless’Romania’s Eurovision entry Choke Me has been labelled “dangerous” and “reckless” for appearing to glamorise sexual strangulation, an unsafe practice that can lead to brain injury and death.Campaigners against sexual violence said the entry, in which the words “choke me” are repeated 30 times during the three-minute song, was “playing fast and loose with young women’s lives”. Continue reading...