Eurovision 2026 Favourites
This was a big week. Not only were two lost episodes of Doctor Who found, but also the last few Eurovision 2026 songs were announced.
2026 is kind of a sad year for Eurovision owing to some poor management decisions. But I won't go into that here. I've decided to continue deepening my love of this weird bit of nonsense. And this year, I ended up watching a whole pile of national final shows, which many of the countries use to pick their entrants.
So most of these haven't been introduced to me this week. I've been enjoying them for a while. And I've also been enjoying songs that didn't win their national finals, and those I've been adding to my ongoing "Almost Eurovision" YouTube Music playlist, which I started a couple years ago.
This list isn't who I think will win. The odds are saying Finland right now. I don't really believe them, but I don't think I have any particular insight into who will actually win Eurovision. Instead, after the cut, these are songs I just like, that speak to me, or I think are special in some way.
Akylas - Ferto | Greece 🇬🇷
I love this. I especially love that it looks like silly nonsense. Okay, yeah, it is silly nonsense. But it also has something to say about capitalism and materialism. But, as he describes in the brief ballad verse which, brilliantly, shows the Eurovision juries he can actually sing, he's just doing it all for his mom. So she can have the life they couldn't have.
Whatever, you get it. So...
LELEK - Andromeda | Croatia ðŸ‡ðŸ‡·
Goosebumps, man. This is pretty epic. Groups of women singing harmonies, often with witchy vibes is kind of a staple in Eurovision, and this is a great example. And this is a song of angry defiance in the face of injustice and subjugation. "Our mothers did not give birth to slaves" indeed.
LELÉKA - Ridnym | Ukraine 🇺🇦
Ukraine is very good at Eurovision. I don't think this song has a strong chance of winning, but I do want to point out the bit where Leléka holds a note for 30 goddamn seconds. Because that's awesome. Also, goosebumps.
I'm always cheering for Ukraine, because well, gestures broadly.
Leléka herself is especially fascinating. Because she has an alter ego. Leléka is very folky and lovely and calm and quiet. But she's also DONBASGRL: electronic and angry and urgent and acidic. And she has an amazing voice no matter which ego is using it.
FELICIA - My System | Sweden 🇸🇪
This is so badass. It's a banger of a song and pretty close to exactly my thing.
What's even more fascinating is the story behind it. ESCGabe provides details in this video. In short, tho, this is the second time Felicia has been to the Swedish national final. The first time, she came as Fröken Snusk, an identity she crafted with a rather unscrupulous producer who had her in a restrictive and punishing contract. When she went to Melodifestivalen the first time, tho, she met other people in the music industry who provided her with the means to get out of that contract. And now she's back and she's won one of the biggest national finals and will be in Eurovision. It's pretty cool.
Satoshi - Viva, Moldova! | Moldova 🇲🇩
A bouncy, catchy ethno-bop, right? I love it.
I've seen a few people complain that this is this year's Tutto Italia, San Marino's entry from last year that, while I think is kinda fun, got 12 points from the Italian public but nothing from anybody else. 'Cuz it seems a bit self-indulgent.
Except that totally misunderstands what this song is about. And to know that, you need historical and political context.
Moldova is a former Soviet republic that is being torn between its desire to be part of Europe and Russia's desire to keep it part of its empire. Russian troops are currently in Transnistria, a Moldovan province on the boarder with Ukraine. Russia's been trying to interfere with Moldova's elections and bring the country back into its orbit, but the public has repeatedly, overwhelmingly shown support for pro-European candidates.
This song is a celebration of Moldova's orientation towards Europe and an invitation to Europeans to learn about them, welcome them and celebrate their shared aspirations. We can only hope Europe can reciprocate.