Turn up the heat: Previewing Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2026

Each year, we wait with baited breath for Croatia to choose their Eurovision entry via Dora. Will it be more Baby Lasagna or more Jacques Houdek? And every year, we’re left with a heap of songs that could’ve done well. Michael is joined by Eurovision fan Daniel to review some of the songs that couldn’t beat out Lelek to take the Dora trophy. Is Andromeda the best choice for Croatia in 2026? In this episode: Meet Daniel (who is also a fan of Dora) Get the background on what Lelek’s artwork means Question what juries consider ‘artistic’ Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Lara Demarin – MANTRA Lima Len – Raketa Stela Rade – Nema te Cold Snap – Mucho Macho The post Galaxies aligning: Reviewing Croatia’s Dora 2026 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

It’s the last National Final weekend of the year. And that means Sweden is ready to decide on its song for Vienna. Michael and Bryan jump into the Melodifestivalen final, with 12 songs all vying for that ticket south. While some may argue Melfest has been going downhill of late, the fact that Michael and Bryan can’t settle on one winner is a positive. You can enjoy the show (and find out who wins) by watching via SVT Play from 8pm CET on Saturday 7 March (or 6am AEDT on Sunday 8 March). In this episode: Decide if you’re Team Medina or Team Bryan Find out just how much of a boomer mum Michael is Wonder who the 3-9 year olds will be voting for Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist A*Teens – Iconic Meira Omar – Dooset Daram [Podcast extra] Lilla Al-Fadji – Delulu Saga Ludvigsson – Ain’t Today [Podcast extra] Smash Into Pieces – Hollow Cimberly – Eternity Medina – Viva L’Amor Greczula – Half Of Me Robin Bengtsson – Honey Honey [Podcast extra] FELICIA – My System Sanna Nielsen – Waste Your Love Brandsta City Släckers – Rakt in i elden [Straight into the fire] The post Turn up the heat: Previewing Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2026 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

Super Saturday is upon us, as six countries choose their songs for Eurovision. One of them is Norway, is ready to razzle-dazzle us with all things Melodi Grand Prix. Michael is joined by special guest, Lou, to navigate through the nine songs in contention and decide if the new Tarjei Strøm era of MGP is going to amaze us. You can enjoy MGP from the comfort of your lounge room, by tuning in to NRK TV on Saturday 28 February at 7:45pm if you’re in Europe, or on Sunday 1 March at 5:45am if you’re in Melbourne. In this episode: Find out who has a urinal named in their honour Meet the little sister of some Euro-famous siblings Cheer for the Aussie, who’s back to tell his story Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Skrellex – Into the Wild Hedda Mae – Snap Back STORM – Lullaby Mileo – Frankenstein Silke – Forevermore Alexander Rybak – Rise emma – Northern Lights Leonardo Amor – Prayer JONAS LOVV – Ya Ya Ya The post Shining bright: Previewing Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2026 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

It’s a national final that we’ve become big fans of and yet again, Finland isn’t here to disappoint. Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu is back for another year and we’re ready to work out who will be following in Erika Vikman’s saucy footsteps in Vienna. Michael is joined by Ethan, a voice who would be familiar if you’re a fan of the Eurovision Top 100, to dive into UMK. While there are seven big songs, there are two currently in contention. Do you agree? Plus, hear the latest banger (and first English language song) from one of our 2025 favourites – Erika Vikman. You can enjoy UMK (and Erika’s new song) at 8pm CET on Saturday 28 February (or the polite time of 6am on Sunday 1 March if you’re in Melbourne) via Yle Areena. You might even want to switch over to the English commentary! In this episode: Hear Michael go gutter(al) Wonder if the dentist will make an appearance Work out when you’ll schedule your toilet break Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Erika Vikman – FATHER (I Will Never Confess) Komiat – Lululai Etta – Million Dollar Smile KIKI – Rakkaudenkipee [The pain of love] Antti Paalanen – Takatukka [Mullet] CHACHI – Cherry Cake Sinikka Monte – Ready To Leave Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin [Flamethrower] The post Who’s coming next?: Previewing Finland’s UMK 2026 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

It’s the first big weekend of Eurovision national finals, and Friends of the Show – Estonia – are ready to deliver one of the biggest Eesti Laul finals in recent memory. Michael and Bryan preview most of the songs that are hoping to win the coveted award, sharing their thoughts on how it might all go down. You can get involved by watching the show from 6:30pm CET on 14 February (4:30am on Sunday 15 February if you’re in Melbourne) via ERR’s Jupiter or the Eurovision YouTube channel. Plus, you can spend your euros to vote for the superfinalists and the winner! The info is all at eestilaul.vote In this episode: Wonder if Ollie can ever brush off his bridesmaid moniker Work out when you’ll need to turn the lounge room sound system right up Hear from some past Eurovision favourites as they return for another go Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Clicherik & Mäx – Jolly Roger Grete Paia – taevas jäi üles [The sky stayed up] ULIANA – Rhythm of Nature Ollie – Slave NOËP – Days Like This Getter Jaani – The Game Minimal Wind & ANT – Wounds (Don’t Wanna Fall) Vanilla Ninja – Too Epic to Be True STOCKHOLM COWBOYS – Last Man Standing Plus, in this podcast, hear the full versions of: Robert Linna – Metsik roos Laura Prits – Warrior Marta Pikani – Kell kuus The post Hold my coffee: Previewing Estonia’s Eesti Laul 2026 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

The Nordic Grand Prixes are getting underway. The first cab off the rank is Denmark, with Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (DMGP) taking place on 14 February. Michael and Bryan flag down the eight songs that are hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sissal’s 2025 hallucinations… including Sissal herself! You can enjoy DMGP live via DRTV on Saturday 14 February at 8pm if you’re in Europe, or on Sunday 15 February at 6am if you work on Melbourne time. In this episode: Wonder how DMGP is like a visit to Spotlight Understand just how bad apprentice chippies have it Find out just how gay JOY Eurovision is Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Sander Sanchez – Two Spirits Emil Otto – Copenhagen Noir Myrkur – Touch My Love And Die Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem [Before We Go Home] Lasse Skriver – Roaring Heart Sissal – Infinity Late Runner – Can U Feel It? Ericka Jane – Death Of Me The post Living a fantasy: Previewing Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

We’re ready for a big show in a little country, as Luxembourg decides on their Eurovision representative for 2026 via Luxembourg Song Contest. Michael and Bryan work through the eight songs in the running for the Duchy’s trophy and don’t hold back on what they think of them all! You can watch Luxembourg Song Contest live on YouTube from 8pm CET on 24 January (6am AEDT on 25 January) and be part of the voting via esc.vote. In this episode: Get to know more about Bryan’s thoughts on French music Explore the impact of songwriting camps Imagine what a stage glow up might look like Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Irem – Bad Decisions (Hush Hush) Steve Castile – Sweet Tooth Hugo One – Born Again ShiroKuro – Eye To Eye Eva Marija – Mother Nature Andrew the Martian – I’m The Martian Daryss – Melusina Luzac – Prison Dorée [Golden Prison] The post Rockin’ the Duchy: Previewing Luxembourg Song Contest 2026 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

December was busy in Eurovision land. Not only did FiKmas come, so did Montesong – Montenegro’s national final competition. It was a big one, with Tamara Živković getting over the line thanks to the jury and local televote. But what didn’t make it? Michael and Bryan headed to Crna Gora to meet the bangers that were ready to fly the flag in Vienna. Catch up on the show by streaming Montesong 2025 online. In this episode: Wonder how many ‘Yaas Queen!’ bangers are yet to come Investigate the role of Nordic songwriters in the Balkans Get the lowdown on this year’s drama Find out how close Lara was to winning Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Đurđa – Dominos Luka Radović – Pjevaj, vilo [Sing fairy] Krstinja – Oli oli [Oh oh oh] LANA x ĐORĐE – Temperatura [Temperature] Lara Baltić – Rhythm boy The post Rise and shine: Reviewing Montenegro’s Montesong 2025 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

When the Christmas decorations go up, you know it’s time for Albania’s most wonderful time of the year: FiKmas. And the 64th edition of Albania’s Festivali i Këngës ended up crowning Alis as its winner. Michael and Bryan take a quick dive into the Eurovision season’s first national selection competition to find out what else we could have heard in Vienna this year. If you missed the show or want to see the songs performed live, catch up on the FiK Nata Finale online. In this episode: Join the conversation about manchester Find out who hasn’t ended up in Kënga Magjike Meet Albania’s most popular instrumentalist Hear what couldn’t beat Alis Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Vedat Ademi – KUR FJALA MBARON [WHEN THE WORD ENDS] FIFI & TIRI GJOCI – RRI [STAY] Sheila Haxhiraj – ZEMRA E TOKËS [HEART OF THE EARTH] Inis Neziri – TË KAM FAL [I FORGIVE YOU] The post Nân knows best: Reviewing Albania’s Festivali i Këngës 64 appeared first on JOY Eurovision.

JOYEurovision is back for season 2026. And with it being the 70th edition of the world’s biggest music competition, we all should be celebrating right? The news over the break has made things difficult for Eurovision fans, including Michael and Io. In this season return: Get the latest news about the semi final allocation draw Catch up on the new Eurovision rules introduced after the General Assembly Dive into the issues behind Israel’s participation Find out about the fallout from the EBU General Assembly vote Find out how it’s affecting the JOYEurovision team in 2026 Get involved Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts. Playlist Käärijä – Disko Balls Go-Jo & Erika Vikman – Appetite Tina Karol – Шиншила Subwoolfer – Dark Side of the Moon Aiko – Time Nemo – Ride My Baby ADONXS – Perfume The post Elephant in the room: New Eurovision rules, old problems; new tunes, old mates appeared first on JOY Eurovision.