Akylas talks Ferto, Eurovision 2026 and deprivation | Eurofan House x Wiwibloggs

North Macedonia will participate in Eurovision 2027. Ahead of its confirmed return to the song contest, we review our favourite Eurovision songs and entries from North Macedonia. Tamara Todevska famously won the jury vote in 2019 and Kaliopi has competed multiple times. But will they make our list of best Eurovision entries? We name our Top 3 favourite songs of all time from North Macedonia.   Year Artist Song 1998 Vlado Janevski Ne Zori, Zoro 2000 XXL 100% Te Ljubam 2002 Karolina Od Nas Zavisi 2004 Toše Proeski Life 2005 Martin Vučić Make My Day 2006 Elena Risteska Ninanajna 2007 Karolina Mojot Svet 2008 Tamara feat. Vrčak & Adrian Gaxha Let Me Love You 2009 Next Time Nešto što kje ostane 2010 Gjoko Taneski feat. Billy Zver & Pejčin Jas ja imam silata 2011 Vlatko Ilievski Rusinka 2012 Kaliopi Crno i belo 2013 Esma & Lozano Pred da se razdeni 2014 Tijana To the Sky 2015 Daniel Kajmakoski Autumn Leaves 2016 Kaliopi Dona 2017 Jana Burčeska Dance Alone 2018 Eye Cue Lost and Found 2019 Tamara Todevska Proud 2020 Vasil You (contest cancelled) 2021 Vasil Here I Stand 2022 Andrea Circles

Burgas is officially the host city for Eurovision 2027! 🇧🇬🎉 The Eurovision 2027 shows will take place at Arena Burgas on May 11 (Semi-Final 1), May 13 (Semi-Final 2), and May 15 (Grand Final). We react to the host city announcement and share footage from our recent trip to Burgas, the beautiful Black Sea resort town that will welcome Eurovision next year. What can Eurovision fans expect from Burgas? We talk about hotel accommodation, nearby cities, the weather, St. Anastasia Island, getting around, and the overall vibe of the city — plus our first impressions of Eurovision's newest host city. Can you imagine Eurovision Village on the Black Sea Coast? Or EuroClub near the sand? 00:17 How to pronounce Burgas? 01:10 What is Burgas like? 01:45 Sunny Beach and nearby cities with hotels 03:00 Arena Burgas 04:20 What's the weather like in May in Burgas? 05:10 St Anastasia Island 06:00 Birdwatching in Burgas 07:05 Flights to Burgas and Burgas Airport

When will Bulgaria's broadcaster reveal the Eurovision 2027 host city? Well Boryana Gramatikova, BNT's Head of Delegation for Eurovision, tells us the decision is still being made because of the strength of host city bids from candidate cities Burgas and Sofia. Boryana also discusses how she staged Bulgaria's Eurovision 2026 national selection, from inviting the country's most popular artists to the moment that DARA almost pulled out. We also hear how Eurovision can help Bulgaria show Europe and the world what it's really like — an innovative country that rising, thriving and embracing its European future. 00:27 Head of Delegation's reaction when Bulgaria won Eurovision 2026 02:16 How did you choose national final artists in 2026? 03:28 Was it tough getting big artists to participate in your national selection? 04:19 Was it hard to convince DARA? 04:55 Will Bulgaria stage a Eurovision 2027 national selection? 06:00 How has Bulgaria been misrepresented? 06:22 More about Wiwibloggs designer Cinan Sadula 07:18 William and Boryana's first meeting at Junior Eurovision 09:09 Why did BNT delay choosing the host city? 09:45 All candidate cities had strengths 10:39 Are we going to have a more "Balkan" Eurovision? 11:20 What is the most important criteria for hosting Eurovision? 12:30 Why do you love Sofia and Burgas? 14:10 Does BNT decide or does the EBU decide on the host city? 14:50 What does she want to showcase about Bulgaria? 16:50 Which artists could we see in the Eurovision 2027 intervals and opening acts? 18:45 Will Nina Dobrev host Eurovision 2027? Interviewer: William Lee Adams (http://instagram.com/williamleedams) #Eurovision #Eurovision2027 #UnitedByMusic

Sarah Engels, Germany's Eurovision 2026 singer, joined us for an on-stage interview in English during the Eurofan House x Wiwibloggs event in Vienna. The "Fire" hitmakers discusses how much international support has meant to her...particularly in the face of fierce criticism in Germany. Speaking to our William Lee Adams, she talks about the main changes in her stage show, how family grounds her, the lessons she has learned as a reality star and tabloid favourite, and how she identifies with Satine in Moulin Rouge — a character she's portraying on theatre stages in Germany. She also has a bit of fun with her English, and turns to the many Germans in the audience to translate. 

Austria's Cosmó — real name Benjamin Gedeon — joined us for an on-stage interview during our Eurofan House x Wiwibloggs event inside the Wien Museum. The 18-year-old explains how he wrote his song "TANZSCHEIN," his Austrian and Hungarian cultural background, what it's like having Eurovision in Vienna, his growth since the national final "Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich?" and so much more.

LELEK — Croatia's Eurovision 2026 act — joined us for an on-stage interview at our Eurofan House x Wiwibloggs interview series in Vienna. The band, formed in 2024, consists of members Inka Večerina Perušić, Judita Štorga, Korina Olivia Rogić, Lara Brtan, and Marina Ramljak. They discuss their song "Andromeda" and its powerful message, which relates to the subjugation of women in the Balkans. They also detail their tattoos, which women wore to escape slavery. How did the group form? Who is the most emotional? And what's it been like meeting their Eurovision idols? We find out all of this and more. Interviewer: William Lee Adams  

The afternoon after Moldova qualified from Semi-Final 1 of Eurovision 2026, Satoshi joined us for an on-stage interview at the Eurofan House x Wiwibloggs. Satoshi discusses how he loved feeling the live energy on stage and why he chose the shaky camera movements. Aliona Moon tells us the back story of bringing her Eurovision 2013 dress back for this performance — and where she's stored it all of these years. And Lana tells us what it's like being such an incredible dancer and hype girl while also singing. 

Greece's Eurovision 2026 singer Akylas joins us for an on-stage interview at the Eurofan House x Wiwibloggs event inside the Wien Museum in Vienna. The "Ferto" singer attended the afternoon after qualifying from Semi-Final 1. He was so excited that he had advanced that he pulled a back muscle and woke up in severe pain. But he persevered, coming to our event to discuss being a favourite to win, his symbolic staging, his former life working in hospitality and performing on cruise ships, his mother's sacrifices, and how his song reflects the deprivation endured by a generation. 

According to Dagospia, the Sanremo Festival 2027 may replace covers night with a special Eurovision night to decide Italy’s Eurovision act. As you’ll know, the fourth evening of Sanremo — the Friday — is traditionally known as Covers Night. The winner of the overall festival is determined on the fifth night — the Saturday — and given the right to go to Eurovision. But record labels and FIMI (the Federation of the Italian Music Industry) reportedly want to separate winning the festival from going to Eurovision. Instead, they want two winners: A winner from Eurovision night who goes to Eurovision, and an overall winner of the festival. The goal is to give artists two chances at victory, thereby enticing more well-established acts to compete. Dagospia also reports that there is pressure to create an “Academy” that would judge the competition. Doing this would reduce the number of journalists and experts who currently help decide the outcome. We react to the news and discuss. The Sanremo 2027 dates have been confirmed as February 16 to February 20. #Eurovision #Sanremo2027 #Eurovision 2027

Veronica Fusaro, Switzerland's Eurovision 2026 singer, gave an on-stage interview to our William Lee Adams during the Eurofan House x Wiwibloggs event inside the Wien Museum in Vienna. The "Alice" singer discusses her background as a classic guitarist and how she moved on to the electronic guitar and ultimately rock. She also explains the songwriting process behind "Alice," which shines a light on gender-based violence. Staging a song with such a serious message is incredibly difficult. She explains the thought and care that went into it and discusses what we saw during her first rehearsal at Eurovision.