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	<title>OGAE Serbia :: Vaš evrovizijski svet &#187; News in English</title>
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		<title>Delta Goodrem and Pete Parkkonen named the most attractive Eurovision 2026 contestants! OGAE Serbia forum chooses Miss and Mister Eurovision Song Contest</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/08/delta-goodrem-and-pete-parkkonen-named-the-most-attractive-eurovision-2026-contestants-ogae-serbia-forum-chooses-miss-and-mister-eurovision-song-contest/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/08/delta-goodrem-and-pete-parkkonen-named-the-most-attractive-eurovision-2026-contestants-ogae-serbia-forum-chooses-miss-and-mister-eurovision-song-contest/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:54:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31657</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Eurovision season may have ended back in May, but the competition continued throughout the summer on the OGAE Serbia forum! After several weeks of voting, forum members selected this year’s Miss and Mister Eurovision Song Contest, with the titles going to Australia and Finland – Delta Goodrem and Pete Parkkonen have received the flattering ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" style="text-align: justify;" data-start="157" data-end="532">The Eurovision season may have ended back in May, but the competition continued throughout the summer on the OGAE Serbia forum! After several weeks of voting, forum members selected this year’s <strong data-start="351" data-end="394">Miss and Mister Eurovision Song Contest</strong>, with the titles going to Australia and Finland – <strong data-start="445" data-end="462">Delta Goodrem</strong> and <strong data-start="467" data-end="485">Pete Parkkonen</strong> have received the flattering honours for 2026.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="534" data-end="993">The Eurovision Song Contest has long been about much more than simply choosing the best song. Costumes, performances, charisma, stage presence and, of course, the artists themselves spark countless discussions among fans every year. That is why, following the Grand Final, another somewhat more relaxed competition traditionally begins on the <a class="decorated-link" href="https://forum.evropesma.org/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="877" data-end="930"><strong data-start="878" data-end="899">OGAE Serbia forum</strong></a> – the election of <strong data-start="949" data-end="992">Miss and Mister Eurovision Song Contest</strong>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="995" data-end="1379">This year’s competition began in late May, shortly after the conclusion of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Forum members had the opportunity to vote for their favourites among this year’s Eurovision performers, with the field of candidates gradually narrowing down through several rounds until only those who had won the greatest support from the forum community remained.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Delta Goodrem is Miss Eurovision Song Contest 2026!</strong></span></p>
<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1441" data-end="1600">The title of <strong data-start="1454" data-end="1491">Miss Eurovision Song Contest 2026</strong> went to one of the biggest stars of this year’s competition – Australia’s representative, <strong data-start="1582" data-end="1599">Delta Goodrem</strong>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1602" data-end="1962">The Australian singer arrived in Vienna as one of the most recognisable names at this year’s Eurovision, already boasting a successful career, numerous hit songs and years of experience in the music industry. For that reason, her participation attracted considerable attention from fans from the very moment it was confirmed that she would represent Australia.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1964" data-end="2365">With the song <em data-start="1978" data-end="1989">“Eclipse”</em>, Delta managed to live up to the high expectations. Following a successful performance in the semi-final, she qualified for the Grand Final, where she ultimately achieved an excellent <strong data-start="2174" data-end="2190">fourth place</strong>. The result made her one of Australia’s most successful representatives in recent years, as well as one of the most memorable contestants of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2367" data-end="2726">In addition to her powerful vocals and the song itself, Delta attracted plenty of attention throughout Eurovision week with her elegant looks, charisma and glamorous stage performance. Her presentation featured a striking visual concept and an impressive climax to the song, making her one of the most talked-about performers in the run-up to the Grand Final.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2728" data-end="2941">All of this clearly made a strong impression on the members of the <strong data-start="2795" data-end="2828">Evropesma – OGAE Serbia forum</strong>, who, after several weeks of voting, named her the most attractive female contestant of this year’s competition.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2943" data-end="3267">Competition in the final stages of the vote was particularly strong. <strong data-start="3012" data-end="3079">Cyprus’ representative Antigoni Buxton finished in second place</strong>, while <strong data-start="3087" data-end="3155">this year’s Eurovision winner, Bulgaria’s DARA, took third place</strong>. Nevertheless, it was the Australian representative who ultimately won the greatest support from forum members.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3269" data-end="3532">Following her excellent fourth-place finish on the Eurovision stage in Vienna, Delta has therefore added another flattering accolade to her 2026 Eurovision journey – the title of <strong data-start="3448" data-end="3485">Miss Eurovision Song Contest 2026</strong>, as voted by members of the OGAE Serbia forum.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/miss-2026.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-31648" src="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/miss-2026.png" alt="miss 2026" width="1600" height="900" /></a></p>
<h2><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Pete Parkkonen is Mister Eurovision Song Contest 2026!</strong></span></p>
<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3677" data-end="3787">While the women’s title travelled to the other side of the world, the men’s crown remained in Northern Europe.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3789" data-end="3999">Members of the OGAE Serbia forum chose Finnish singer <strong data-start="3843" data-end="3861">Pete Parkkonen</strong> as <strong data-start="3865" data-end="3904">Mister Eurovision Song Contest 2026</strong>, making him one of the standout male performers of this year’s competition in yet another way.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4001" data-end="4380">Pete took to the Eurovision stage in Vienna alongside renowned violinist <strong data-start="4074" data-end="4093">Linda Lampenius</strong>, representing Finland with the song <strong data-start="4130" data-end="4148">“Liekinheitin”</strong>. The Finnish duo were considered among the favourites throughout the Eurovision season, and their strong reception from both viewers and juries was confirmed in the Grand Final, where they finished in an impressive <strong data-start="4364" data-end="4379">sixth place</strong>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4382" data-end="4720">Throughout the season, Parkkonen attracted attention from fans not only because of the song and stage performance, but also thanks to his charisma, energy and striking appearance. It may therefore come as little surprise that, following the conclusion of Eurovision, he received another accolade – this time from the members of our forum.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4722" data-end="5062">However, the battle for the title was particularly interesting thanks to the excellent results achieved by the Serbian representatives. <strong data-start="4858" data-end="4903">Luka Aranđelović finished in second place</strong>, while <strong data-start="4911" data-end="4944">Andrija Cvetanović took third</strong>, meaning that no fewer than two Serbian representatives ranked among the top three in this year’s Mister competition.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="5064" data-end="5161">In the end, however, the Finnish representative received the greatest support from forum members.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="5163" data-end="5405" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Following his sixth-place finish on the main Eurovision stage in Vienna, Pete has therefore added another flattering title to his 2026 Eurovision journey – <strong data-start="5319" data-end="5358">Mister Eurovision Song Contest 2026</strong>, as voted by members of the OGAE Serbia forum.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mister-2026.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-31653" src="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mister-2026.png" alt="mister 2026" width="1600" height="900" /></a></p>
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		<title>These regional music legends represented their countries at Eurovision</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/08/these-regional-music-legends-represented-their-countries-at-eurovision/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/08/these-regional-music-legends-represented-their-countries-at-eurovision/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:30:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31516</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As European countries prepare for a new Eurovision season and decide how they will select their representatives, one question is once again being asked: which major regional star could be the next to take on the Eurovision challenge? Although Eurovision is often seen today as an opportunity for young and not yet fully established performers, ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">As European countries prepare for a new Eurovision season and decide how they will select their representatives, one question is once again being asked: which major regional star could be the next to take on the Eurovision challenge?</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Although Eurovision is often seen today as an opportunity for young and not yet fully established performers, some of the biggest names in regional music have represented the countries of the former Yugoslavia over the decades.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">From Tereza Kesovija and Zdravko Čolić to Doris Dragović, Dino Merlin and Toše Proeski, as well as Željko Joksimović, Marija Šerifović, Severina and Konstrakta, many major careers have been connected to Europe’s biggest music stage.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Below, we highlight some of the biggest and most recognisable regional names who accepted the Eurovision challenge during their careers.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>From Tereza Kesovija to Zdravko Čolić</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Tereza Kesovija</strong> holds a special place in the region’s Eurovision history because she represented two different countries at the contest.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">She first appeared in 1966 as Monaco’s representative with the song “Bien plus fort”. She finished 17th at the contest in Luxembourg. Six years later, she returned to Eurovision, this time representing Yugoslavia. In Edinburgh, she performed “Muzika i ti”, written by Nikica Kalogjera and Ivica Krajač, and finished in ninth place.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">At the time, Tereza was already building an international career, particularly in France, making her participation one of the earliest examples of a performer from the former Yugoslavia arriving at Eurovision with experience outside their domestic music market.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">The following year, Yugoslavia was represented by <strong>Zdravko Čolić</strong> with “Gori vatra”, composed by Kemal Monteno.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Although he would later become one of the biggest male pop stars in the history of Yugoslav and regional music, his Eurovision result was fairly modest. Čolić finished in 15th place. Nevertheless, “Gori vatra” outlived its contest result, while Čolić’s career reached heights in the following years that few performers from the region have managed to match.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">His example remains one of the best demonstrations that a Eurovision result does not have to determine an artist’s future. Čola did not conquer Europe, but he would later win over audiences throughout the former Yugoslavia.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Zdravko Čolić’s Eurovision 1973 performance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YYlUrJUhXs4?si=TblhsKrYWAr8GSaN" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Daniel Popović, Doris Dragović and Novi fosili</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">The 1980s brought some of Yugoslavia’s most successful Eurovision performances. <strong>Daniel Popović</strong> performed “Džuli” in Munich and finished fourth, which was one of Yugoslavia’s best results at the contest at that time.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Unlike many Eurovision entries that would quickly be forgotten, “Džuli” continued to live on after the contest. The song became a major hit in Yugoslavia and in several European countries, while an English-language version entitled “Julie” was also recorded.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Doris Dragović</strong> appeared at Eurovision twice, during two different political eras. She first represented Yugoslavia in Bergen in 1986. With the song “Željo moja”, she finished in 11th place.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Thirteen years later, she returned to the Eurovision stage as Croatia’s representative. “Marija Magdalena” was one of the biggest favourites of the 1999 contest, and Doris finished fourth in Jerusalem. In doing so, she equalled Croatia’s best result at the time, previously achieved by Maja Blagdan three years earlier.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Doris therefore connected Yugoslav and Croatian Eurovision history, while “Marija Magdalena” remains one of the most recognisable songs Croatia has ever sent to the contest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Novi fosili</strong> represented Yugoslavia in 1987 with “Ja sam za ples”. One of the most popular groups of the era also finished fourth, while the song became one of the most recognisable Yugoslav Eurovision hits. “Ja sam za ples” is still regarded as one of Yugoslavia’s most joyful and memorable Eurovision performances.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Doris Dragović’s Eurovision 1999 performance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qYXklMkap_0?si=GYXLna79PFtRsoeP" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Tajči and Bebi Dol – performances that are still remembered</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Following Riva’s victory in 1989, Yugoslavia earned the right to host Eurovision in Zagreb. The host country was represented in 1990 by <strong>Tajči</strong> with “Hajde da ludujemo”. Her energetic performance, striking pink dress and memorable chorus made the song one of the symbols of the Zagreb contest. Tajči finished seventh with 81 points. The music was composed by Zrinko Tutić, while the lyrics were written by Alka Vuica.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Although she did not manage to repeat Riva’s victory, the performance brought her enormous popularity and cemented her status as one of the biggest young stars of the period.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">A year later, Yugoslavia was represented by <strong>Bebi Dol</strong> with “Brazil”. Her performance was completely different from the traditional Yugoslav ballads and festival pop songs. Inspired by Latin American rhythms and the singer’s distinctive style, “Brazil” was one of Yugoslavia’s most unusual Eurovision attempts.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">The contest took place during a period of deep political crisis and the increasingly certain break-up of the country, which is why her poor result has often also been viewed through the political circumstances of the time. Yugoslavia received only one point, awarded by the Maltese jury, and finished 21st among 22 participants.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Despite the result, the song later gained cult status among part of the Eurovision audience, while Bebi Dol remained one of the most original names on the Yugoslav pop scene.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Bebi Dol’s Eurovision 1991 performance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hlh61zIO2fk?si=3aXcMOw5OCGwWTVh" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Croatian stars at Eurovision</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Tony Cetinski</strong> represented Croatia in 1994. At the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, he performed “Nek’ ti bude ljubav sva” and finished 16th with 27 points.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">The result gave little indication of the career that would follow. Over the next several decades, Tony became one of Croatia’s most successful pop performers, with numerous hits, albums and concerts throughout the region. In his case, Eurovision was merely one of the first major stops on a long musical journey.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Danijela Martinović</strong> appeared at Eurovision twice. She first participated in 1995 as the lead singer of the group Magazin. Together with opera singer Lidija Horvat Dunjko, Magazin performed “Nostalgija” and brought Croatia sixth place.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Only three years later, Danijela returned as a solo artist. With the ballad “Neka mi ne svane”, she opened the 1998 Eurovision final in Birmingham and finished fifth with 131 points. In addition to her emotional performance, the staging was also remembered for a costume change during the song. “Neka mi ne svane” became one of the biggest hits of Danijela’s career and one of Croatia’s most beloved Eurovision entries.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">When <strong>Severina</strong> won Dora in 2006, her participation attracted enormous attention throughout the region. In Athens, she performed “Moja štikla”, which combined pop music, folk influences and elements of a major stage spectacle. Croatia shared 12th place in the final with North Macedonia, with both countries receiving 56 points.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Severina arrived at Eurovision as one of the biggest Croatian and regional stars, making her participation one of the most closely followed media events of the 2006 Eurovision season. Although the result did not meet the high expectations of some fans, “Moja štikla” remained an essential part of her career.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Croatian Radiotelevision internally selected <strong>Nina Badrić</strong> in 2012, at a time when she already had two decades of a successful career behind her. In Baku, she performed the self-written song “Nebo”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Although she was considered one of the best-known names among that year’s participants, Nina failed to qualify for the final. She finished 12th in the second semi-final with 42 points, just two places below the qualification line. Her performance once again demonstrated that major popularity throughout the former Yugoslavia does not guarantee a strong Eurovision result.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Severina’s Eurovision 2006 performance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hGp3YfEj_GY?si=lo0i_3dlrRJsLzS1" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Dino Merlin and Hari Mata Hari – Bosnia and Herzegovina’s biggest stars at Eurovision</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Bosnia and Herzegovina has also been represented at Eurovision by two major names in regional music.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dino Merlin</strong> is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most successful Eurovision performers. He first appeared in 1999 alongside French singer Béatrice Poulot. Their song “Putnici” finished seventh in Jerusalem.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Dino returned to the contest in Düsseldorf in 2011 with “Love in Rewind”. This time, he finished sixth with 125 points. In addition to his two appearances as a performer, Dino Merlin was also connected to independent Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first Eurovision participation. He composed the music and was one of the lyricists of “Sva bol svijeta”, performed by Fazla in 1993.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">The group <strong>Hari Mata Hari</strong> represented Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006 with “Lejla”. The music was composed by Željko Joksimović, while the lyrics were written by Fahrudin Pecikoza and Dejan Ivanović.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Hari Mata Hari finished second in the semi-final before taking third place in the grand final with 229 points. This remains Bosnia and Herzegovina’s best result in Eurovision history. Over time, “Lejla” became one of the most famous Balkan ballads in the history of the contest and a song that Eurovision fans still frequently rank among the best compositions never to have won.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Hari Mata Hari’s Eurovision 2006 performance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SXlIN3mcsH4?si=tWHfZpnp7nMeBKFT" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Željko Joksimović – performer, composer and host</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Few regional artists have careers as closely connected to Eurovision as <strong>Željko Joksimović</strong>. In 2004, Željko represented Serbia and Montenegro with “Lane moje”. He won the semi-final and finished second in the grand final, behind Ukraine’s representative Ruslana.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">He returned to the contest as a performer in 2012. Representing Serbia with “Nije ljubav stvar”, he finished third. Between his two appearances, he composed “Lejla” for Hari Mata Hari, which finished third in 2006, as well as “Oro”, performed by Jelena Tomašević for Serbia in 2008.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That year, Željko also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade alongside Jovana Janković. His Eurovision record includes two top-three finishes as a performer, three notable songs composed for other representatives from the region and a role as one of the hosts of the contest held in Belgrade.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Željko Joksimović’s Eurovision 2012 performance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R9x9VbJzaDQ?si=sA0DO3kR98x0Zx7V" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>From Marija’s victory to the Konstrakta phenomenon</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Serbia debuted at Eurovision as an independent country in 2007 and won the contest on its very first attempt. <strong>Marija Šerifović</strong> performed “Molitva” in Helsinki, written by Vladimir Graić and Saša Milošević Mare, and finished in first place.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">The victory gave Serbia the right to host Eurovision in Belgrade the following year. “Molitva” was also the first winning song since the widespread introduction of televoting to be performed entirely in a language other than English since 1998. Marija’s performance brought Serbia its most significant Eurovision result and one of the country’s greatest musical victories in recent history.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">A year after Marija’s victory, Serbia hosted Eurovision in Belgrade. The host country was represented by <strong>Jelena Tomašević</strong> with “Oro”, composed by Željko Joksimović. She was joined on stage by Bora Dugić.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Jelena finished sixth in the final with 160 points, meaning that Serbia achieved a victory and another top-six result in its first two years of independent participation. “Oro” remains one of the most successful examples of combining traditional influences with contemporary Eurovision production.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Before Pesma za Evroviziju 2022, <strong>Ana Đurić Konstrakta</strong> was respected on the alternative music scene and known as a member of the group Zemlja gruva, but she did not have the status of a major commercial star. Everything changed following the victory of “In corpore sano”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In Turin, Konstrakta attracted attention with her unusual performance, washing her hands on stage, her memorable lyrics and the question: “What could be the secret of Meghan Markle’s healthy hair?” Serbia finished fifth in the final, while Konstrakta also received the Marcel Bezençon Artistic Award. Eurovision transformed her into one of the most recognisable musical names in the region and demonstrated that a performance outside the usual pop conventions could also achieve major success.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Nastup Marije Šerifović na Evroviziji 2007</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FSueQN1QvV4?si=XVRgVKUVfsuZJhIG" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Toše, Kaliopi and the great Macedonian stars</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Toše Proeski</strong> represented what was then Macedonia in Istanbul in 2004. “Angel si ti” won the national selection, but an English-language version entitled “Life” was prepared for Eurovision. Toše finished tenth in the first Eurovision semi-final in the contest’s history and qualified for the final. He then finished 14th with 47 points.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">The result did not fully reflect his popularity. Toše was already a major name in North Macedonia, and over the following years he became one of the most beloved performers in all the countries of the former Yugoslavia.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">His premature death in 2007 turned him into an enduring symbol of a generation, while “Life” is still remembered as part of his rich musical legacy.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Kaliopi</strong> first earned the opportunity to represent Macedonia in 1996 with “Samo ti”. However, the country failed to pass the preliminary audio-only qualification round, meaning Kaliopi did not appear in the televised final. She finally reached the main Eurovision stage in 2012 with “Crno i belo”. She qualified for the final and finished 13th with 71 points.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Four years later, she returned with “Dona”, but finished 11th in the semi-final and narrowly missed out on qualification. In both of her Eurovision performances, Kaliopi demonstrated the distinctive vocal power that has made her one of the most significant names in Macedonian music for several decades.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Karolina Gočeva</strong> also represented North Macedonia twice. She first appeared in Tallinn in 2002 with “Od nas zavisi” and finished 19th. Five years later, she returned with “Mojot svet”. She qualified from the semi-final and finished 14th with 73 points in the final held in Helsinki.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">In the meantime, Karolina also built a successful career outside North Macedonia, particularly among audiences in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">One of the most internationally recognisable names the region has sent to Eurovision was <strong>Esma Redžepova</strong>. The singer, who was often referred to as the “Queen of Romani Music”, represented North Macedonia in 2013 alongside Vlatko Lozanoski. They performed “Pred da se razdeni”, which included sections in both Macedonian and Romani. They finished 16th in the second semi-final with 28 points and did not qualify for the final.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Although the result was unsuccessful, Esma’s appearance held particular significance because of her decades-long career and international contribution to the promotion of Romani music.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Tijana Dapčević</strong>, well known to audiences throughout the region, represented North Macedonia in Copenhagen in 2014. She performed “To the Sky”, but failed to qualify for the final. She finished 13th in the second semi-final with 33 points.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">At the time of her participation, Tijana had already spent years building her career primarily in the Serbian music market, which meant that her appearance also attracted attention outside the country she represented.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Toše Proeski’s Eurovision 2004 performance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5_NX0usepUI?si=vIFq-vLfhmyVKmT7" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Montenegrin stars on the big stage</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">In 2012, Montenegro decided to take a completely different approach to Eurovision. <strong>Rambo Amadeus</strong>, one of the best-known and most original artists from the alternative music scene of the former Yugoslavia, was internally selected as the country’s representative.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">In Baku, he performed the satirical song “Euro Neuro”, which commented on the economic crisis, European bureaucracy and modern society. Rambo failed to qualify for the final. He received 20 points, including 12 from Albania and eight from San Marino. The performance divided audiences, but it remains one of the most conceptually unusual entries Montenegro has ever sent to the contest.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Sergej Ćetković</strong> represented Montenegro in 2014 with “Moj svijet”. He finished seventh in the first semi-final and became the first representative of independent Montenegro to qualify for the grand final. In the final, he finished 19th with 37 points. Although the final placing was not particularly high, qualifying held historic significance for Montenegro, which had previously been unable to overcome the semi-final hurdle as an independent country.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Only one year after Sergej, Montenegro once again selected a major regional name. In Vienna in 2015, <strong>Knez</strong> performed the ballad “Adio”, composed by Željko Joksimović, with lyrics written by Marina Tucaković and Dejan Ivanović. He finished ninth in the semi-final and 13th in the final. This remains Montenegro’s best-ever Eurovision result.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“Adio” also once again confirmed the strength of Željko Joksimović’s songwriting legacy throughout the region’s Eurovision history.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Knez’s Eurovision 2015 performance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MTyi2XeeoJU?si=OgIuOqGwH_iBat2I" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>A result is not always a measure of greatness</strong></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">The history of regional stars at Eurovision demonstrates that the result was often not decisive for their future careers.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">Zdravko Čolić finished 15th, Bebi Dol received only one point, Tony Cetinski finished 16th and Nina Badrić did not qualify for the final. Nevertheless, all of them built major and long-lasting careers.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, Eurovision brought some performers the greatest moments of their careers. Marija Šerifović became a winner, Željko Joksimović finished among the top three twice, Hari Mata Hari achieved Bosnia and Herzegovina’s best-ever result, while Konstrakta became a regional phenomenon.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: justify;">From Tereza and Čolić to Toše, Severina, Dino, Željko and Marija, Europe’s biggest music stage has been an important part of the careers of numerous regional stars.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It remains to be seen which major name from the former Yugoslavia could be the next to take on the Eurovision challenge.</p>
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		<title>No comeback in 2027 either! Four countries have already confirmed they will not participate in Eurovision in Bulgaria</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/08/no-comeback-in-2027-either-four-countries-have-already-confirmed-they-will-not-participate-in-eurovision-in-bulgaria/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/08/no-comeback-in-2027-either-four-countries-have-already-confirmed-they-will-not-participate-in-eurovision-in-bulgaria/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 20:25:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31493</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Although there is still plenty of time before the final list of participants for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 is announced, it is already known that four countries will not have a representative at the next edition of the competition. Following Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andorra and Monaco, Slovakia has now also confirmed its absence, despite ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" style="text-align: justify;" data-start="121" data-end="359">Although there is still plenty of time before the final list of participants for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 is announced, it is already known that four countries will not have a representative at the next edition of the competition.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="361" data-end="554">Following <strong>Bosnia and Herzegovina</strong>, <strong>Andorra</strong> and <strong>Monaco</strong>, <strong>Slovakia</strong> has now also confirmed its absence, despite renewed speculation in recent days about the country’s possible return to the contest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="556" data-end="784">Eurovision 2027 will be held in Bulgaria following DARA’s victory with the song <em>“Bangaranga”</em>, while the final number of participating countries will not be known until the European Broadcasting Union publishes the official list.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Slovakia: High costs and limited popularity of the contest</strong></span></p>
<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" style="text-align: justify;" data-start="849" data-end="1071">Slovak public broadcaster STVR has confirmed that the country will not return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, despite recent statements by some of the broadcaster’s representatives that had raised hopes among fans.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1073" data-end="1362">According to the explanation provided, the significant financial investment required to participate is not proportionate to Eurovision’s current popularity and impact in Slovakia. The broadcaster’s present financial situation and the lack of stable leadership also influenced the decision.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1364" data-end="1637">STVR stated that the possibility of participating is considered every year and that a future return has not been permanently ruled out. The matter could be discussed again once permanent management has been appointed and the necessary financial resources have been secured.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1639" data-end="1839">Slovakia last participated in 2012, when Max Jason Mai represented the country with <em>“Don’t Close Your Eyes”</em>. He finished 18th and last in the second semi-final, failing to qualify for the Grand Final.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1841" data-end="1970">Slovakia’s best result was achieved by Marcel Palonder in 1996. With the song <em>“Kým nás máš”</em>, he finished 18th in the Grand Final.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Slovakia&#8217;s last Eurovision appearance</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OTXz60794lI?si=SBfoHeG__8vxN--c" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Bosnia and Herzegovina: Debts and EBU sanctions</strong></span></p>
<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2086" data-end="2197">Bosnia and Herzegovina will not participate in Eurovision 2027 either, as confirmed by public broadcaster BHRT.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2199" data-end="2594">The main obstacles to the country’s return remain the broadcaster’s extremely difficult financial situation and its outstanding debts to the European Broadcasting Union. BHRT has been under EBU sanctions since December 2016 due to unpaid obligations, meaning that it does not have access to certain services provided by the organisation, including the possibility of participating in Eurovision.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2596" data-end="2762">BHRT’s financial difficulties have deepened further in recent years, forcing the broadcaster to suspend parts of its programming and appeal to the public for support.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2764" data-end="3074">Bosnia and Herzegovina last participated in 2016 with the song <em>“Ljubav je”</em>, performed by Dalal and Deen featuring Ana Rucner and Jala. They finished 11th in the first semi-final, marking the first time since the introduction of the semi-finals that Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to qualify for the Grand Final.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3076" data-end="3305">The country’s best result was achieved by Hari Mata Hari in Athens in 2006. The song <em>“Lejla”</em> finished in third place with 229 points and remains one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most successful and recognisable Eurovision entries.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Bosnia and Herzegovina&#8217;s last appearance at Eurovision</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QLrXmTB8OaY?si=CN6lasztVHhnDJVs" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Andorra: A return is not in the broadcaster’s plans</strong></span></p>
<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3439" data-end="3530">Public broadcaster RTVA has confirmed that Andorra will not participate in Eurovision 2027.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3532" data-end="3879">The broadcaster did not provide a new or more detailed explanation for the decision, instead reiterating that returning to the competition is not part of its short- or medium-term plans. In previous years, the public broadcaster’s limited budget and the high costs associated with Eurovision participation were cited as some of the main obstacles.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3881" data-end="4028">Andorra last participated in Eurovision in 2009. Susanne Georgi performed <em>“La teva decisió (Get a Life)”</em> and finished 15th in the first semi-final.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4030" data-end="4302">The small country made its debut in 2004 but failed to qualify for the Grand Final in all six of its appearances. It came closest in 2007, when the band Anonymous finished 12th in the semi-final with <em>“Salvem el món”</em>, which remains Andorra’s best result in the competition.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Andorra&#8217;s last performance at Eurovision</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nV6LaUYtf44?si=1EHfywJ4YztkHJeN" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Monaco: Government prioritises other projects</strong></span></p>
<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4415" data-end="4484">Monaco will not return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 either.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4486" data-end="4702">The decision was confirmed by the government of the principality, whose representative explained that other commitments and projects are currently being prioritised, leaving no room to organise a Eurovision comeback.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4704" data-end="4939">Monaco last participated in 2006, when Séverine Ferrer finished 21st in the semi-final with <em>“La Coco-Dance”</em>. It was the country’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the Grand Final following its return to the competition in 2004.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4941" data-end="5175">Unlike Andorra and Slovakia, Monaco has a Eurovision victory in its history. Séverine won the competition in 1971 with <em>“Un banc, un arbre, une rue”</em>, giving the principality its first and, to date, only Eurovision Song Contest victory.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="5177" data-end="5518">Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andorra, Monaco and Slovakia have therefore officially confirmed that they will not have representatives at Eurovision 2027. Of the four countries, Monaco has been absent for the longest period, having last participated in 2006, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was the most recent to leave the Eurovision stage, in 2016.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Monaco&#8217;s last performance at Eurovision</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g23U7o4NgmA?si=85Qdk5WmAsP9hzQu" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
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		<title>Returnees shine at Eurovision 2026! How the break launched Bulgaria to the throne, and Romania and Moldova to the top of the scoreboard</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/05/returnees-shine-at-eurovision-2026-how-the-break-launched-bulgaria-to-the-throne-and-romania-and-moldova-to-the-top-of-the-scoreboard/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/05/returnees-shine-at-eurovision-2026-how-the-break-launched-bulgaria-to-the-throne-and-romania-and-moldova-to-the-top-of-the-scoreboard/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 18:36:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31406</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every year, Eurovision teaches us one thing – unpredictability is its middle name. However, what went down at Eurovision 2026 will go down in history as &#8222;The Year of the Great Comeback.&#8220; Following a hiatus from the Eurovision stage, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova made a grand return, proving that a temporary break can sometimes be ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="3">Every year, Eurovision teaches us one thing – unpredictability is its middle name. However, what went down at Eurovision 2026 will go down in history as <b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="153">&#8222;The Year of the Great Comeback.&#8220;</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="3">Following a hiatus from the Eurovision stage, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova made a grand return, proving that a temporary break can sometimes be the ultimate strategic move to hit reset and find a winning formula.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="4">These three countries didn’t just make it into the TOP 10; they absolutely dominated, completely hypnotizing the most crucial side of the Eurovision equation – millions of viewers glued to their screens.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="6"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Bulgaria on the Throne – From Returnee to Historic Victory</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="7">When Bulgaria officially announced its return to the Eurovision stage, waves of excitement swept through the fan community, but few could have predicted this exact Hollywood-style outcome. Bulgaria went far beyond a mere comeback – they snatched an absolute victory at Eurovision 2026!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="8">To fully grasp the magnitude of this achievement, we have to look back a few years. As a reminder, Bulgaria withdrew from the contest following Turin 2022. The primary reasons were financial, combined with a crucial need to completely overhaul their approach to the competition. The Bulgarian national broadcaster (BNT) deliberately waited three long years, patiently analyzing Eurovision trends and laying the groundwork for a legendary comeback.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="9">And the road to Europe was paved with unconventional choices. BNT opted for a somewhat unusual, yet ultimately genius selection method. Instead of a traditional festival, the broadcaster internally invited several major music stars who performed their biggest hits live across two rounds, proving their charisma and vocal capabilities. Once the young superstar DARA was selected as the representative, the team didn&#8217;t stop there. Three completely different tracks were custom-made for her. Following a voting process, the perfect one was chosen – the very track that would become a Eurovision winner and a global phenomenon a few months later.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="10">The song and the performance offered exactly what modern Eurovision craves: authenticity, solid vocals, and a visual identity that literally hypnotizes at first glance. The staging injected that elusive yet decisive &#8222;X-factor&#8220; that elevates great songs into champion entries.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="11">Making the 2026 triumph even more impressive and securing its place in the history books, Bulgaria became the first country in nearly a decade to unite Europe in absolute consensus – winning both the professional jury and the public vote! By sweeping the maximum points in the televote, it confirmed what had been whispered in Eurovision corridors since the first rehearsals: &#8222;Bangaranga&#8220; completely drove Europe and the world wild. We are looking at a track that didn&#8217;t just conquer the Eurovision stage, but is already cementing its status as a massive radio hit and a viral sensation on social media.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-path-to-node="8"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Bulgaria&#8217;s representative at Eurovision 2026</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Mxq2WCAhT4?si=LxT0c0snhET2C-P5" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="9"><span style="font-size: 21px;"><strong><span style="color: #000080;">Romania – Third Place of Golden Splendor</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="16">For years, Romania was rightfully considered a true Eurovision powerhouse. From the introduction of the semi-final system up until 2018, qualifying for the Grand Final was a non-negotiable certainty – a spot among the best was guaranteed, and the Romanians consistently delivered innovative and memorable performances.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="17">However, in Lisbon 2018, an unprecedented shock occurred with their very first semi-final elimination, triggering a painful multi-year slump. Romania failed to qualify for three consecutive editions before catching a brief glimpse of hope in 2022, returning to the final and placing 18th. Yet, a cold shower followed the very next year with another elimination, leading the Romanian broadcaster (TVR) to make the tough call to sit out the contest for the next two years to regroup.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="18">Then came a historic plot twist. On the exact same day Bulgaria announced its return to the Eurovision family, Romania did too! The news set Eurovision fans worldwide ablaze, knowing that the Balkans were returning in full force. Still, nobody could have guessed that this 2026 comeback performance would result in an incredible third-place finish overall!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="19">The recipe for success started on home soil. Romania reverted to its tried-and-true, traditional format – the <i data-path-to-node="19" data-index-in-node="110">Selecția Națională 2026</i> festival. Facing fierce competition, this year&#8217;s representative secured a landslide victory, sending a crystal-clear signal that the Romanians weren&#8217;t heading to Eurovision just to participate.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="20">When the lights on the grand Eurovision stage went up, Romania simply exploded. Snatching the bronze medal overall is an admirable feat on its own, but what stands out most – and what Eurovision analysts will be dissecting for months – is the fact that <b data-path-to-node="20" data-index-in-node="253">Romania finished 2nd in the televote, counting strictly public votes!</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="21">An audience of millions across Europe and the world recognized the incredible energy, charisma, and a song that hooks you on the very first listen. With this, Romania sealed one of its greatest achievements in history. Interestingly, Romania has placed third twice before in its Eurovision history (2005 and 2010), but this 2026 result officially stands as their <b data-path-to-node="21" data-index-in-node="363">best result ever</b>, having amassed a record number of points since the introduction of the current voting system. Romania&#8217;s Eurovision star is shining bright once more, and we can only hope TVR stays on this winning track for years to come.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-path-to-node="7"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Romania&#8217;s representative at Eurovision 2026</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TpMQ6dhcvvE?si=A4oQ61RoDoSDrFfI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="12"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Moldova in the TOP 10 Once Again – Eurovision Energy That Never Fades</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="25">Moldova also safely secured its place in this year&#8217;s elite circle of successful returnees – a country that has long been synonymous with top-tier entertainment, boundless innovation, and a specific energy that brings any arena to its feet in seconds. Unlike Bulgaria and Romania, the Moldovans took a much shorter, one-year break, skipping only the previous edition. As it turned out, that brief breather was perfectly timed. Their 2026 return lived up to, and even exceeded, all expectations of the Eurovision public, as they wrapped up the competition in a stellar 8th place overall!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="26">Despite being a smaller Eurovision nation geographically and financially, Moldova proved once again that its performances on the big stage are remarkably striking, grand, and competitive. A glance at this decade&#8217;s statistics reveals fascinating data: out of their five participations in the 2020s, Moldova has made the Grand Final four times, finishing in the prestigious TOP 10 twice.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="27">What stands out the most, slowing growing into an authentic Eurovision phenomenon, is the mutual love affair between this nation and the European public. History repeated itself in the most beautiful way. Cast your mind back to Turin 2022, when Moldova finished 7th overall but came a sensational 2nd in the televote with <i data-path-to-node="27" data-index-in-node="322">Zdob și Zdub</i> and the Advahov Brothers. A nearly identical scenario played out this year. Even though the final scoreboard placed them 8th overall, Moldova fared significantly better in the hearts of the people, finishing in an outstanding 4th place based solely on public votes!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="28">Their raw strength once again relied on the people. Viewers at home and in the arena wholeheartedly rewarded the signature Moldovan spirit, staging magic, humor, and an irresistible rhythm. Once more, it has been proven that while the professional juries might remain rather reserved, cold, and conservative toward Moldova&#8217;s quirky and high-energy style, the Eurovision public simply cannot and will not resist it. Moldova is back right where it belongs – at the absolute top of Eurovision!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-path-to-node="6"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Moldova&#8217;s representative at Eurovision 2026</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CKV15yxAsIQ?si=Ku9OpkUjw6EkEmwE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="2"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>A Break as the Key to Success and What Lies Ahead in 2027?</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="32">Eurovision 2026 sent a clear and incredibly powerful message to all European broadcasters who hesitate year after year or struggle with poor results: <b data-path-to-node="32" data-index-in-node="150">a temporary hiatus is not a sign of weakness, but a golden opportunity for a much-needed reset and a change in strategy.</b> Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova returned to the grand stage hungry for success, armed with crystal-clear visions, top-notch management, and packages that rightfully conquered Europe. The nations of the Balkans and Eastern Europe have proven yet again what Eurovision insiders have known all along – they perfectly understand the pulse, the soul, and the desires of the Eurovision audience!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="33">And the ripple effect of this year’s triumph of the returnees is already making waves on the Eurovision map for the upcoming 2027 season. Emboldened by this outcome, <b data-path-to-node="33" data-index-in-node="166">North Macedonia has already officially confirmed its return</b> to the Eurovision stage, bringing immense joy to fans across the region. On the other hand, the Slovak broadcaster is currently deep in thought, evaluating budgets, making the chances of seeing <b data-path-to-node="33" data-index-in-node="420">Slovakia</b> back in the game after a long absence higher than ever before.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="34">The success of Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova has sparked an avalanche of questions and speculation. Will the Eurovision giant <b data-path-to-node="34" data-index-in-node="127">Turkey</b>, the unpredictable <b data-path-to-node="34" data-index-in-node="153">Slovenia</b>, or perhaps <b data-path-to-node="34" data-index-in-node="174">Bosnia and Herzegovina</b>—whose return has been anticipated for over a decade—follow this successful blueprint laid out by their eastern neighbors? We will find out the answers in the months ahead as the Eurovision wheel begins to spin again. One thing is certain – the returnees of 2026 understood the assignment and proved that anything is possible!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-path-to-node="5"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Turkey&#8217;s last performance at Eurovision</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Qa7_y21oOY?si=eSyZJgsV11WmbRY9" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
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		<title>Austrian Embassy hosted the Serbian Eurovision delegation and OGAE Serbia members</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/04/austrian-embassy-hosted-the-serbian-eurovision-delegation-and-ogae-serbia-members/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/04/austrian-embassy-hosted-the-serbian-eurovision-delegation-and-ogae-serbia-members/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:50:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31200</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Embassy of Austria in Belgrade today hosted a reception for Serbia’s representatives at this year’s on Eurovision Song Contest 2026 – the group Lavina – ahead of their participation in the contest, which will take place in May in Vienna. The event brought together members of the delegation, media representatives, as well as the fan ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="87" data-end="509"><strong>The Embassy of Austria in Belgrade</strong> today hosted a reception for Serbia’s representatives at this year’s on Eurovision Song Contest<span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal"> 2026</span></span> – the <strong>group Lavina</strong> – ahead of their participation in the contest, which will take place in May in Vienna. The event brought together members of the delegation, media representatives, as well as the fan community, including representatives of <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">OGAE Serbia</span></span>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="511" data-end="861">The host of the reception was <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Kristijan Ebner</span></span>, who warmly welcomed the Serbian team and members of our club, delivering a strong message of support ahead of their Eurovision journey. He emphasized that Eurovision goes beyond music and represents a moment when millions of people across Europe share the same emotion and message.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="863" data-end="1146"><em>“From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the best at the competition. Do not hold back, let your energy grow and let Europe feel what we already know – that ‘Lavina’ is not just a band, but a force of nature,”</em> Ambassador Ebner said, referring to the name and energy of the group.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1148" data-end="1386">The band’s frontman, <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Luka Aranđelović</span></span>, stated that preparations for the performance are in full swing, but that the team is heading to Vienna with a relaxed mindset and full focus on delivering the best possible show.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1388" data-end="1572"><em>“We are glad to be here and feel privileged. There is no huge pressure, but there is responsibility. We are going there to give our maximum and we hope for the best,”</em> Aranđelović said.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1574" data-end="1822">During the reception, Ambassador Kristijan Ebner presented the Serbian delegation with gifts and promotional materials related to the Eurovision Song Contest<span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal"> 2026</span></span><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal"> 2026</span></span>, as a gesture of welcome and support ahead of their participation in Vienna.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1824" data-end="2063">With clear support from all sides – the embassy, the national broadcaster, and the fan community – Lavina heads to Vienna with strong backing and expectations that their song <em>“Kraj mene”</em> will leave a distinctive mark on the European stage.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2065" data-end="2282">A special highlight of the event was the presence of members of <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">OGAE Serbia</span></span>, who had the honour of attending the reception and supporting the Serbian representatives ahead of the competition.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2284" data-end="2433"><strong>OGAE Serbia hereby expresses its gratitude to the Embassy of Austria, as well as Ambassador Kristijan Ebner, for the invitation and kind hospitality.</strong></p>
<div id="attachment_31197" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260424_132250.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-31197" src="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260424_132250.jpg" alt="Foto: Vladimir Jovanović / OGAE Srbija" width="1600" height="901" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">OGAE Serbia members with Serbian Eurovision representatives &#8211; the group LAVINA, Photo: Vladimir Jovanović / OGAE Serbia</p></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1922" data-end="2141">
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		<title>Betting odds one month before Eurovision 2026 – who are the favorites and where are Serbia and the region?</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/04/betting-odds-one-month-before-eurovision-2026-who-are-the-favorites-and-where-are-serbia-and-the-region/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/04/betting-odds-one-month-before-eurovision-2026-who-are-the-favorites-and-where-are-serbia-and-the-region/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:39:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31181</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With less than a month to go until Eurovision 2026, the excitement among fans is reaching its peak. In this atmosphere, betting odds have already formed the first serious predictions and rankings, attracting increasing attention from the Eurovision community day by day. Although it is still too early for final forecasts – as rehearsals, stage ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="185" data-end="455">With less than a month to go until Eurovision 2026, the excitement among fans is reaching its peak. In this atmosphere, betting odds have already formed the first serious predictions and rankings, attracting increasing attention from the Eurovision community day by day.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="457" data-end="864">Although it is still too early for final forecasts – as rehearsals, stage performances, and final impressions are yet to come and often change the course of the contest – the current odds still provide an insight into how the market sees this year’s favorites. At this stage, betting odds should not be viewed as a final verdict, but rather as an indicator of current mood, expectations, and song potential.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="866" data-end="1214">Despite this uncertainty, certain countries are already emerging as clear contenders for victory, while a wider group of competitors is forming just behind them, waiting for their chance. At the same time, an interesting situation is developing in the race for the final, where small percentage differences could determine the fate of participants.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1216" data-end="1427">Below, we bring a detailed analysis of the current betting situation – who is leading the race, who is in the top 5, and what chances the countries from the region and other participants have to reach the final.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="21tc16" data-start="0" data-end="52"><span style="font-size: 21px; color: #000080;"><strong>Who Has the Best Chance to Win? Current TOP 5</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="54" data-end="308">As things currently stand in the betting odds, a group of five countries has emerged as the most realistic contenders for victory at Eurovision 2026. Although differences exist, it is clear that these countries will form the core of the battle for the top.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="18id66p" data-start="310" data-end="392"><strong><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;">Finland – Lampenius &amp; Parkkonen – “Liekinheitin” (around 30%)</span></strong></p>
<p data-start="1814" data-end="2137">Finland is the absolute leader of the betting odds and the only country with a double-digit percentage that significantly stands out from the competition. Their song <em data-start="1980" data-end="1994">Liekinheitin</em> delivers an energetic and modern sound that is easy to remember, along with a strong visual identity that has already attracted fan attention.</p>
<p data-start="2139" data-end="2356">The duo Lampenius &amp; Parkkonen has managed to create a striking package that works both musically and visually. If the live performance meets expectations, Finland will be an extremely tough opponent for everyone else.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-start="394" data-end="874"><span style="font-size: 12px; color: #000080;"><em><strong>Representatives of Finland</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9bfwNIYb96Q?si=lGfMq-qSoBXb4u9H" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="1o0xein" data-start="876" data-end="958"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong>France – Monroe – “Regarde !” (around 11%)</strong></span></p>
<p data-start="2411" data-end="2629">France is firmly holding second place with a song that radiates elegance and emotional depth. <em data-start="2505" data-end="2516">Regarde !</em> is a classic example of France’s Eurovision approach – focusing on interpretation, atmosphere, and authenticity.</p>
<p data-start="2631" data-end="2786">As an artist, Monroe brings experience and confidence, and if the emotion is successfully conveyed on stage, France could seriously challenge the favorite.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-start="960" data-end="1318"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Representative of France</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ujoCYrvvTYQ?si=NEMt44aeIZZLEIfU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="14pwxsn" data-start="1320" data-end="1405"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong>Denmark – Søren Torpegaard – “Før vi går hjem” (around 10%)</strong></span></p>
<p data-start="2858" data-end="3056">Denmark has positioned itself as one of the most stable contenders at the top. The song <em data-start="2946" data-end="2963">Før vi går hjem</em> combines modern production with an accessible melody, often a winning formula at Eurovision.</p>
<p data-start="3058" data-end="3263">Søren Torpegaard gives the impression of a confident performer, and his song has the potential to reach a wide audience. However, to reach the very top, an additional standout moment will likely be needed.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-start="1407" data-end="1798"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Representative of Denmark</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xKzEP9dwoss?si=CZGpCxTYa-ZnUydW" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="gne923" data-start="1800" data-end="1880"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong>Australia – Delta Goodrem – “Eclipse” (around 8%)</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3325" data-end="3556">A major name on the Eurovision stage, Delta Goodrem brings <em data-start="3384" data-end="3393">Eclipse</em>, a song balancing between a radio hit and an emotional ballad. Australia traditionally invests heavily in staging, so a visually striking performance is expected.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3558" data-end="3686">The odds are slightly fluctuating, showing some uncertainty, but also the potential for Australia to “explode” after rehearsals.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-start="1882" data-end="2230"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Representative of Australia</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EUMCr1pnaMY?si=-qH7TQebF_yioQOy" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="8xhegf" data-start="2232" data-end="2305"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong>Greece – Akylas – “Ferto” (around 8%)</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3736" data-end="3928">Greece completes the top 5 with a song that brings an authentic sound and a captivating atmosphere. <em data-start="3836" data-end="3843">Ferto</em> stands out with its distinctive style and can easily find its audience among voters.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3930" data-end="4074">Akylas has strong stage charisma, which could be crucial, and with a good performance Greece could become one of the main dark horse contenders.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-start="2307" data-end="2632"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Representative of Greece</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j_tDJ77ntPE?si=L5J0sqoKnP2OZzYM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4081" data-end="4322">Just behind the leading five are Noam Bettan (Israel) with “Michelle”, Felicia (Sweden) with “My System”, Romania’s A. Căpitănescu with “Choke Me”, Ukraine’s representative Leléka with “Ridnym”, and Italy’s Sal Da Vinci with “Per sempre sì”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4324" data-end="4582">Although their winning chances are currently significantly lower, these countries should not be written off – the gaps are not impossible to close, and Eurovision history has repeatedly shown that a strong live performance can completely change the dynamics.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="13y5exh" data-start="0" data-end="63"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Serbia and the region – stable path to the final, but far from the top</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4664" data-end="4908">When it comes to <strong>Serbia</strong>, our representatives, the group Lavina with the song <em data-start="4741" data-end="4752">Kraj mene</em>, currently have no significant support from the betting odds in the race for victory – estimates are below 1%, placing them in the lower part of the table.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4910" data-end="5289">However, the situation looks significantly more positive when it comes to qualifying for the final. Serbia is among the safer candidates for qualification, with high percentages suggesting that reaching the final should be an achievable goal. In that sense, the real potential for a better result may only open after the live performance, where the biggest surprises often occur.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="5291" data-end="5504">Looking at the rest of the Balkans, none of these countries are currently serious contenders for victory at Eurovision 2026, but their positions are much more interesting when it comes to qualifying for the final.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="5506" data-end="5709">Lelek (<strong>Croatia</strong>) with the song <em data-start="5536" data-end="5547">Andromeda</em> has less than a 1% chance of winning, but in the first semifinal stands quite well – around an 80% chance of qualification, making it one of the safer finalists.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="5711" data-end="5873">Tamara Živković (<strong>Montenegro</strong>) also has minimal chances of winning (&lt;1%), while in the first semifinal she is right on the qualification borderline with around 65%.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="5875" data-end="6067">Alis (<strong>Albania</strong>) in the second semifinal shows a slightly better situation – although winning chances are also below 1%, qualification odds are around 75%, making her a relatively safe finalist.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="6069" data-end="6252">Dara (<strong>Bulgaria</strong>) has around a 1% chance of winning overall, but in the second semifinal she is very stable with around 79% qualification chances, placing her among the safer finalists.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="6254" data-end="6453">Overall, the Balkans do not currently have a strong top contender, but several countries have realistic chances of reaching the final – leaving room for potential improvement after live performances.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-start="1178" data-end="1420" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Representative of Montenegro</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/59hsYOMCQGY?si=2-opdCc8afneqz2Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-start="1178" data-end="1420" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="1rg3286" data-start="0" data-end="54"><span style="font-size: 21px;"><strong><span style="color: #000080;">Qualification chances: What do the odds say?</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="56" data-end="380">Alongside the battle for victory, perhaps an even more interesting story lies in the Eurovision 2026 semifinals, where betting odds already clearly separate “safe qualifiers,” borderline acts, and outsiders. Although these predictions often change after rehearsals, they currently provide a strong overview of the competition.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="1jf25rj" data-start="387" data-end="452"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong>First Semifinal – clear favorites and fight for the last spots</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="6909" data-end="7198">In the first semifinal, a group of near-certain qualifiers has emerged. At the very top are <strong>Finland’s</strong> Lampenius &amp; Parkkonen, along with <strong>Sweden</strong>, <strong>Greece</strong>, and <strong>Israel</strong> – all of these countries have around or above a 90% chance of qualifying, meaning their elimination would be a major surprise.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="7200" data-end="7469">Just behind them is <strong>Serbia</strong> with Lavina, who with around an 83% chance belongs to the group of safer qualifiers, together with <strong>Croatia</strong>, <strong>Moldova</strong>, and <strong>Lithuania</strong>. This means that anything other than qualification for these countries would be surprising, but not impossible.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="7471" data-end="7712">A real drama is expected around the borderline – <strong>Georgia, Montenegro,</strong> and <strong>Poland</strong> are between 55% and 65%, placing them in a high-risk zone. These positions often depend on details such as running order, vocal performance, and staging impact.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="7714" data-end="7879">At the bottom are <strong>Belgium, Portugal, Estonia</strong>, and especially<strong> San Marino,</strong> which with very low percentages is already considered an outsider in the race for the final.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="21wfse" data-start="1628" data-end="1685"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong>Second Semifinal – mid-table crowding and uncertain race</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="7947" data-end="8133">The second semifinal presents a slightly different picture – although there are clear favorites, the differences between participants are smaller, suggesting a more unpredictable battle.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="8135" data-end="8380">At the top are <strong>Denmark</strong>, <strong>Ukraine</strong>, and <strong>Australia</strong>, all with around 90% qualification chances, making them safe finalists. Behind them is a group of very stable candidates – <strong>Romania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Czechia</strong>, and <strong>Malta</strong> – with around 75–80% chances.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="8382" data-end="8641">Unlike the first semifinal, the “danger zone” here is much wider. <strong>Albania</strong> and <strong>Norway</strong> are around 70–75%, while <strong>Latvia, Armenia</strong>, and <strong>Switzerland</strong> sit between qualification safety and elimination risk. This is where the most changes are expected after rehearsals.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="8643" data-end="8804">At the bottom are <strong>Luxembourg</strong> and <strong>Azerbaijan</strong>, with Azerbaijan practically having no realistic chance of qualifying at this moment due to single-digit percentages.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2330" data-end="2489"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="ru0tbj" data-start="0" data-end="62"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Conclusion – a clear favorite, but the race is still open</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="8873" data-end="9204">As things currently stand, betting odds for Eurovision 2026 clearly highlight Finland as the main favorite, with France and Denmark as the closest challengers. However, the gaps behind the leader are not insurmountable, and experience shows that the balance of power can change significantly after rehearsals and live performances.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="9206" data-end="9482">The battle for qualification looks somewhat more predictable, but even there nothing is guaranteed – especially in the middle of the table where small details decide everything. This is often where the biggest surprises happen, while some favorites fail when the lights go on.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="9484" data-end="9694">For Serbia and its representatives, Lavina, the focus is clearly on securing a place in the final, which currently looks very achievable. Anything beyond that will depend on staging and overall live impression.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="9696" data-end="9914">Ultimately, betting odds provide a framework and guidance, but Eurovision year after year proves that the winner is not determined by numbers – but by the moment, emotion, and a performance that the audience remembers.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-start="864" data-end="1050" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Representative of Serbia</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FJTLKBOOE98?si=Svjq61D5EFfg2_c7" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
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		<title>OGAE Poll 2026: First results arrive from France, Denmark and Romania</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/04/31166/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/04/31166/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:40:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31166</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The beginning of spring traditionally brings one of the most exciting unofficial votes for Eurovision fans – the OGAE Poll! It is an annual survey organized by OGAE, an international network of official Eurovision fan clubs that brings together thousands of contest enthusiasts worldwide. For decades, it has been one of the most active Eurovision ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="195" data-end="318">The beginning of spring traditionally brings one of the most exciting unofficial votes for Eurovision fans – the OGAE Poll!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="320" data-end="556">It is an annual survey organized by OGAE, an international network of official Eurovision fan clubs that brings together thousands of contest enthusiasts worldwide. For decades, it has been one of the most active Eurovision communities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="558" data-end="797">The OGAE Poll was launched in 2007 – the same year Serbia achieved historic success: not only by winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Marija Šerifović and the song “Molitva”, but also by <strong>topping the very first edition of the OGAE Poll</strong>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="799" data-end="1060">Members of national OGAE clubs take part in this voting by selecting their ten favorite songs from the current Eurovision season. Points are awarded using the familiar Eurovision system (12, 10, 8–1), and results are then revealed gradually, country by country.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1062" data-end="1293">Although it has no official competitive value, the OGAE Poll has correctly predicted the Eurovision winner six times (2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2023), which gives it additional weight among fans and followers of the contest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1295" data-end="1483">For Serbia, the OGAE Poll holds special significance – in addition to winning the inaugural edition, the country reached the very top again in 2008, finishing in an impressive third place.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1485" data-end="1612">Below, follow the results as they come in – the table will be updated in real time, including all votes and changes at the top!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1460" data-end="1584" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>OGAE France</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1460" data-end="1584" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">OGAE France was the first to reveal its votes in OGAE Poll 2026, continuing the tradition of opening the results season. In their semifinal-style allocation, Serbia finished last.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="786" data-end="813"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong data-start="786" data-end="813">Votes from OGAE France:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">12 points – Finland</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">10 points – Denmark</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">8 points – Cyprus</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">7 points – Australia</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">6 points – Greece</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">5 points – Italy</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">4 points – Sweden</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">3 points – Malta</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">2 points – Albania</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">1 point – Israel</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px; color: #000080;"><em><strong>12 points from OGAE France</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px; color: #000080;"><em><strong> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9bfwNIYb96Q?si=Vd6QPF9lYxwd7gdW" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px; color: #000080;"><em><strong><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1059" data-end="1171"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>OGAE Romania</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1059" data-end="1171">The second club to reveal its results was OGAE Romania, continuing the voting for OGAE Poll 2026.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2174" data-end="2391">A total of 48 members took part, and the results show a very close race at the top, with Greece taking the lead ahead of Finland and Sweden. Serbia is currently in the middle of the table with 28 points, placing 18th.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1389" data-end="1413"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong data-start="786" data-end="813">Votes from OGAE Romania:</strong></span></p>
<ul data-start="1414" data-end="1637">
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">12 points – Greece</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">10 points – Finland</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">8 points – Sweden</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">7 points – Cyprus</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">6 points – Australia</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">5 points – Denmark</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">4 points – Bulgaria</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">3 points – Albania</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">2 points – Montenegro</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="4vy16n" data-start="1414" data-end="1434">1 point – Moldova</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>12 points from OGAE Romania </strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j_tDJ77ntPE?si=QTh6uneYEDI15O4G" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-section-id="zi29uq" data-start="1644" data-end="1663"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>OGAE Denmark</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2661" data-end="2800">The third club to publish its votes was OGAE Denmark, which organized semifinals and a grand final to determine its final points this year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2802" data-end="3106">A total of 80 members participated, and Denmark awarded its points through a final voting system, with Finland once again confirming its status as one of the main favorites. Unfortunately, Serbia did not reach the final here, finishing in the semifinal in the penultimate position, just above San Marino.</p>
<p data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong data-start="786" data-end="813">Votes from OGAE Denmark:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">12 points – Finland</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">10 points – Australia</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">8 points – Cyprus</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">7 points – Sweden</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">6 points – France</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">5 points – Bulgaria</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">4 points – Greece</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">3 points – Italy</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">2 points – Czechia</li>
<li data-section-id="fz4red" data-start="1992" data-end="2024">1 point – Norway</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px; color: #000080;"><em><strong>12 points from OGAE Denmark </strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px; color: #000080;"><em><strong> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9bfwNIYb96Q?si=Vd6QPF9lYxwd7gdW" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px; color: #000080;"><em><strong><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>OGAE Poll 2026 – Current Standings</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3391" data-end="3607">After the first three sets of votes, the situation at the top of OGAE Poll 2026 is beginning to take shape, with Finland currently standing out as the most consistent and the first serious contender for the top spot.</p>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Finland – 34 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Sweden – 15 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Cyprus – 15 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Denmark – 15 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Greece – 14 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Australia – 13 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Italy – 8 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Bulgaria – 8 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">France – 6 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Albania – 5 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Malta – 3 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Czechia – 2 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Montenegro – 2 points</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Moldova – 1 point</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Norway – 1 point</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3609" data-end="3943">Israel – 1 point</li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3945" data-end="4252">When it comes to the region, the situation is currently quite mixed. Serbia has not yet scored any points, placing it at the bottom of the table after the first three votes. However, it is still early in the process, with many clubs yet to reveal their results. Croatia and Romania are in the same position.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4254" data-end="4426">Montenegro currently sits in 13th place with 2 points, while Albania is doing slightly better in 10th place with a total of 5 points, securing a mid-table position for now.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4428" data-end="4634">Among other regional countries, Greece is among the leaders in 3rd place with 14 points, confirming a strong start, while Bulgaria is in 8th place with 8 points, holding a stable mid-table position for now.</p>
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		<title>Zejna wins over the fans! “Jugoslavija” takes the OGAE Serbia Award 2026 and will represent our club at OGAE Second Chance 2026!</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/03/zejna-wins-over-the-fans-jugoslavija-takes-the-ogae-serbia-award-2026-and-will-represent-our-club-at-ogae-second-chance-2026/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/03/zejna-wins-over-the-fans-jugoslavija-takes-the-ogae-serbia-award-2026-and-will-represent-our-club-at-ogae-second-chance-2026/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:17:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31140</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The official Eurovision fan club in Serbia – OGAE Serbia – has once again traditionally awarded the prize for the best composition at the national selection, based on the votes of its members. In a strong competition, all 24 entries from this year’s national final were in the running for this prestigious recognition. The victory ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="278" data-end="596">The official Eurovision fan club in Serbia – OGAE Serbia – has once again traditionally awarded the prize for the best composition at the national selection, based on the votes of its members. In a strong competition, all 24 entries from this year’s national final were in the running for this prestigious recognition.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="598" data-end="921">The victory went to <strong>Zejna</strong> with her song <em><strong>“Jugoslavija”</strong></em>, which captured the hearts of the association’s members and collected a total of 208 points. Although she narrowly missed out on winning the main show, Zejna confirmed her status as a fan favorite, with her energetic track being declared the best among Eurovision fans.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="923" data-end="1109">Interestingly, second place went to the song <em>“Čairi”</em> performed by Zona, finishing just one point behind the winner. Third place was taken by the group Lavina with their song <em>“Kraj mene”.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1111" data-end="1247">As a reminder, Lavina also won the PZE 26 festival and will proudly represent Serbia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna this year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1249" data-end="1434">Representatives of the association once again personally presented the OGAE Serbia 2026 award to the winner at the RTS studios in Košutnjak, wishing her continued success in her career.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1436" data-end="1718">As the winner of the OGAE Serbia Award, Zejna and her song “Jugoslavija” earn the right to represent our club at the international online competition OGAE Second Chance 2026, where they will compete against fan favorites from across Europe who did not win their national selections.</p>
<div id="attachment_31093" style="width: 894px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nagrada-2026.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-31093" src="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nagrada-2026.jpg" alt="Nagrada OGAE Srbije 2026, Foto: Vladimir Jovanović / OGAE Srbija" width="884" height="1200" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"><strong>OGAE Serbia Award 2026</strong>, Photo: Vladimir Jovanović / OGAE Serbia</p></div>
<div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 16px;"><strong>Complete results are as follows:</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/OGAEnagrada_PZE26.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-31118" src="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/OGAEnagrada_PZE26.jpg" alt="OGAEnagrada_PZE26" width="785" height="1200" /></a></p>
<div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>OGAE Second Chance</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1878" data-end="2388">This selection also served as OGAE Serbia’s choice of representative for OGAE Second Chance 2026. OGAE Second Chance is an annual competition for countries that have held a national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, where members of local OGAE clubs choose one song from their national final to represent them. All songs from the national selection are eligible, except for the winning entry that goes on to represent the country at Eurovision. Voting is conducted in the traditional Eurovision style.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2390" data-end="2524">Last year, the honor of representing our club went to the drag group Harem Girls, who finished in 16th place with their song “Aladin”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2526" data-end="2640">The best result achieved by our club remains a 2nd place finish in 2005 with the song “Jutro” by Jelena Tomašević.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2642" data-end="2730">You can check the full list of previous winners and results of our representatives <a href="http://www.evropesma.org/istorija/ogae-second-chance/" target="_blank"><strong>HERE</strong></a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>OGAE Serbia’s representative at OGAE Second Chance 2026</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p3CMplWxTjI?si=cTXnvA_DeYvwdnAk" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Niš-based group LAVINA Conquers Košutnjak! Metal sound takes Serbia to Vienna!</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/03/nis-based-group-lavina-conquers-kosutnjak-metal-sound-takes-serbia-to-vienna/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2026/03/nis-based-group-lavina-conquers-kosutnjak-metal-sound-takes-serbia-to-vienna/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:59:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=31116</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Serbia has chosen! Following the spectacular finale of the Pesma za Evroviziju ’26 festival, the winner’s crown and the ticket to Vienna were seized by the Niš-based metal band Lavina with their powerful composition &#8222;Kraj mene&#8220; (By My Side). In a night filled with emotion, fierce sound, and unexpected twists, this band achieved what few ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="3">Serbia has chosen! Following the spectacular finale of the <b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="59">Pesma za Evroviziju ’26</b> festival, the winner’s crown and the ticket to Vienna were seized by the Niš-based metal band <b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="177">Lavina</b> with their powerful composition <em><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="216">&#8222;Kraj mene&#8220;</b> (By My Side)</em>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="4">In a night filled with emotion, fierce sound, and unexpected twists, this band achieved what few before them could—uniting the votes of the professional jury and the public to win with a maximum of <b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="198">24 points</b>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="5">Although the competition was fierce, Lavina was considered a &#8222;dark horse&#8220; from the very first beat of the semi-finals, only to completely blow away the competition in the final. Following them in second place was the audience favorite <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="235">Zejna</b> with the song <em><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="255">&#8222;Jugoslavija&#8220;</b></em>, while the third position was taken by <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="308">Harem Girls x Ivana Krunić</b> with an energetic performance of <em><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="368">&#8222;Bom bom&#8220;</b>.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-path-to-node="2"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Serbia&#8217;s representatives at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DXRju7b21z4?si=TvHMAJ1I_fIjoeZz" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="5"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="8"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Jury and public results</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="7">The decision on the new representative was made by a five-member jury consisting of renowned musical names:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="7"><b data-path-to-node="8,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Zoe Kida</b> (Singer-songwriter)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="7"><b data-path-to-node="8,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Alek Aleksov</b> (Arranger and composer)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="7"><b data-path-to-node="8,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Nina (Danica Prodanović)</b> (Serbia’s Eurovision 2011 representative)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="7"><b data-path-to-node="8,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Igor Panić Nucci</b> (Popular rapper and composer)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="7"><b data-path-to-node="8,4,0" data-index-in-node="0">Aleksandra Kovač</b> (Composer and Jury President)</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="9">Interestingly, Lavina was the favorite of most jury members, while only Nucci and Aleksandra Kovač gave their 12 points to Zejna. Nevertheless, the Niš metalheads confirmed the absolute legitimacy of their victory by receiving 12 points from the jury and 12 points from the public.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="10">The festival winner was decided by the well-known Eurovision system—professional jury votes and public votes were valued at a <b data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="126">50:50 ratio</b>. While tastes often diverged, the final results show a clear picture of who Serbia wanted to see in Vienna.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="5"><span style="color: #800000;"><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="0">Top 5 Finalists Point Overview:</b></span></p>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="5"><b data-path-to-node="12,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Lavina – &#8222;Kraj mene&#8220;</b>: Absolute triumph with a total of <b data-path-to-node="12,0,0" data-index-in-node="55">24 points</b>. The band united the industry and the people, receiving <b data-path-to-node="12,0,0" data-index-in-node="121">12 points</b> from the jury (56 votes) and an incredible <b data-path-to-node="12,0,0" data-index-in-node="174">12 points</b> from the public, backed by 29,759 SMS votes.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="5"><b data-path-to-node="12,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Zejna – &#8222;Jugoslavija&#8220;</b>: Took a high second place with <b data-path-to-node="12,1,0" data-index-in-node="53">16 points</b>. The professional jury rated her highly with <b data-path-to-node="12,1,0" data-index-in-node="108">10 points</b> (50 votes), while she received <b data-path-to-node="12,1,0" data-index-in-node="149">6 points</b> (4,454 votes) from the public.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="5"><b data-path-to-node="12,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Harem Girls x Ivana Krunić – &#8222;Bom bom&#8220;</b>: Bronze position with <b data-path-to-node="12,2,0" data-index-in-node="61">15 points</b>. The jury awarded them <b data-path-to-node="12,2,0" data-index-in-node="94">7 points</b> (26 votes), but they fared significantly better with the public, winning <b data-path-to-node="12,2,0" data-index-in-node="176">8 points</b> thanks to 6,130 votes.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="5"><b data-path-to-node="12,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Brat Pelin – &#8222;Fräulein&#8220;</b>: The biggest public favorite after the winner. With 14,003 votes, he received a high <b data-path-to-node="12,3,0" data-index-in-node="109">10 points</b> from televoting, which, combined with <b data-path-to-node="12,3,0" data-index-in-node="157">4 points</b> from the jury (22 votes), brought him to a total of <b data-path-to-node="12,3,0" data-index-in-node="218">14 points</b> and fourth place.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="5"><b data-path-to-node="12,4,0" data-index-in-node="0">Zona – &#8222;Čairi&#8220;</b>: Closes the top five with <b data-path-to-node="12,4,0" data-index-in-node="41">10 points</b>. They received <b data-path-to-node="12,4,0" data-index-in-node="66">3 points</b> from the jury (18 votes), while the public rewarded them with <b data-path-to-node="12,4,0" data-index-in-node="137">7 points</b> (4,726 votes).</li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It is interesting to note that <b data-path-to-node="13" data-index-in-node="31">Brat Pelin</b> had nearly three times more public votes than the runner-up Zejna, but lower scores from the professional jury prevented him from reaching the podium. On the other hand, <b data-path-to-node="13" data-index-in-node="212">Lavina</b> set a standard that will be remembered for a long time, leaving the runner-up in SMS votes trailing by more than double.</p>
<div id="attachment_31111" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/pze26_rezultati_finala.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-31111" src="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/pze26_rezultati_finala.jpg" alt="Konačni plasman" width="1200" height="665" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Final placment</p></div>
<h3 data-path-to-node="11"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="11"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>Studio spectacle and humanitarian heart</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="15">The three-and-a-half-hour program was hosted by the reliable duo <b data-path-to-node="15" data-index-in-node="65">Dragana Kosjerina</b> and <b data-path-to-node="15" data-index-in-node="87">Kristina Radenković</b>, while <b data-path-to-node="15" data-index-in-node="114">Stefan Popović</b> warmed up the atmosphere in the &#8222;Green Room.&#8220;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="16">While votes were being tallied backstage, the stage of Studio 8 transformed into a true European podium. This year&#8217;s interval act was not just &#8222;filler&#8220; but a spectacle marked by a <b data-path-to-node="16" data-index-in-node="180">historical precedent</b>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="17">For the first time in the history of the national selection, the Serbian audience had the opportunity to hear a live performance by an official representative of another country competing in Vienna that same year! That honor went to <b data-path-to-node="17" data-index-in-node="233">Greece</b> and their representative, <b data-path-to-node="17" data-index-in-node="266">Akylas</b>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="18">He performed his Eurovision entry <em><b data-path-to-node="18" data-index-in-node="34">&#8222;Ferto,&#8220;</b></em> and the reactions in the studio and on social media confirm that Greece is aiming for the very top this year. This move by RTS and the Greek delegation further solidified PZE&#8217;s status as one of the strongest national selections in the region.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-path-to-node="5"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>The representative of Greece in the PZE final on the 26th</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IEOOPuEbtJs?si=zMNOaiYzrAwjBUCg" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="13"><div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="13"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>OGAE Serbia Award – Zejna is the queen of Eurovision fans</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="20">Alongside the main trophy, the <b data-path-to-node="20" data-index-in-node="31">OGAE Serbia</b> award was traditionally presented. Members of the association, who follow the competition with special passion, voted for the best composition among the 24 participants, and this year’s &#8222;Fan Favorite&#8220; title went to <b data-path-to-node="20" data-index-in-node="258">Zejna</b> with the song <b data-path-to-node="20" data-index-in-node="278">&#8222;Jugoslavija.&#8220;</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="21">In an extremely close finish, Zejna triumphed with <b data-path-to-node="21" data-index-in-node="51">208 points</b>, closely followed by the group <b data-path-to-node="21" data-index-in-node="93">Zona</b> and their song <b data-path-to-node="21" data-index-in-node="113">&#8222;Čairi,&#8220;</b> which won only one point less! Third place in the fans&#8217; choice went to the festival winners, <b data-path-to-node="21" data-index-in-node="215">Lavina</b>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="22">Although the main victory eluded her, Zejna received this prestigious recognition at the Košutnjak studio, ensuring her participation in the international internet competition <b data-path-to-node="22" data-index-in-node="176">OGAE Second Chance 2026</b>. There, her &#8222;Jugoslavija&#8220; will battle against fan favorites from all over Europe who did not manage to win their respective national selections.</p>
<div id="attachment_31101" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ZejnaOGAENagrada.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-31101" src="http://www.evropesma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ZejnaOGAENagrada.jpg" alt="Foto: OGAE Srbija" width="1600" height="852" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Foto: OGAE Srbija</p></div>
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		<title>Serbia is choosing for Vienna! The full lineup of Pesma za Evroviziju 2026 is officially revealed!</title>
		<link>http://www.evropesma.org/2025/12/serbia-is-choosing-for-vienna-the-full-lineup-of-pesma-za-evroviziju-2026-is-officially-revealed/</link>
		<comments>http://www.evropesma.org/2025/12/serbia-is-choosing-for-vienna-the-full-lineup-of-pesma-za-evroviziju-2026-is-officially-revealed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:18:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vladimir Jovanović]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News in English]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.evropesma.org/?p=30724</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) has unveiled the complete list of artists who will compete this year for the prestigious victory at Pesma za Evroviziju 2026. After submissions closed on November 10, an expert committee reviewed all entries and selected 24 songs that stood out for their quality, creativity, and originality. These authors and performers ...]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="200" data-end="360">Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) has unveiled the complete list of artists who will compete this year for the prestigious victory at <em data-start="333" data-end="359">Pesma za Evroviziju 2026</em>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="362" data-end="528">After submissions closed on November 10, an expert committee reviewed all entries and selected 24 songs that stood out for their quality, creativity, and originality.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="530" data-end="747">These authors and performers will step onto the PZE stage at the end of February, hoping to win over both the audience and the jury — and secure the ticket to Vienna, the host city of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="768" data-end="799"><span style="font-size: 21px; color: #000080;"><strong data-start="771" data-end="799">Who is competing at PZE 2026?</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="793" data-end="941">This year’s selection brings a wide mix of pop, alternative music, modern ethno influences, club tracks, and a few completely unexpected directions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="943" data-end="1022">Each song comes with a strong creative team behind it. Here is the full lineup:</p>
<ul data-start="1024" data-end="3548">
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1024" data-end="1143">
<p data-start="1026" data-end="1143"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1026" data-end="1055">Mirna Radulović – “OMAJA”</strong></span><br data-start="1055" data-end="1058" /> Music: Mladen Stojanović<br data-start="1084" data-end="1087" /> Lyrics: Bojana Vunturišević, Đorđe Živadinović Grgur</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1145" data-end="1201">
<p data-start="1147" data-end="1201"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1147" data-end="1165">Zona – “Čairi”</strong></span><br data-start="1165" data-end="1168" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: Tijana Trivić</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1203" data-end="1326">
<p data-start="1205" data-end="1326"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1205" data-end="1237">Anabela Mitić – “Trampolina”</strong></span><br data-start="1237" data-end="1240" /> Music: Božidar Ristić, Pavle Kovačević<br data-start="1280" data-end="1283" /> Lyrics: Božidar Ristić, Pavle Kovačević</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1328" data-end="1463">
<p data-start="1330" data-end="1463"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1330" data-end="1383">Iva Grujin – “Otkrivam sebe” (Discovering Myself)</strong></span><br data-start="1383" data-end="1386" /> Music: Nemanja Antonić, Nikola Lazić<br data-start="1424" data-end="1427" /> Lyrics: Nikola Lazić, Iva Grujin</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1465" data-end="1594">
<p data-start="1467" data-end="1594"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1467" data-end="1496">LU-KA – “Veruj” (Believe)</strong></span><br data-start="1496" data-end="1499" /> Music: Tamara Popović – tam, Andrija Gavrilović – A.N.D.R.<br data-start="1559" data-end="1562" /> Lyrics: Tamara Popović – tam</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1596" data-end="1722">
<p data-start="1598" data-end="1722"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1598" data-end="1652">Kosmos trip – “Sve je u redu” (Everything Is Okay)</strong></span><br data-start="1652" data-end="1655" /> Music: Luka Maksimović, Pavle Đurić<br data-start="1692" data-end="1695" /> Lyrics: Luka Maksimović</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1724" data-end="1850">
<p data-start="1726" data-end="1850"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1726" data-end="1777">Makao bend – “Daj nam svet” (Give Us the World)</strong></span><br data-start="1777" data-end="1780" /> Music: Nikola Knežević<br data-start="1804" data-end="1807" /> Lyrics: Nikola Knežević, Imad El-Aoudeh</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1852" data-end="1909">
<p data-start="1854" data-end="1909"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1854" data-end="1874">Lores – “Unseen”</strong></span><br data-start="1874" data-end="1877" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: Ruben Papian</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="1911" data-end="2045">
<p data-start="1913" data-end="2045"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="1913" data-end="1940">Harem Girls – “Bom Bom”</strong></span><br data-start="1940" data-end="1943" /> Music: Nemanja Antonić<br data-start="1967" data-end="1970" /> Lyrics: Nemanja Antonić, Aleksandar Dilan, Miljan Stojanović Nikolovski</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2047" data-end="2167">
<p data-start="2049" data-end="2167"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2049" data-end="2078">Jack Lupino – “Adrenalin”</strong></span><br data-start="2078" data-end="2081" /> Music: Nebojša Ćulafić, Daniel Ćulafić<br data-start="2121" data-end="2124" /> Lyrics: Daniel Ćulafić, Nebojša Ćulafić</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2169" data-end="2292">
<p data-start="2171" data-end="2292"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2171" data-end="2209">Zejna – “Jugoslavija” (Yugoslavia)</strong></span><br data-start="2209" data-end="2212" /> Music: Zejna Murkić, Marko Dražnjak<br data-start="2249" data-end="2252" /> Lyrics: Zejna Murkić, Marko Dražnjak</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2294" data-end="2439">
<p data-start="2296" data-end="2439"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2296" data-end="2367">Milica Burazer – “Svima vama treba mama” (All of You Need a Mother)</strong></span><br data-start="2367" data-end="2370" /> Music: YANX, Ljuba Stojanović, Mladen Stojanović<br data-start="2420" data-end="2423" /> Lyrics: YANX</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2441" data-end="2525">
<p data-start="2443" data-end="2525"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2443" data-end="2479">Manivi – “Svaki dan” (Every Day)</strong></span><br data-start="2479" data-end="2482" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: Ivana Vukmirović Manivi</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2527" data-end="2633">
<p data-start="2529" data-end="2633"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2529" data-end="2577">Sanja Aleksić – “Ko me proba” (Who Tests Me)</strong></span><br data-start="2577" data-end="2580" /> Music: Dušan Alagić<br data-start="2601" data-end="2604" /> Lyrics: Radovan Dikanović</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2635" data-end="2727">
<p data-start="2637" data-end="2727"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2637" data-end="2674">Lavina – “Kraj mene” (Next to Me)</strong></span><br data-start="2674" data-end="2677" /> Music: Lavina<br data-start="2692" data-end="2695" /> Lyrics: Lavina, Ivana Jegdić</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2729" data-end="2828">
<p data-start="2731" data-end="2828"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2731" data-end="2772">Ana Mašulović – “Zavoli me” (Love Me)</strong></span><br data-start="2772" data-end="2775" /> Music: Dušan Alagić<br data-start="2796" data-end="2799" /> Lyrics: Radovan Dikanović</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2830" data-end="2894">
<p data-start="2832" data-end="2894"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2832" data-end="2859">Brat Pelin – “Fräulein”</strong></span><br data-start="2859" data-end="2862" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: Stefan Papić</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2896" data-end="2994">
<p data-start="2898" data-end="2994"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2898" data-end="2946">Geminni – “Metar sreće” (Meter of Happiness)</strong></span><br data-start="2946" data-end="2949" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: Nemanja Erić, Nataša Erić</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="2996" data-end="3088">
<p data-start="2998" data-end="3088"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="2998" data-end="3032">Đurđica Gojković – “Moma mala”</strong></span><br data-start="3032" data-end="3035" /> Music: Aleksa Petrović<br data-start="3059" data-end="3062" /> Lyrics: Pavle Petrović</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3090" data-end="3172">
<p data-start="3092" data-end="3172"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="3092" data-end="3145">YANX – “Srušio si sve” (You Destroyed Everything)</strong></span><br data-start="3145" data-end="3148" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: YANX</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3174" data-end="3341">
<p data-start="3176" data-end="3341"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="3176" data-end="3222">Aleksandar Radojević – “Sudbina” (Destiny)</strong></span><br data-start="3222" data-end="3225" /> Music: Aleksandar Radojević, Andreas Björkman, Adriana Pupavac<br data-start="3289" data-end="3292" /> Lyrics: Aleksandar Radojević, Adriana Pupavac</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3343" data-end="3401">
<p data-start="3345" data-end="3401"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="3345" data-end="3365">Eegor – “Klaber”</strong></span><br data-start="3365" data-end="3368" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: Igor Mišković</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3403" data-end="3486">
<p data-start="3405" data-end="3486"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="3405" data-end="3445">Aleksandra Sekulić – “Kule” (Towers)</strong></span><br data-start="3445" data-end="3448" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: Slavko Milovanović</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3488" data-end="3548">
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3490" data-end="3548"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong data-start="3490" data-end="3519">Avgust – “Jabuka” (Apple)</strong></span><br data-start="3519" data-end="3522" /> Music &amp; Lyrics: Avgust</p>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="clear"></div><div class="divider"></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-path-to-node="7"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 21px;"><strong>A February spectacle awaits</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3592" data-end="3785">Pesma za Evroviziju 2026 will follow the established format: two semi-finals followed by a grand final. The event is scheduled for late February and will be broadcast live from the RTS studios.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3787" data-end="3947">Fans will be able to watch the festival not only on TV and radio, but also on digital platforms such as RTS Planeta, RTS Zvuk, and the official YouTube channel.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="3949" data-end="4096">The winner of the fifth edition of PZE will earn the honor of representing Serbia at the 70th anniversary Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in May.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4098" data-end="4350">This national selection carries special weight, as Serbia failed to qualify for the Eurovision final in 2025 for the first time since 2017. Princ, last year’s representative with the song <em data-start="4286" data-end="4294">“Mila”</em>, finished 14th in the second semi-final with 28 points.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" data-start="4352" data-end="4553">With 24 fresh contenders and a clear desire to return to the Eurovision stage in full force, fans across Serbia eagerly await the end of February — when the successor to Princ will finally be revealed.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" data-path-to-node="13"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong>Winner of PZE 2025</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000080; font-size: 12px;"><em><strong><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t4IptfDeZIw?si=ccY03Mh1baxI2DuA" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
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