It’s September 1 and the Eurovision New Year has ARRIVED. Songs that are released from today can be submitted for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna.
So we have to ask: What do you hope to see at the song contest in 2026 and on the road to Vienna?
Perhaps you want a country to win for the very first time. Albania, Armenia, Australia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Georgia, Iceland, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia….they’re all waiting for their moment!
Or perhaps you want to see more returning countries. Slovakia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey and so many others have said goodbye in the past 15 years. Will any make a surprise return?
Only two of the past five winners — Måneskin from Italy and Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine — sang in their native language. Perhaps you want to see another language represented at the top of the podium again. If so, which one?
Maybe you’re a member of the press and dream of a slightly beefed up press centre, one that is actually open during the first week. Or maybe you simply want to do your work in peace, noting that “work” in the digital age includes things like livestreams…
Do you dream of a scandal-free voting segment? A controversy-free year? A return to the old logo?
Whatever your wish, we want to hear it. Shout out your Eurovision wishes below and let’s dream together!
Diaspora voting and the use of ESC by a country for PR purposes should be tackled. How?
1. End the possibility of voting 20 times.
2. If that doesn’t work – success in the “public” vote is not mirrored in the international streaming numbers – we should go back to a jury vote. In that case, jurors should be carefully screened and Cyprus/Greece voting behaviour must be forbidden.
I Think that we will be celebrating a German Win in 2026. Recently, Eurovision has been bumping up countries with 2 wins up to 3 (Except 2023 ). Italy in 2021, Ukraine In 2022, Switzerland in 2024 and Austria In 2025. This means that there is only 2 Countries left with only 2 Wins ( Germany and Spain ). Did to recently good Results, I think that Germany is the best Contender. Also, Since 2024, The Winner has not been in the Top 5 In the Televote. When Germany has compeyed in these years, Their Televote has been Lower than… Read more »
There’s a lot of things I wish, but my top 3 are:
1. A first-time winner (a country that hasn’t won in such a long time taking the crown would do it for me too)
2. Songs (not politics or drama) to take the spotlight again
3. The Israel issue getting properly addressed (I know, such a crazy thing to wish, right?)
I want to see Oscar Zia in melfest again, it’s been ten years since he was runner up and his music has been so good lately.
I’d like Kazakhstan to finally join in.
I would love to see: a new country debuting (I would love to see New Zealand or Canada in the contest but I know it is an unpopular idea 🙂 to bring old logo & graphics back to see Turkey, Hungary and Monaco returning to fire all Swedes from the organisational team (I want to have new energy in the contest and see the difference between various host countries, as now all contests look the same, no matter where they take place, because of the Swedish script and producers) to see France or Spain finally wining, they deserve it so… Read more »
Why New Zealand and Canada?
See my Anglophone bias comment below…
And Petra Mede, Destiny and Efendi
Slightly less drama than last year.
My wish in 2023-25 was “A lot less drama”, and it never came to pass.
I figure that if I aim lower, my wish might actually come true!
I want the junior contest abolished, and the funds re-allocated to the proper contest. This will cut costs for the host broadcaster, and mean the EBU is less reliant on sponsorship. The junior contest is a shameful waste of valuable resources.
Here are the UMK26 artists
Planet Case
Olga
SANNI
Alina Burnet
Lauri Haav
Suistamon Sähkö
Smsn
Juries in semifinals, a “vote 20 times, max 5 per country” voting kinda thing, a first time winner, bbno$
I want people to stop saying this is a weakest edition before it even happen X-D
I want people to stop saying Sweden should win even if it doesn’t have winning song.
And I want all haters and booing ones to keep their political views wherever else than this SONG CONTEST and have fun, make love.
I don’t want hosts to sing, Spain to do drama, Switzerland to win, JJ to host green room
X-D
Also… I would love to hear audience through tv.. This year felt cold
1. First time winner or someone who hasn’t won for a long time (would love Lithuania)
2. Good balance between different genres, moods and languages in songs
3. New country or a comeback (Loved to see Romania or Bulgaria)
4. Voting fix (20 votes from one card, phone to one country is crazy)
5. Better hosting than in 2015 (why we don’t see any males? My straight girl heart is waiting for some male energy :D)
6. We need some big surprise, guest star or whatever for 70th edition
I wish the ticket prices wont be so high please please I already booked a hostel
No Conchita.
I want a suitably qualified person to fill the vacancy of Executive Supervisor, someone who loves the contest, respects its integrity, and won’t use words like “brand”. Ideally me. Failing that, bring back Frank Naef.
Mr. Naef is now 97, but hire him anyway.
I think someone older recently represented Switzerland so no excuse
I want a wide variety of songwriters and producers across a wide pool of differing genres, not just the same old same old names from the same old same old pop factory conveyor belt.
I want the Balkans back to the contest.
ALL LIVE VOCALS!!
Israel winner! 2027 in Tel Aviv!
Wishful thinking, but I want Azerbaijan finally punished for cheating their way to “victory” in 2011. Baku 2012 was the lowest point in the contest’s 70 year history.
I want more French in the script. It’s 99% English now, with the hosts speaking only a few lines of token francais. The joke about how hard and impressive it is to get some French out is overused and tired. The Anglophone bias also leads to things like special treatment for Anglophone countries such as Australia.
I want a new trophy design. Preferably different each year, with a commission given to a local artist.
I want Martin Green to not have an annoying catchphrase.
I want LIVE backing vocals re-introduced.
I want a stage designer other than Florian Weider.
BRING BACK THE LOGO
I can make a long list but let’s say I want a first time winner. So Lithuania, Iceland, Croatia, Malta, Aibanla.. Let’s go!
I want a proper interval act, specially commissioned for the occasion. Think Riverdance. Not lazy guest appearances of old Eurovision stars.
Or previous presenters of the contest in Sweden
I want the host broadcaster to be the host. The clue is in the title. HOST. Let them run free, not be constrained by rigid EBU formulas.
I want quality music.
I want two hosts. Not three, not four, not six. Two. I want them to have gravitas and intelligence. They don’t need to be funny. In fact, I’d prefer if they weren’t. The contest does not need to be a comedy show, it rarely works.
I want the public voting numbers to be made available, for transparency. A full breakdown, country by country.
I want the contest to be seen as an annual music event. Not a reality TV talent show.
I want the orchestra back in some form. Even a guest appearance, like the opening of Vienna 2015.
Along with MANY other things.
Hopefully my country withdraws dont want participate in this freak show anymore.
It’s September 1st, literally months and months away from the contest. If that’s how you feel, why are you even here? Seems you have a bitter and unhealthy obsession. Sad.
Spain sending a top 5 entry ?
If only we could recreate 2022, UK and Spain in the Top 10 and The “I” country not in the Final.
*Juries back in the semi-final.
*No ridiculous votes of the world anymore.
*Ban of THAT country
Hope the official airline sponsor should be local, as if the local airline gets a contract by the EBU, you wouldn’t support propaganda funding. Simple as that.
I think Austrian sponsored last time
Hope they do once again
I’d just love UK my country to get top 10 again
Or to get a point from the televote
Happy Eurovision New Year! Not to forget – Montenegro is waiting for its moment too – and maybe it’s closer than we think. I recently came across a young singer, Matija Sekulic, who performed “Ovo je Balkan” at Balkan Youth Fest and immediately drew comparisons to Milan Stankovic. He even said his biggest dream is to represent Montenegro at Eurovision one day. A real rising star with serious potential – it made me think Montenegro could surprise us one day.
Happy 2026 season y’all.
My wishes:
_refind the Eurovision that I loved cause since 2 years I don’t recognize the show that I used to love and to be passionated about.
_a good song, a good artist and a good result for my country.
Unfortunately 2023 doesn’t have the vibe that everyone loves Eurovision as I find some performances are boring.
– the country everyone wishes to be banned gets kicked out
– Iveta Mukuchyan for Armenia or even better Germany, Loïc for Belgium
– Germany as winner (so the 3 DACH Countries won in a row)
– National language
– debut countries
– returning countries (in both cases literally any country)
I think the 2024 contest would have been perfect if Eden Golan’s disqualification in the finals existed.