Spain: RTVE receives a record number of submissions for Benidorm Fest 2025!

Spain was one of the first countries to confirm its participation in Eurovision 2025, even before the Grand Final of the contest in Sweden, opening the submission window just a few days later.

The submission window for Benidorm Fest 2025 closed last night. RTVE announced earlier today that it received almost 1,000 songs over the 144 days that the process lasted, with around 300 of those submissions coming in the last 24 hours alone!

This number sets a record for all editions of Benidorm Fest. Around 200 more entries were submitted compared to last year, demonstrating that the festival is becoming increasingly embedded in the Spanish music scene and has grown into one of the biggest platforms for promoting music.

In the last three years, RTVE received the following number of entries for Benidorm Fest:

  • In 2022, 886 songs were submitted
  • In 2023, 876 songs were submitted
  • In 2024, 825 songs were submitted

Following the closing of the submission window, a special jury panel appointed by RTVE, consisting of music experts, will listen to and evaluate the songs. From these, the 16 best songs will be selected to compete in Benidorm Fest 2025, which will take place on January 28 and 30, and February 1.

Last year’s winners of Benidorm Fest, Nebulossa, represented Spain in Eurovision 2024 with the song “Zorra” and ended up in 22nd place in the Grand Final:

https://youtu.be/FOMoQoHG5aU

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Spanish participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Basel!

Source: rtve.es

Breaking News: ERT has started the process for the national final!

A few minutes ago, the decision of the ERT Board of Directors regarding the organization of a national final to select the artist and song that will represent the country in Eurovision 2025 was posted on “Diavgeia.” The decision was unanimous and follows the announcements made by the company’s CEO about holding an open national final with an invitation to all interested parties, after 22 whole years!

The ERT Board of Directors has officially decided that Greece’s representative for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest will be selected through a national final. The company’s Board unanimously decided to proceed with the national final, authorizing the CEO to sign the contract, presumably with a production company, for this purpose.

We now expect, within hours or by Monday at the latest, details about the national final, including the rules and the beginning of song submissions.

You can view the relevant document on Diavgeia HERE.

Eurovisionfun will, of course, monitor the developments and keep you informed with the latest updates.

Stay consistently tuned to Eurovisionfun!

Sweden: Scarlet return to Melodifestivalen 2025!

Scarlet made their debut last spring, when the metal band came very close to reaching the final of Melodifestivalen 2024 with their song “Circus X”.

Many sources have reported to the newspaper Expressen that the band is set to return to Melodifestivalen 2025, the Swedish national final.

A few months ago, the competition’s project manager, Anders Wistbacka, spoke about the variety of entries in the competition.

“We want different types of songs and rhythms – both ballads and up-tempo tracks. It’s important to include pieces that immediately grab attention, but also those that might require one or more listens to fully appreciate,” he said.

According to Expressen, Scarlet fits well into the diversity that Melodifestivalen aims to create.

In total, nearly 2,800 songs have been submitted for Melodifestivalen 2025, and rumours suggest that several established artists are among the contestants. The final list of contestants is expected to be announced in December, but until then, many things can change.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Swedish participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Basel!

Source: expressen.se

Israel: HaKokhav Haba will premiere in November!

Back in July, it was confirmed that HaKokhav Haba will remain as the selection format for the Israeli artist who will represent the country in Eurovision 2025. This talent show has chosen all Israeli contestants since 2015, with the exception of 2022 and 2023. It has delivered outstanding results, including a win with Netta in 2018.

Moreover, new information about HaKokhav Haba’s eleventh season is revealed.

Filming has started

Filming for this year’s edition commenced at Neve Ilan Studios this morning, October 10, in front of a live audience. As a result, the search for Eden Golan’s successor will officially begin in November, when the new season premieres.

Judges and hosts

Rotem Sela will return to host the show alongside Assi Azar, who also hosted the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Since the show’s first season in 2013, Azar has hosted HaKokhav Haba, while Rotem Sela took hosting duties in the second season and has done so ever since.

The judging panel will include:

  • Assaf Amdursky
  • Keren Peles
  • Shiri Maimon
  • Eden Hason
  • Ran Danker
  • Itay Levi

Their combined vast and varied experience guarantees a competitive edition that is both intriguing and difficult—certainly more so than the one from last season.

The winner of HaKokhav Haba and therefore Israel’s representative in Eurovision 2024 was Eden Golan. Eden Golan performed her song “Hurricane“, finishing fifth overall.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: euromix.il

Montenegro: These are the 16 artists that will take part in Montesong!

Montenegro is returning to the Contest after two years and is determined to make this return the start of a new, successful era for the country in Eurovision!

The deadline for interested artists to submit their songs for the national final expired on October 1st. Following the evaluation by a special jury panel, the channel is ready to announce the names of the artists who will participate in the national final.

The announcement was made during the morning show “Jutarnji Program” of RTCG. Thus, the 16 artists who will compete for Montenegro’s representation in Eurovision 2025 are:

  1. Anastasija Koprolčec“Kraj”
  2. Bend “9”“Stop War”
  3. Boban Rajović“Suze”
  4. Dolce Hera“Repeat”
  5. Đurđa“To Ljubav Je”
  6. GlumciBend“San”
  7. Isak Šabanović“Ljeto, Ljeto, Ljeto”
  8. Kejt“Obala Raja”
  9. Luka Perazić i Rade Vukčević – “Dva Srca”
  10. Luka Radović“Kada Dođe Maj”
  11. Milena Vučić“Škorpija”
  12. Nemanja Petrović“Među Zvijezdama”
  13. Neonoen – “Clickbait”
  14. Nina Žižić“Dobro Došli”
  15. Tina Džankić“Nova”
  16. Verica Čuljković “Čuješ li”

A notable return is that of Nina Žižić, who together with Who See, performed the fan favorite “Igranka” in Eurovision 2013! We can also see Kejt, who was the runner-up in the country’s national final in 2018, with the song “Neželjena”, as well as Milena Vučićwho participated in the national final for Serbia & Montenegro in 2006.

RTCG also revealed the names of three reserve artists, in case any of the above finalists withdraws:

  • Tamara Žinković“Fatal flight”
  • Hanibal – “Protect me”
  • Danijel Popović“Kano cast”

Subsequently, the contestants have the opportunity to make changes to their songs until November 1st. However, the final versions of the songs will be published on November 17th, ten days before the national final.

Montesong will take place on November 27th, with the result being determined by the public and the jury vote in a 50% ratio each. It is also expected to be the first national final of the new season!

But until we learn about this year’s participation of Montenegro in Eurovision, let’s remember their last entry from 2022, with Vladana with the song “Breathe”:

https://youtu.be/L-ViRVRiGl0

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Montenegrin participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Basel!

Source: rtcg.me

Luxembourg: 60 artists submitted songs for Luxembourg Song Contest!

60 artists sumbitted entries for the 2025 edition of the Luxembourg Song Contest, the televised show through which Luxmebourg is going to select their participation in Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which is scheduled to take place in Basel, Switzerland.

RTL, the national broadcaster of the Grand Duchy, confirmed today that, after the end of the deadline for submissions which was on 6th of October, a total of 60 artists submitted one or more songs for the Luxembourg Song Contest. These artists are going to be invited for audtions in front of the international jury in November.


The chosen artists are expected to participate in Luxmebourg Song Contest wich is going to take place on 25th of January 2025.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Montenegro: Montesong participants to be revealed in the morning of October 10!

Montenegro is making a comeback to the Eurovision Song Contest after two-years of absence , and the national final to select its entry is just around the corner!

As previously announced, the names of the participating artists will be revealed on October 10th.

In a recent announcement, RTCG, the country’s public broadcaster, informed that the names of the 16 artists taking part in Montesong will be revealed at 09:45 CET during the TV show “Jutarnji Program” on TVCG1.

The songs will be released on November 17th, ten days before the national final, and artists have the option to make changes to their songs until November 1st.

The last time Montenegro took part in Eurovision, was in 2022, when Vladana performed “Breathe” in Turin:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Montenegrin participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Basel!

Source: eurovision.montesong.rtcg

Azerbaijan: Eldar remains official music producer for 2025!

Eldar Gasimov will continue being the official music producer for Azerbaijan.  This will be the third year Eldar has held this position in the Azerbaijan team delegation.

According to the Azeri press, it is official that Eldar Gasimov will continue in his position as the Official Music producer.  The winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 has helped the Azeri team in the selection of their participating entries since 2023.  However, it is not confirmed whether Azerbaijan will internally select their representative to compete in Basel next year.  Azerbaijan has internally selected its representatives since 2015.  According to ITV, Azerbaijan received 154 entries for Eurovision 2025.

Eldar competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Dusseldorf with the song “Running Scared” together with Nikki.  The duo gave Azerbaijan their first and so far only victory in the contest.

FAHREE feat Ilkin Dovlatov represented Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 held in Malmö.  They performed Özünlə Apar during the First Semi-Final.

Source: 12xal

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Sweden: John Lundvik returns to Melodifestivalen in 2025!

According to the available information, John Lundvik, who represented Sweden in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, is about to return in Melodifestivalen, in 2025. At least as per several resources of the Swedish newspaper Expressen.

An individual with lots of knowledge regarding Melodifestivalen points out that “it would be exciting should former winners return” making reference to Måns Zelmerlöw who is also remoured to be returning.

Fifth participation for John Lundvik

John Lundvik won Melodifestivalen in 2019 with the song “Too late for love”. Since then, the song has been quite popular on Spotify. Whether he can repeat his success remains to be seen. According to various sources who spoke to Expressen, the artist will make his return to Melodifestivalen next year. If confirmed, this will be John Lundvik’s fifth appearance at Melodifestivalen. In addition to his win in 2019, he has also finished  third, eighth and tenth in the final of previous editions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEdWkdVKIqQ&pp=ygUWZXVyb3Zpc2lvbiAyMDE5IHN3ZWRlbg%3D%3D

In total, almost 2,800 songs have been submitted for Melodifestivalen 2025, and the contestants are rumored to include several established artists. The process from song submission to official confirmation of entry varies for each entry. The final list of contestants is expected to be announced in December, but a lot can change until then.

Source: Expressen

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Albania: A combination of jury and public vote will decide the country’s representative in Eurovision 2025!

Preparations for their representation in Eurovision 2025 have already started in Albania. Yesterday, RTSH revealed the thirty candidates of Festivali I Këngës 63, the Albanian selection format, which has been used since its inaugural participation.

In yesterday’s announcement, RTSH did not disclose how the winner of the festival nor the country’s representative in Eurovision 2025 will emerge. However and according to exclusive information given to Euromix.il, changes will be made to the format this year.

A combination of jury and public vote will decide

For the past two editions, Festivali i Këngës had two separate winners. The winner of the jury voting was crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote was the chosen one for the Albanian representation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Indicatively,

  • Elsa Lila and Mal Retkoceri won the jury voting and were crowned as the winners of Festivali i Këngës 61 and 62 respectively, while
  • Albina & Familja Kelmendi and Besa won the public vote, won the tickets to Liverpool and Malmö

This year and according to Euromix.il, the winner and consecutively the Eurovision 2024 Albanian representative will be chosen accordingly through a combination of jury and public vote. Hence, a 60/40 format will be used in order to select the next Albanian act.

This is another change that Festivali i Këngës sees in its voting format. Festivali i Këngës has now started to implement the public opinion more, especially when it comes to Eurovision. For many years it was accused of corruption and the country’s inability to respond to the modern-day Eurovision standards.

A similar change was in plans for last year’s edition, however was never implemented and two separate winners were announced.

Festivali i Këngës 63

Following the closing of the submission window for artists interested in participating on September 29, these are the thirty participants of Festivali i Këngës 63:

  1. Algert Sala
  2. Alis Kallacej
  3. Ardit Çuni
  4. Devis Xherahu
  5. Djemtë e Detit
  6. Elvana Gjata
  7. Endrik Beba
  8. Epos Grup
  9. Erma Mici
  10. Frensi Revania
  11. Gjergj Kaçinari
  12. Gresa Gjocera
  13. Jet
  14. Kejsi Jazxhi
  15. Kleansa Susaj
  16. Laurjan Ejlli ft. Adelina Corraj
  17. Lorenc Hasrama
  18. Luna Çausholli
  19. Mal Retkoceri
  20. Martina Serreqi
  21. Mihallaq Andrea
  22. Nita Latifi
  23. Olsi Bylyku
  24. Orgesa Zaimi
  25. Rea Nuhu
  26. Ronaldo Mesuli
  27. Santino De Bartolo
  28. Shkodra Elektronike
  29. Stine
  30. Vesa Smolica

The list includes last year’s FiK Mal Retkoceri winner and Elvana Gjata, who is a favorite among many after her participation in FiK in 2019.

The dates of the Festivali i Këngës this year have not yet been disclosed, while the renowned Albanian singer and former Eurovision representative, Elhaida Dani will take over the artistic direction of this year’s FiK edition.

The Albanian public’s pick for Eurovision 2024 was Besa with her song “Zemrën n’dorë“. Besa released a revamped version in English titled “Titan” for Eurovision, where she did not make it to the Grand Final, finishing fourteenth in the second semi-final.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

Source: euromix.il