Spain: Benidorm Fest songs to be released on December 18!

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Spanish public broadcaster, RTVE, will announce the sixteen songs competing in Benidorm Fest 2025 on December 18, aiming to represent Spain at Eurovision 2025. The reveal will take place through a press conference scheduled for 11:00 CET at RTVE’s headquarters, where all the songs participating in Benidorm Fest 2025 will be presented.

So far, all we know are the names of the artists and the songs with which they will compete. The 16 artists competing in Benidorm Fest 2025 are:

  • Carla Frigo – “Bésame” (Kiss me)
  • Celine Van Heel – “La casa” (The house)
  • Chica Sobresalto – “Mala feminista” (Bad feminist)
  • Daniela Blasco – “U Na Na”
  • David Afonso – “Amor barato” (Cheap love)
  • De Teresa – “La pena” (The pain)
  • Henry Semler – “No lo ves” (You don’t see it)
  • J Kbello – “VIP”
  • K!ngdom – “Me gustas tú” (I like you)
  • Kuve – “Loca por ti” (Crazy for you)
  • Lachispa – “Hartita de llorar” (Tired of crying)
  • Lucas Bun – “Te escribo en el cielo” (I write to you in heaven)
  • Mawot – “Raggio di sole” (Ray of sunlight)
  • Mel Ömana – “The Queen”
  • Melody – “Esa diva” (That diva)
  • Sonia & Selena – “Reinas” (Queens)

Benidorm Fest 2025 will follow the same format as Eurovision, with two semi-finals and a grand final. The 16 artists will compete in the two semi-finals on January 28 and 30, with four artists from each semi-final advancing to the grand final, which will take place on February 1. The Spanish representative for Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, will be chosen during this final. For the first time in the history of Benidorm Fest, the full semi-final results will only be revealed after the final.

Last year, Spain was represented by Nebulossa with the song “Zorra.” The duo placed 22nd, with 30 points:

Follow Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

SOURCE: eurovoix.com

Finland: Miryam Bryant to participate in UMK25?

/0 Comments/in , /by

According to Iltalehti, Miriam Bryant is one of the artiststo compete in next year’s UMK.

Bryant performed for Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Gothenburg in the spring during his first state visit. Following this visit Miriam Bryant was invited to the Finnish Independence Day Gala (Linnan juhlat), one of the biggest celebrations of the country.   Around 2000 people are invited every year during Independence Day by the president as honored guests.

During the Independence Gala Iltalehti asked Miriam Bryant if she is planning to participate in UMK. 

What is UMK? Bryant answered the question.

It was then explained to Bryant that UMK is Finland’s equivalent to Melodifestivalen.

Oh no. I’m not. No, no, I don’t dare, Bryant said.

Miriam Bryant, is a Swedish-Finnish musician born in Gothenburg and currently living in Stockholm. Her mother is from Finland and her father is English.

Miriam Bryant is a very popular artist in Sweden. Her debut album was released in 2013, and her bigger breakthrough came in 2015 when she participated in the show Så mycket bättre.

Bryant has previously sung her songs in Swedish, but this year she released music in Finnish.  On Independence Day, she released the song Tää on slut, which is a Finnish version of the previously released hit Regnblöta skor.

We will get to know the participating artists for UMK on January 8, 2025. Until then, Yle expects that the artists will not reveal that they are participating in the competition.

According to Iltalehti, even if Miriam Bryant said that she will not participate, it is still possible that the rumors are true.  For instance, they remind us that when pop singer Robin Packalen participated in UMK, he denied the rumors when Iltalehti asked them about his participation in November 2022.  He ended up participating in UMK 2023.

Source: Iltalehti

Would you like to see Miriam Bryant participating at UMK25?

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for more news and updates about Europe’s favorite music festival!

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss any news about the biggest music festival in Europe:

Katri Helena to offer last concert show after 60 years career!

/0 Comments/in , /by

Singer Katri Helena will say goodbye to her fans and audience in a farewell concert at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in August next year. She announced the news on her Instagram account.

The Last Night (Viimeinen Ilta) concert is Katri Helena’s only gig next year, and she will not perform publicly again after that.  The concert day is also the eve of Katri Helena’s 80th birthday.


In an Instagram post, Katri Helena says she is grateful to have been able to sing for so long. She also says that she has always done her work for the audience and listeners, not for herself.

I have always felt a great responsibility for what I do. When The Last Night (“Viimeinen Ilta” concert) is over, the main feeling will certainly be a great grateful relief.

Who is Katri Helena?

Katri Helena Kalaoja (née Koistinen) was born in 1945 in the village of Uuden-Värtsilä, Tohmajärvi, North Karelia. She wrote in her notebook “I am Katri and I am a singer” as early as the second grade of elementary school.  She has been a music artist since she was only 18.  She has performed for more than 60 years.  With almost 630,000 certified recordings sold, she ranks among the top 20 best-selling musicians in Finland and is the country’s second-best-selling female solo singer, after Madonna.

Katri Helena considers her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest for Finland in 1979 and 1993 among the highlights of her career.

Source: Ilkka Pohjalainen

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for more news and updates about Europe’s favorite music festival!

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss any news about the biggest music festival in Europe:

Serbia: These are the contestants of Pesma za Evroviziju 2025!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The list of the artists who are going to take part in Pesma za Evroviziju 2025 was published today. Pesma za Evroviziju is the song contest through which Serbia choose their representative in the Eurovision Song Contest, and their are going to do so for Eurovision 2025 as well.

In the list which was published by the national broadcaster of Serbia, RTS, you can read the names of the 30 artists and the titles of their respective songs.

The 30 acts are as per below:

  • Buč Kesidi – Tužne ljubavi
  • Igor Simić – Ne mogu
  • Tropico band – AI
  • Tam – Durum durum
  • Džet Vega – Rolerkoster
  • Mila – Gaia
  • Dušan Kurtić – Boginja
  • Harem Girls – Aladin
  • Mimi Mercedez – Turbo žurka
  • Dram – Vanja
  • Ivana Štrbac – La La La
  • Milan Nikolić i banda – Storia del amor
  • Bojana x David – Šesto čulo
  • Iskaz – Trendseter
  • Tanja Banjanin – Ja sam bolja
  • Princ – Mila
  • Biber – Da mi se vratiš
  • Nataša Kojić – Up and Down
  • Kruz Roudi – Sve i odmah
  • SEDLAR – Oči boje zemlje
  • Jelena Pajić – Kameleon
  • Nikola Antonijević Anton – U grad
  • AltCtrl – Mamurna jutra
  • Filarri – Meet and Greet
  • GIFTS & ROSES – Do kraja vremena
  • Maja Nikolić – Žali srce moje
  • Ohajo – MaMa
  • Ana & The Changes – Brinem
  • Vukayla – MASK
  • Vampiri – Tebi treba neko kao ja

The list of contestants includes Princ, who finished second in the Serbian national competition in 2023, as well as Filarri, who competed in both 2023 and 2024 editions.

We remind you that Pesma za Evroviziju consists of two Semi-Finals and a Grand Final. The dates of the Semi-Finals and the Final are:

  • First Semi-Final – 25 February
  • Second Semi-Final – 27 February
  • Final – 1 March

Source: RTS

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

Follow us on all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening Eurovision:

EBU: New mandatory code of conduct for accredited individuals and other changes to the Eurovision Song Contest

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is introducing new initiatives and changes aimed at improving the experience of Eurovision Song Contest participants and reinforcing the values of community, respect, and equality. These changes seek to create a more positive and supportive environment and will be implemented for the first time at the 2025 contest in Basel.

Code of Conduct and Duty of Care Protocol

For the first time, adhering to a Code of Conduct will be mandatory for accreditation at the contest, fostering a culture of professionalism and respect. The Code will include compliance with local laws, a ban on political statements, and guidelines for responsible communication and behavior.

Additionally, the Duty of Care Protocol will ensure the safety and well-being of participating artists, encouraging collaboration between the EBU, the Host Broadcaster, and participating broadcasters to prevent unnecessary physical or emotional strain.

Changes to Event Organization and Participant Experience

To better support artists, the EBU has announced the following measures for Eurovision 2025:

  • Camera-free zones in key artist preparation areas.
  • More closed-door rehearsals to allow artists to focus without distractions.
  • Optimized rehearsal schedules to provide artists with more time for rest and to explore the host city.
  • Appointment of a Welfare Officer to act as a key point of contact for supporting artists and staff.

Commitment to Unity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Eurovision Song Contest continues to stand as a symbol of unity and diversity. In 2025, the EBU will introduce the Eurovision Pledge, reaffirming its commitment to community, respect, and equality.

Statements from the Leadership

Martin Green, the new Director of the Contest, emphasized:

“We are united through music – and it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the Contest remains an event that promotes unity, diversity, and inclusion. The changes we are introducing for Basel 2025 aim to offer the best possible experience for participants, staff, and audiences alike.”

Bakel Walden, Chair of the ESC Reference Group, added:

“The new measures to be implemented for Eurovision 2025 represent an important first step in the responsible development of this iconic music event, tailored to modern needs.”

The Catalyst for Change

The behavior of many accredited individuals during Eurovision 2024 appears to have been the tipping point that prompted the EBU to take these decisions. It is time for those attending the contest in a journalistic capacity to recognize that while they may also be fans, they are professionals within the press center and must act accordingly.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: EBU

Serbia: This Week, the 28 Finalists for the National Selection Will Be Revealed!

/0 Comments/in , /by

Preparations have already begun for selecting the songs to determine Serbia’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

Olivera Kovacevic, journalist and director of the contest for Pesma za Evroviziju 2025, announced on her personal Instagram account that the official list of the 28 artists participating in Pesma za Evroviziju 2025 will be released this week.

A total of 222 songs were submitted for Serbia’s representation in Basel.

We remind you that Pesma za Evroviziju 2025 will once again consist of two Semi-Finals and one Grand Final. The dates for the semi-finals and the final are as follows:

  • First Semi-Final – February 25
  • Second Semi-Final – February 27
  • Grand Final – March 1

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments regarding Serbia’s participation in Eurovision 2025!

Source: Olivera Kovacevic

Finland: SANNI and Jasmin Beloued will host UMK25

/0 Comments/in , /by

SANNI and Yle Youth News journalist Jasmin Beloued will host the Finnish national final for Eurovision, UMK.

The participating artists for UMK25 will be announced on Wednesday 8 January 2025 in a live broadcast. You can follow the announcement with English commentary via Yle Areena streaming service.

Next year, UMK will be hosted by SANNI, one of the biggest artists in Finland, together with Jasmin Beloued.  The hosts will appear together on January 8 to announce the participating artists live at Yle Studios in Helsinki.

SANNI has earned widespread respect, winning three Emma Awards (Finland’s equivalent of the Grammys) and the Music Publishers’ Song of the Year award. Her hit single “2080-luvulla” became the most-played radio song in Finland over the past decade. With a career spanning five albums and one EP, SANNI’s music has garnered over 300 million streams, solidifying her place as a powerhouse in Finnish pop music.

“Hosting is really different from singing and I think this experience will bring me new ideas for performing. I’m sure that this will strengthen me as a performer in general,” SANNI

Jasmin Beloued began her career hosting Yle’s youth program Yle Galaxi in 2017 and gained further recognition in the spring of 2020 as the host of Yle’s special COVID-19 program for children. Since 2020, she has been a journalist for Yle’s children’s news service, Yle Mix, and since 2021, she has also reported from Finland’s prestigious Independence Day Reception.

“Being part of UMK has been my dream for a long time, and I have had the opportunity to collaborate with the UMK production team in my role as a journalist. That was how I made myself visible to the UMK team, and eventually I received a request for test shoots and got to join the team. This production is full of top professionals, so even though the role is very nerve-racking, I feel very confident. I am also a Eurovision fangirl, so it feels like a great privilege to be in this role and hit the stage in front of the audience in Tampere.”

The Final of UMK will take place on Saturday 8 February 2025 at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland.

Source: STT Info | Yle

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for more news and updates about Europe’s favorite music festival!

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss any news about the biggest music festival in Europe:

Israel: Everything That Happened in the Twelfth Episode of HaKokhav Haba!

/0 Comments/in , /by

On Sunday evening, December 9th, the twelfth episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition) aired. This talent show will determine the artist who will represent Israel at Eurovision 2025. The show continues to raise expectations as more contestants compete for the golden ticket to Basel.

In the twelfth episode, six auditions took place, with four contestants advancing to the next stage, preparing for their journey toward Eurovision. Hosts Assi Azar and Rotem Sela guided the audience through the show, while the judges—Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Eden Hasson, Ran Dankar, and Keren Peles—evaluated performances with strict professionalism and fairness.

Contestants and Their Performances:

Agam David Chai (91%)
Agam, 18.5 years old from Menes Ziona, performed “As the World Caves In” for the first time in front of an audience. Despite her lack of experience, her clarity and emotional delivery left a strong impression. Her confidence grew after the first chorus, culminating in a powerful ending. All judges voted positively, and Agam advanced with an impressive 91%.

Ben Gannon (80%)
Ben, a 28-year-old from Haifa, delivered an emotional rendition of “Vat.” With his soft and deep voice, he brought a unique musical interpretation to the song. However, there was some disagreement among the judges, with Ran voting against his artistic approach. Despite the critique, Ben secured 80% and moved to the next phase.

Ran Peretz (81%)
Ran, a 24-year-old from Rehovot, sang “The Ballad of Waiting.” Although his performance began with inaccuracies due to nervousness, it improved significantly as he gained confidence. The judges appreciated his emotional depth, but the audience was less impressed. He advanced with 81%, thanks to the judges’ support.

Ofir Levy (82%)
Ofir, 24, from Kibbutz Ramat Yochanan, performed “Baby the Next Song Is Dedicated to You.” Her performance was emotionally precise, but some judges, like Assaf Amdorsky, felt it lacked personal identity. Despite the critique, Ofir received enough positive votes to progress with 82%.

Roni Giorno (90%)
Roni, 28, from Ashdod, performed “Mon Amour” with a unique raspy voice and deep emotional connection. His interpretation resonated with the judges, who praised his vocal delivery. With unanimous support from the judges, Roni advanced with an impressive 90%.

HaKokhav Haba continues with more auditions in the next episode. This show has been Israel’s pathway to Eurovision success, securing a place in the grand final every year from 2015 to 2020. Notably, in 2018, Netta won Eurovision with her song “Toy.”

Last year’s winner, Eden Golan, represented Israel at Eurovision 2024 with her song “Hurricane,” finishing in fifth place.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all updates!

Source: Euromix.il

Israel: All That Happened in the Eleventh Episode of HaKokhav Haba!

/0 Comments/in , /by

The eleventh episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition) aired on Saturday night, December 7th. This talent show is where Israel will select the artist to represent the country at Eurovision 2025.

In the latest episode, six auditions were featured, with five of them advancing to the next stage, continuing their pursuit of a spot in Basel. The hosts of HaKokhav Haba are Assi Azar and Rotem Sela, who have been presenting the show since 2014. The panel of judges includes Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Eden Hasson, Ran Dankar, and Keren Peles.

Contestants and Their Performances:

Hodia Tarkin
Performed “Banadam” with a lovely vocal performance, although the intensity was lacking in the chorus. Despite comments from the judges about her inexperience, she managed to score 83%.

Leshem Sharvit
Sang “Homeland”, dedicating the song to his hometown. He impressed the judges with precision and emotion, scoring 84%.

Hadas Cohen
After facing vocal cord issues, she performed “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You”. Her unique voice earned her 84%.

Haley Meshaib
Chose a vocally demanding song, though she struggled at times with the vocals. Despite this, her technical skills were praised. She advanced with a score of 70%.

Ron Bohnik
Performed his original song “Transparent”, captivating the judges with a minimalist and emotional performance, accompanied by a guitar. He achieved the highest score of the night, 95%.

The Show Continues

HaKokhav Haba will continue with more auditions in the next episode. Over the years, the show has helped Israel secure a spot in the Eurovision final each year from 2015 to 2020. In 2018, Netta won the Eurovision with her song “Toy”.

The winner of HaKokhav Haba 2023, Eden Golan, represented Israel at Eurovision 2024 with “Hurricane” and finished in fifth place.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for more updates!

Source: euromix.il

Junior Eurovision 2024: 23 million viewers for the children’s contest!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

The European Broadcasting Union published a report for this year’s Junior Eurovision 2024!

The 22nd Junior Eurovision Song Contest, broadcast live on Saturday, November 16, proved extremely popular with young audiences worldwide, reaching 23 million viewers in 15 measured television markets and many more millions through the event’s official digital channels.

The spectacular 2-hour event, organised by the Spanish public broadcaster, RTVE, in Madrid under the slogan “Let’s Bloom”, achieved a 15.7% audience share among children aged 4 to 14, more than three times the channel’s average (4.9%). It also surpassed last year’s share of 14%.

The Contest also achieved an 8.1% audience share among people aged 15-24, significantly exceeding the average of 5% usually achieved by the same group of broadcasting channels.

Furthermore, 43% of those who watched the event on the official Junior Eurovision YouTube channel were under 24 years old, with the largest number of viewers for the live broadcast being recorded in the host country, Spain, followed by Poland, Armenia, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Greece.

Significant online growth

The online viewing of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest has also seen significant growth each year.

On Instagram, content featuring talented artists from 17 countries reached 5.6 million accounts, marking a third year of year-on-year growth. TikTok also saw massive growth with 46 million post views, up from 28 million in the same period in 2023. On Facebook, 6 million accounts were reached, up by 4 million compared to the 2023 contest.

The Executive Supervisor of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest Martin Österdahl stated:

“We’re thrilled to see the huge success of the 22nd Junior Eurovision Song Contest, capturing the hearts and imaginations of millions of viewers worldwide with unprecedented engagement and growth among younger audiences.”

“From record-breaking digital interactions to massive TV viewership in participating countries, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest has once again solidified its place as a global celebration of young talent, creativity, and unity. Our thanks go once again to RTVE for hosting such a memorable edition for everyone involved.”

In this year’s Junior Eurovision there was an increase in the number of the participating nations, since 2021, thanks to the return of Cyprus and San Marino, raising the participating countries number to 17, from 16 that there were in the 2022 and 2023 editions.

It was also the first time since JESC 2015 that the contest took place on Saturday.

Rating Success

On television, the host country, Spain, saw its third largest audience for the Contest with 1.1 million viewers on channel La 1. An annual increase of over 200,000 viewers year-on-year.

France and Poland attracted the largest television audiences, with around 1.3 million viewers each. For France, the winner of the previous two Contests, this marks the second highest audience ever recorded.

In Portugal, the audience increased significantly in relative terms, doubling in size to become the fourth largest ever recorded for the event. On average, more than 500,000 viewers watched their participation, with Victoria Nicole, who finished in 2nd place in the contest (being the big favorite to win the trophy).

Junior Eurovision 2024 had an average audience share of 8.4%. 10 out of 15 markets delivered a better audience share than the broadcaster typically achieves.

Armenia achieved the highest audience share of all broadcast markets by a significant margin. At almost 40%, this figure is four times the channel’s typical primetime performance.

In the winning country of Georgia, tens of thousands tuned in to watch Andria Putkaradze’s victory with “To My Mom.” The broadcast nearly doubled the channel’s typical primetime viewership share.

Andria’s victory gave his country a record-breaking 4th victory in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest – all with songs written by Giorgi Kukhianidze.

Finally, as far as the 2025 edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the official announcement for the host country is expected by the EBU within the new year.

Source: EBU

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

Follow us on all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening Eurovision:

Eurovision fan merchandise