Phil Dore

Yeah me neither. Lordi knows it's incredibly strssful on an artist even in a normal year.

Without wanting to diagnose anyone, I do get the impression there's a lot of neurodiversity in the fan community, especially among those who go on to become content creators.

I recall festival da Cancao changed the rules this year so the winner only gets offered the chance to go to Eurovision but doesn't have to. I wonder if it could lead to Portugal pulling out because nobody wants to go.

Your reminder that a technological innovation won't succeed if the purchasing public simply don't want to buy it.

Dutch man saying "fuck de EBU"

I think I'm gonna need to keep this saved for future use between now and May 2026. Maybe in a handy, easy-to-find folder somewhere. #Eurovision

Benidorm Fest, which used to select the Spanish song, is still going ahead this year unconnected to Eurovision and has all the drama and glamour and is also in Benidorm in January where it's 20C and not grey and rainy - I recommend it as a trip.

I did shy away from the carolina reaper version. I'm not a monster.

This sums the situation up in a much better way than I just managed.

Any mooted presenters for ‘26 will surely have clocked how absolutely shit-scared (no other way to describe it) the ‘25 ones looked when briefly it seemed they might be about to announce an Israeli victory. Be unsurprised if a few big names in Austrian media turned it down as a result…

They had the carolina reaper version, but even I'm not that much of a maniac.

This is an important point. Saying "there'll only be a vote on Israel's participation if the rule change isn't accepted" gave broadcasters an easy way out without appearing to take sides on Israel/Palestine. Many of them grabbed it with both hands.
#eurovision

Bottle of Encona hot pepper sauce

I regret to inform you all that today in Sainsbury's I chose violence.

I'm not seeing any reports that that's happened though.

A good thread that sums it up about as well as it can be right now, I'd say:

Well, to be fair, it is a point that bears repeating.

Thread! (And a very good one, too.)

Also, the BBC has a duty of care to the artist who will represent the UK next year, and a lot of people are going to be very angry at whoever ultimately does it. Have they adequately prepared for that particular powder keg?

Narrator: they had not prepared.

I presume you're lawyering up right now?

Maybe you could do an alternative? Mariahpocalypse?

And security issues. Delegation will start to pull their artists if they think Eurovision has turned into a terrorist magnet (which unfortunately is a possibility.)

Yeah, they're not going to be able to make the numbers work easily now. If shit kicked off around Italy not being able to convince a Sanremo contestant to take part, say, then they won't even be able to afford that one crowd noise sample they have.

Yeah, that's a distinct possibility, and nothing will kill off the contest harder than Tel Aviv 2027.

All this is very sad because next year is the 70th anniversary of Eurovision. It should be a fun, joyful celebration of European unity and diversity, providing a happy contrast to the grim visions of Putin and Trump.

But it won't be that, and the EBU has only itself to blame.
/ends

A Hexahatari?

Okay, that actually sounds kinda cool.

Also if the numbers get marginal, there's no way they'll start kicking artists out for political speech. Imagine a contest with half a dozen Hataris.

As for the worst case scenario - more countries pull out, fan media goes quiet (or at least limits their content to the national finals), sponsors pull out, every event is rocked by protests....and it ends with the contest scrapped for next year.

There's a non-zero chance of no ESC2026 at all.

The BEST CASE scenario is that things stagger along to a much-diminished contest with a toxic atmosphere. One where the slogan "united by music" needs a laughter track installed, and every media debate talks about the boycotts.

It won't be fun. And what's the point of Eurovision if it isn't fun?