Welcome to our new series of posts!
The moment of truth has arrived, and all 35 competing songs for Eurovision 2026 have been revealed.
So we are ready for an extended review of them and a ranking of the songs.
Each post in the series will focus on 5 songs.
This 5th post will focus on 5 of the countries competing in semi-final 2: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Malta, and Ukraine.
You can find the previous episodes here:
- Belgium, Croatia, Montenegro, Portugal, and Serbia
- Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden
- Georgia, Greece, Israel, Moldova, and San Marino
- Albania, Bulgaria, Czechia, Romania, and Switzerland
- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Malta, and Ukraine
Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
Delta Goodrem was internally selected to represent Australia in Eurovision 2026.
The song explores the idea of a love so powerful it feels written in the stars—a rare, “supernatural” moment where time stands still and two opposites unite to create something transcendent. It’s about the transformative power of a connection that feels both fleeting and eternal.
Allocation in Semi-Final 2
Australia was allocated to perform in the second half of semi-final 2 at position number 11.
Delta will perform after Denmark (10th) and before Ukraine (12th).
Among the countries that usually vote for Australia, 4 of them will vote in semi-final 2: Denmark, the UK, Norway, and Ukraine.
Initial Personal Ranking
7th overall, 5th in semi-final 2
Musical Review
- It is a cinematic ballad with Epic Orchestral Pop elements.
- The song opens with a striking classical piano riff, layered with a dramatic, celestial harp, creating an immediate sense of cosmic alignment.
- Delta opens the first verse with her signature intimate, lower-register vocals. She uses a storytelling, almost breathy delivery that feels vulnerable yet grounded. The production is skeletal here, focusing on the clarity of the piano and a distant, ethereal synth pad that mimics the vastness of space.
- The first pre-chorus introduces a rising orchestral swell and a steady, rhythmic heartbeat percussion. Her vocals begin to climb into her powerful mid-range, emphasizing the “divine timing” of the lyrics as the instrumentation becomes more complex and urgent.
- The first chorus is an absolute explosion of sound. The “Eclipse” hook is delivered with a massive, soaring belt that showcases Delta’s legendary vocal range. The production shifts into high gear, featuring rich string arrangements and a driving, cinematic drum kit that gives the track a “stadium-ready” feel. The melody is anthemic, centering on the idea of the world stopping for a single moment of love.
- The second verse introduces more rhythmic layers, including light electronic hi-hats and deeper cello notes, keeping the momentum high. The second chorus adds shimmering vocal harmonies that thicken the sound.
- The bridge serves as the song’s dramatic centerpiece. It features a virtuoso piano solo that transitions into a sensational key change, a standout moment. Delta unleashes a powerhouse high note that sustains over a wall of orchestral sound, leading into a final, triumphant chorus. The song closes with a delicate return of the harp and a fading piano motif, leaving a sense of peaceful finality.
- Overall, it is a classic Delta song, with all the benefits included. It is epic and can create a moment in Vienna if it is staged correctly. This is the right way to do a power ballad. However, I can’t ignore the fact it is more intended for jury.
Betting Odds
The song was released as Australia‘s Eurovision 2026 entry on March 1st.
Between March 1st and 7th, Australia was ranked between 3rd and 4th place.
Between March 8th and 27th, the song was ranked between 5th and 6th place.
Since March 28th, Australia has been ranked 4th.
Early Prediction
After 2 non-qualifications, it seems Australia is back in the game.
Delta is one of the prominent performers in the season, and this is a bold power ballad.
The song will probably score very high with the jury.
I predict Australia will qualify for the final and will place around 4th-10th in the final. Australia will probably be in the top 5 with the jury (in the final).
Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
Søren Torpegaard Lund won “Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026” with “Før Vi Går Hjem“.
The song captures the desperation of a fleeting connection, where the narrator begs for the night to never end. It’s about “burning” with passion, forgetting the world and the potential regret of the morning after, just to stay in a moment of pure intimacy before going home.
Allocation in Semi-Final 2
Denmark was drawn to perform in the second half of semi-final 2 at position number 10.
Søren will perform after Latvia (9th) and before Australia (11th).
Among the countries that usually vote for Denmark, 4 of them will vote in semi-final 2: Norway, Australia, Latvia, and the UK.
Initial Personal Ranking
1st overall, 1st in semi-final 2
Musical Review
- It is a nostalgic, guitar-driven electro-pop anthem performed in Danish.
- The song opens with a high-gloss production featuring a catchy dance-club beat fused with a shimmering, 80s-inspired electric guitar riff and a steady, grounding drum kick that immediately sets a rhythmic, “neon-night” pace.
- Søren opens the first verse with a warm, storytelling tone. His voice is crystal clear, showcasing his musical theater background through perfect diction and a grounded chest register. This verse is structured in two distinct parts: the first half is intimate, supported only by the guitar and a pulsing synth, while the second half introduces a driving bassline that thickens the sonic texture.
- The first pre-chorus is a classic melodic climb designed to build tension. Søren shifts his delivery here, singing the lines with a slightly slower, more elongated phrasing that creates a “suspended” feeling. The production creates an atmospheric swell, using sweeping synth pads to prepare the listener for the drop.
- The first chorus is a massive, major-key, sing-along anthem. It celebrates Danish late-night culture with a “stadium-rock” energy. The melody is cleverly fragmented, using punchy, syncopated vocal lines that are mirrored by a bright brass-synth hook. The production is wide and airy, creating a wall of sound that feels both euphoric and nostalgic.
- The second verse maintains the energy but sees Søren experimenting with his texture, adding a subtle, gritty rasp to his voice that suggests a growing emotional desperation.
- The second pre-chorus provides a moment of contrast; the production becomes laid-back and stripped-down, focusing on a minimalist electronic beat. Søren utilizes a fragile, polished falsetto here, showing off his impressive upper range before the music surges back.
- The second chorus goes even bigger, with the club atmosphere blending seamlessly with live-sounding drums. The bridge serves as the rhythmic heartbeat of the track, featuring a minimalist breakdown with heavy hand-claps and a pulsing sub-bass. This builds into the song’s vocal climax, where Søren delivers extraordinarily long and high tenor belts that sustain over the final, high-energy chorus. The track finishes with a reverb-heavy guitar echo.
- Overall, it is one of the leading songs this year, combining some 1980s-inspired elements with a modern arrangement and vocal delivery. The fact that it is performed in Danish makes it even more exciting and original. The staging concept elevates the song.
Betting Odds
The song was selected as the Danish entry for Eurovision 2026 on February 14th.
Between February 15th and 22nd, Denmark was ranked between 5th and 7th place.
From February 23rd, Denmark has almost always ranked 3rd, with two days in 2nd place.
Early Prediction
Things look more positive than ever for Denmark. While the country has struggled in recent years, qualifying for the final only once between 2021 and 2025, it seems qualification isn’t a question anymore.
Søren is an excellent performer, with a catchy song and a great staging
Therefore, Denmark will qualify for the final. The song might do really well with both the jury and the public vote. I believe Denmark will end in the top 7 in the final.
Atvara – Ēnā
Atvara won “Supernova 2026” with the song “Ēnā“.
The song suggests a deeply personal, raw narrative; it is not about romance but about breaking free from the shadows. The message is rooted in Atvara’s childhood experiences of living in the shadow of a family member’s addiction. It’s a story of resilience, finding one’s own identity amidst emotional darkness, and the difficult journey toward self-healing and light.
Allocation in Semi-Final 2
Latvia was drawn to perform in the second half of semi-final 2 at position number 9.
Atvara will perform after Cyprus (8th) and Austria (AQ) and before Denmark (10th).
Among the countries that usually vote for Latvia, 5 of them will vote in semi-final 2: The UK, Denmark, Australia, Malta, and Norway.
Initial Personal Ranking
10th overall, 6th in semi-final 2.
Musical Review
- It is a minimalist, hauntingly beautiful “Art-Ballad” that centers entirely on vocal storytelling.
- The song starts with a delicate, melancholic piano motif and an incredibly intimate vocal performance. The atmosphere is quiet and haunting, designed to make the listener feel the weight of the “shadow” mentioned in the lyrics.
- Atvara opens the first verse with a fragile, breathy head-voice. Her delivery is almost a whisper, creating a sense of profound vulnerability. The production here is sparse and skeletal, relying on ambient reverb and the natural “cracks” in her voice to convey the emotional burden of the story.
- The first pre-chorus sees the melody begin to open up, taking a step toward a classic Disney-style ballad. The phrasing becomes more fluid and the piano accompaniment more rhythmic. Her vocals begin to move into a clearer mid-range, building a gentle bridge toward the hook.
- The first chorus is a masterclass in “less is more.” Rather than leaning on a massive orchestral swell or a heavy beat, the production relies on a hauntingly beautiful melody and Atvara’s resonant tone. The instrumentation remains restrained, using soft synth pads to fill the sonic space without overshadowing the message.
- The second verse introduces a modern twist with a subtle electronic touch, with low-frequency pulses and “glitchy” atmospheric textures, layered with a rich, mournful cello. Following this, the texture thickens with ethereal backing vocals, adding a choral depth to the arrangement.
- The bridge serves as the song’s emotional and technical peak. While it remains musically restrained, Atvara delivers an impressive display of operatic vocal technique, utilizing high-soprano ornaments that soar above the minimalist production. It is a moment of raw, classical power that highlights her discipline as a performer.
- The final chorus maintains the “hollow” beauty of the track before fading out into a single, lonely piano note.
- Overall, it is an emotional ballad, with fragile (and yet powerful) vocal delivery. It is a master class in minimalism. It is still an open question whether it will succeed in Eurovision. I can see the jury appreciating it, but the public votes won’t necessarily follow.
Betting Odds
Latvia selected its song for Eurovision 2026 on February 14th.
Between February 14th and March 3rd, Latvia has ranked between 17th and 22nd place.
Thereafter, for 2 days, it was ranked 23rd and 24th place.
Between March 6th and 17th, Latvia went down between 25th and 27th place.
Ever since March 18th, Latvia has been ranked between 21st and 24th place, mostly around 21st and 22nd place.
Early Prediction
Predicting whether Latvia will qualify for the final is one of the toughest questions of Eurovision 2026.
On one hand, the jury will probably appreciate it and will be able to see the quality.
However, there are many jury baits in this semi-final, like Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, Czechia, Malta, Albania, etc.
However, I am a bit afraid the public won’t resonate with the song
The running order also worries, as some of the strongest songs come right after: Denmark, Australia, and Ukraine.
Prediction: Latvia might struggle to qualify, but I truly hope they will. In case they qualify, Latvia wil end in 16th-20th place in the final.
Eva Marija – Mother Nature
Eva Marija won “Luxembourg Song Contest 2026” with “Mother Nature“.
This song serves as a tribute to roots and grounding. Eva Marija delivers a message about staying true to yourself. It compares personal growth to the steady life of a tree, emphasizing that beauty and strength come from a deep connection to your heritage and the natural world around you.
Allocation in Semi-Final 2
Luxembourg was allocated to perform in the first half of semi-final 2 at position number 4.
Eva will perform after Romania (3rd), and before Czechia (5th).
Among the countries that usually vote for Luxembourg , 5 of them will vote in semi-final 2: France, Malta, Azerbaijan, Albania, and Cyprus.
Initial Personal Ranking
27th overall,12th in semi-final 2
Musical Review
- It is an indie pop song. The song starts with a short instrumental part, which is merged into the first verse later on. The melody is based on the strumming. Eva sings in a clear, thick voice.
- The first pre-chorus brings in an addition of a more nostalgic piano sound. She sings it more boldly.
- The first chorus is based on piano, drums, and bass. The composition elevates it. She sings this part with a warmer voice, supported by backing vocals. It ends with violin and piano playing. The more contemporary continues into the second verse as well. It is slightly faster, but the violin becomes the main part.
- After a short pre-chorus, we get the second chorus. The lyrics are a bit repetitive. The post-chorus is instrumental and features the beautiful sound of the violin with a drop beat. The song ends with raw production.
- Overall, the whole effort is one to mention. You can’t ignore the artistic identity of Eva and the song. I am just not sure it will be appealing enough to make people vote for it. While the violin might tick some Eurovision boxes, the rest might still be a challenge.
Betting Odds
The song was selected to represent Luxembourg on January 25h.
Between January 25th and February 19th, Luxembourg was ranked between 9th and 12th
Starting February 20th, the song has been ranked between 13th and 16th, mostly around 15th place
Early Prediction
Luxembourg might struggle to qualify. While the song is pleasant, it remains on a very specific line and doesn’t really reach a wow moment.
I can see it scoring some points from here and there, but in this competitive semi-final, it is just not enough.
They also don’t have much allies voting in this semi-final, lacking Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and etc.
Prediction: Luxembourg has some changes to qualify, but most likely will not qualify. In case it qualifies, they will be in the bottom 5.
JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA
Jonas Lovv won “Melodi Grand Prix 2026” with “YA YA YA”.
The song explores the “addictive” nature of a complicated relationship, where the protagonist struggles to let go. Beyond the romance, the core message is about breaking norms: Daring to be yourself, ignoring gender stereotypes, and embracing your “animal” instincts without caring what the world thinks.
Allocation in Semi-Final 2
Norway was allocated to perform in the second half of semi-final 2 at position number 15.
Jonas Lovv will perform after Malta (14th).
Among the countries that usually vote for Norway, 3 of them will vote in semi-final 2: Denmark, Latvia, and Ukraine
Initial Personal Ranking
19th overall, 11th in semi-final 2.
Musical Review
- It is a flamboyant, high-octane glam-pop-rock song.
- The song starts with a “shout-out” intro and a heavy, distorted synth-bass line that feels almost industrial.
- The first verse is delivered with a lot of theatricality and high energy. Jonas sings with a raspy mid-tone of voice. The melody is based on the bass, drums, and electronic keyboards
- The first pre-chorus uses rising electronic “risers” to build massive tension. He sings it in a different tone, engaging the listener more.
- The first chorus is an unapologetic, maximalist explosion of sound. It is catchy, loud, and very “visibly queer” in its aesthetic energy. He sings it in a warmer tone of voice, with longer notes. The melody is based on longer musical boxes, implemented by bass and drums.
- The second verse introduces more electronic “glitch” textures. This verse is more of a rock vibe, with an electronic guitar guiding the melody as well. The second pre-chorus is a bit more laid back.
- The second chorus follows and progresses as before. The post-chorus starts as an instrumental percussion-based part, and later on features multiple backing vocals.
- The song ends with the final chorus, which is more of glam pop.
- Overall, it’s a high-impact stage song. It’s the kind of entry that depends on a massive performance to truly land. However, I find the song monotonous in some parts. I think the song should have featured more elements, so it would remain engaging all the way through. Having said this, I really like his vocal performance. I can see it doing better than expected with the public vote, but not with the jury.
Betting Odds
Norway selected its Eurovision 2026 entry on February 28th.
Between February 28th and March 4th, Norway was ranked between 13th and 17th place.
Between March 4th and March 31st, Norway was ranked between 17th and 19th place.
Starting April 1st, Norway has been stable in the 20th place
Early Prediction
While many are uncertain, I think Norway might do better than expected and at least qualify for the final. Jonas is a charismatic performer, and letting him close the semi-final might really help.
Therefore, I think Norway will qualify for the final and will end in 13th-18th place in the final.
In the next chapter, we will review the big 4 countries and the host country.
Eurovision 2026 will be held in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026.
