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This past weekend was easily the most exciting one of the Eurovision season so far. In just a few days, eight countries selected their representatives for the Eurovision Song Contest, turning it into a true “Super Weekend” for ESC fans. From dramatic superfinals and emotional comebacks to surprise winners and internal selections finally revealed, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia and Australia all completed their journeys to Eurovision. Here’s a full recap of how each country chose its act — who won, with what song, and how the selection unfolded.

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Lithuania

Lithuania selected its Eurovision representative through its national selection, Eurovizija.LT, with the grand final taking place on Friday night. After several weeks of heats and a competitive superfinal, Lion Ceccah emerged as the winner with “Sólo quiero más”, scoring 24 points in the superfinal round and securing the ticket to Eurovision.

Lion Ceccah, a rising name in Lithuania’s alternative-pop scene, impressed both juries and televoters with a charismatic stage presence and strong vocal control. His song, performed in Spanish, stands out for its sensual rhythm and emotional intensity. “Sólo quiero más” (translated as “I Only Want More”) explores themes of desire, ambition and emotional hunger — a message about constantly striving for deeper connection and bigger dreams. The atmospheric production combined with a confident live performance made Lithuania’s choice one of the most distinctive results of the Super Weekend.

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Norway

Norway selected its Eurovision 2026 representative through the grand final of Melodi Grand Prix, which took place on Saturday night. After a competitive show featuring nine finalists, the results were decided by a combination of international juries and the Norwegian public. In the end, Jonas Lovv won with a total of 312 points, topping the televote and finishing second with the juries, which secured him the overall victory with the song “Ya Ya Ya.”

Jonas Lovv is a 25-year-old pop-rock artist from Bergen, known for blending modern pop production with strong live instrumentation. His winning entry, “Ya Ya Ya,” is an energetic, feel-good anthem built around a catchy hook and dynamic staging. Lyrically, the song is about letting go of fear and embracing spontaneity — encouraging listeners to say “yes” to life rather than holding back. The performance stood out for its confidence, playful charisma and strong audience connection, making Norway one of the weekend’s most talked-about selections.

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Finland

Finland selected its Eurovision representative through the grand final of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), which took place on Saturday night at the Nokia Arena in Tampere. The winner was decided by a combination of international jury votes (25%) and public televote (75%). In the end, Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen won convincingly with a total of 430 points, thanks to a landslide televote score, earning the right to represent Finland with the explosive track “Liekinheitin.”

Linda Lampenius is an internationally known classical violinist, while Pete Parkkonen is a well-established pop-rock singer in Finland. Together, they created one of UMK’s most striking performances of the night. “Liekinheitin” (which translates to Flamethrower) blends dramatic violin riffs with powerful pop production, creating an intense and theatrical atmosphere. The song carries a message of empowerment and inner strength — about turning pain into fire and reclaiming your voice. With its bold staging and memorable musical hook, Finland’s selection quickly became one of the standout moments of the Super Weekend.

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Germany

Germany selected its Eurovision representative through the national final Das Deutsche Finale, which took place on Saturday night. The show featured a mix of established artists and newcomers, with the results decided by a combination of international juries and the German public vote. After a tight voting sequence, Sarah Engels won with a total of 198 points, earning the ticket to Eurovision with her song “Fire.”

Sarah Engels is already a familiar name in the German music scene, having built a strong career in pop music over the past decade. With “Fire,” she delivered a powerful vocal performance backed by dramatic staging and emotional intensity. The song is a modern pop anthem about resilience and rising stronger after heartbreak, using the metaphor of fire as both destruction and rebirth. Germany’s choice signals a clear intention to send a vocally solid and radio-friendly entry, aiming for a stronger result on the Eurovision stage this year.

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Italy

Italy selected its Eurovision 2026 representative through the legendary Festival di Sanremo, with the grand final held on Saturday 28 February 2026 after five nights of competition. In the end, Sal Da Vinci won the festival with the heartfelt ballad “Per sempre sì,” earning 22.2 % of the final vote in the Superfinal and the right to represent Italy at Eurovision. 

Sal Da Vinci is a well-known figure in Italian music, with decades of experience blending traditional melody and contemporary songwriting. “Per sempre sì” (which translates to Forever Yes) is a romantic, emotional song celebrating enduring love, commitment and lifelong partnership — inspired in part by his own personal journey and long-standing relationship. The ballad’s classic Italian style and expressive delivery set it apart in a field that ranged from pop and rap to indie and melodic songwriting. With this victory, Italy continues its deep connection between Sanremo tradition and the Eurovision stage.  

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Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s entry for Eurovision 2026 was chosen through Natsionalnata Selektsiya 2026, a multi-stage national selection process that culminated on Saturday 28 February 2026, when the country’s representative performed three candidate songs for the public and a professional jury. After all votes were tallied, Dara’s song “Bangaranga” was selected as Bulgaria’s official entry. Voting combined the results from viewers and a ten-member jury, and “Bangaranga” came out on top against the other contenders “This Is Me” and “Curse.” 

Dara (Darina Nikolaeva Yotova) is one of Bulgaria’s most successful pop artists, first gaining national attention in 2015 on the Bulgarian X Factor and later building a pop career with multiple chart hits and a growing international profile. Born in Varna, she has also served as a mentor on The Voice of Bulgaria and collaborated with producers and songwriters across Europe and beyond. 

“Bangaranga” is a rhythmic, energetic track described by Dara as symbolizing the discovery of inner strength and choosing to act with love rather than fear — the title itself loosely references a spirit of bold emotional expression. As Bulgaria returns to Eurovision after previous mixed results, this song aims to make a strong impression at the contest in Vienna this May. 

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Serbia

Serbia selected its Eurovision 2026 entry through Pesma za Evroviziju ’26, with the grand final taking place on Saturday night after two semi-finals. The results were decided by a 50/50 combination of jury and public voting. In the end, LAVINA won with a total of 26 points, earning the ticket to Eurovision with the song “Kraj mene.”

LAVINA is a rising Serbian pop artist known for emotional performances and contemporary Balkan production. “Kraj mene” (“By My Side”) is a dramatic pop ballad about longing and emotional dependency, built around powerful vocals and atmospheric staging. With its strong emotional delivery and modern sound, Serbia’s choice adds intensity to this year’s Eurovision lineup.

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Australia

Australia selected its Eurovision 2026 entry through an internal selection announced on Saturday, with no public national final. The broadcaster chose Delta Goodrem to represent the country with the song “Eclipse.”

Delta Goodrem is an internationally acclaimed pop artist with a career spanning over two decades, known for her powerful vocals and emotive songwriting. “Eclipse” is an atmospheric pop ballad about personal growth, overcoming darkness, and finding inner light. The song’s cinematic production and heartfelt lyrics make Australia’s entry a standout with strong potential for both jury and public appeal at Eurovision 2026.

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The Eurovision Super Weekend was nothing short of thrilling, with Lithuania, Norway, Finland, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Australia all confirming their representatives and giving fans plenty to discuss. From dramatic ballads to high-energy pop anthems, this weekend showcased a wide range of styles and personalities, highlighting how diverse and exciting this year’s contest will be.

Looking ahead, the coming week will continue the national selection frenzy. Countries like Romania, San Marino, Poland, Sweden, Portugal, Czechia and the United Kingdom are set to reveal their Eurovision entries. Fans can expect more surprises, memorable performances, and perhaps a few dark horses that could shake up the race to Vienna 2026. Stay tuned, because the Eurovision journey is only just beginning!