https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Eurovision Song Contest is famous for celebrating everything from cross-dressing ballad singers to heavy metal bands in monster masks, but geopolitics is threatening its 70th anniversary edition. https://www.thelocal.com/20260426/geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:03:11 +0200 geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision Felicia, the pop star who will represent Sweden in Eurovision in Vienna in May, is in hot water after saying that she didn't think Israel should be in the competition. https://www.thelocal.com/20260310/swedens-eurovision-entry-in-hot-water-after-israel-comments Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:35:11 +0100 swedens-eurovision-entry-in-hot-water-after-israel-comments Germany's culture minister on Saturday slammed threats by several European countries to boycott next year's Eurovision song contest if Israel took part as politicising a cultural event. https://www.thelocal.com/20250920/germany-slams-eurovision-boycott-threats-over-gaza Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:49:38 +0200 germany-slams-eurovision-boycott-threats-over-gaza A senior Austrian official has denounced cultural boycotts as "dumb and pointless" after several countries said they will shun next year's Eurovision song contest in Vienna if Israel participates. https://www.thelocal.com/20250920/eurovision-boycotts-dumb-2026-host-austria-says Sat, 20 Sep 2025 10:20:13 +0200 eurovision-boycotts-dumb-2026-host-austria-says Finland-Swedish comedy trio Kaj in the end finished fourth in the Eurovision Song Contest, but not before their sauna-themed song Bara Bada Bastu had become a viral hit all over Europe. Did you know it has an unusual Indian connection? https://www.thelocal.com/20250519/what-does-swedens-bizarre-eurovision-hit-have-in-common-with-india Mon, 19 May 2025 17:01:23 +0200 what-does-swedens-bizarre-eurovision-hit-have-in-common-with-india Austria's JJ won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday, with his operatic song "Wasted Love" triumphing at the world's biggest live music television event. https://www.thelocal.com/20250518/austrias-jj-wins-eurovision-2025-with-opera-techno-fusion Sun, 18 May 2025 09:56:32 +0200 austrias-jj-wins-eurovision-2025-with-opera-techno-fusion Swedish-Finnish humour trio KAJ's 'Bara Bada Bastu' has emerged as an unexpected favourite to win the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. The Local has done a line-by-line translation of the lyrics, so that you know what you're singing about when it's stuck in your head. https://www.thelocal.com/20250502/what-do-the-lyrics-of-swedens-eurovision-entry-bara-bada-bastu-actually-mean Fri, 02 May 2025 13:05:53 +0200 what-do-the-lyrics-of-swedens-eurovision-entry-bara-bada-bastu-actually-mean Groans and giggles typically greet votes at the annual Eurovision Song Contest, loved and mocked for its kitsch music and seemingly partisan outcomes. But what are the voting patterns, and what external factors help explain them? https://www.thelocal.com/20250515/what-eurovisions-voting-patterns-can-teach-you-about-european-politics Thu, 15 May 2025 13:40:51 +0200 what-eurovisions-voting-patterns-can-teach-you-about-european-politics Sweden could claim a record number of Eurovision victories if its humorous sauna act manages to win the competition this year – which according to the bookies may just happen. https://www.thelocal.com/20250417/why-swedens-bizarre-sauna-hit-could-actually-win-eurovision Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:23:25 +0200 why-swedens-bizarre-sauna-hit-could-actually-win-eurovision Basel will host the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest after being chosen ahead of Geneva on Friday to stage the glitzy TV extravaganza following Swiss artist Nemo's victory in this year's edition. https://www.thelocal.com/20240830/breaking-swiss-city-of-basel-picked-to-host-eurovision-2025 Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:25:44 +0200 breaking-swiss-city-of-basel-picked-to-host-eurovision-2025 Swiss singer Nemo's 2024 Eurovision victory means Switzerland gets to host the glitzy TV extravaganza next year -- though battles are now raging over footing the bill. https://www.thelocal.com/20240714/swiss-cities-battle-to-host-eurovision-2025-or-not Sun, 14 Jul 2024 11:16:51 +0200 swiss-cities-battle-to-host-eurovision-2025-or-not With less than a month until Eurovision week kicks off, artists and musicians are dropping out of events in Malmö in protest at Israel’s participation. https://www.thelocal.com/20240410/swedish-musicians-cancel-eurovision-performances-over-israels-participation Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:47:23 +0200 swedish-musicians-cancel-eurovision-performances-over-israels-participation Malmö in southern Sweden is preparing to host the Eurovision Song Contest in early May under high security, amid protests over Israel's participation during its ongoing war with Hamas. https://www.thelocal.com/20240328/malmo-prepares-for-high-security-eurovision-amid-israel-protests-and-terror-threat Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:42:11 +0100 malmo-prepares-for-high-security-eurovision-amid-israel-protests-and-terror-threat Two thirds of all Eurovision tickets have been snapped up by foreign visitors, with new figures revealing the top ten countries which will have the most fans in the audience in Malmö. https://www.thelocal.com/20240320/which-nationalities-have-bought-the-most-tickets-for-eurovision-in-malmo Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:53:48 +0100 which-nationalities-have-bought-the-most-tickets-for-eurovision-in-malmo A team of ferrets and dogs are set to help Malmö crack down on its rat population with less than two months to go until the city is set to host Eurovision Song Contest. https://www.thelocal.com/20240313/malmo-calls-in-team-of-ferrets-to-weed-out-rats-ahead-of-eurovision Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:19:46 +0100 malmo-calls-in-team-of-ferrets-to-weed-out-rats-ahead-of-eurovision Tension is mounting in Malmö after the European Broadcasting Union approved Israel's participation in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. https://www.thelocal.com/20240312/protesters-apply-to-demonstrate-for-and-against-israel-at-eurovision-in-malmo Tue, 12 Mar 2024 17:02:58 +0100 protesters-apply-to-demonstrate-for-and-against-israel-at-eurovision-in-malmo As excitement mounts for Eurovision in Malmö in May, many are thinking about where they should stay, how much they should budget, and how to avoid scams. Here's The Local's guide for visitors to the southern Swedish city. https://www.thelocal.com/20231108/hotels-tickets-and-scams-what-to-know-about-visiting-malmo-for-eurovision-2024 Wed, 08 Nov 2023 15:38:20 +0100 hotels-tickets-and-scams-what-to-know-about-visiting-malmo-for-eurovision-2024 The southern Swedish city of Malmö which last held the contest back in 2013 will host Eurovision once again next year, public broadcaster SVT has announced. https://www.thelocal.com/20230707/malmo-announced-as-hosts-of-2024-eurovision-song-contest Fri, 07 Jul 2023 16:24:35 +0200 malmo-announced-as-hosts-of-2024-eurovision-song-contest The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Sweden, 50 years after Abba won the competition. But, sorry fans, it's a no from the group to performing at the event. https://www.thelocal.com/20230525/abba-say-no-way-to-reuniting-on-stage-for-eurovision-next-year Thu, 25 May 2023 08:16:18 +0200 abba-say-no-way-to-reuniting-on-stage-for-eurovision-next-year Switzerland has a smaller Eurovision fanbase compared to countries like the UK, Germany, Spain, or Sweden. But when it comes to actually competing in it – it’s certainly no slouch. https://www.thelocal.com/20230508/everything-you-need-to-know-about-eurovision-in-switzerland Mon, 08 May 2023 15:09:05 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-about-eurovision-in-switzerland