The big question from this study is….

Which song is this year’s Soldi?

The Host Country Should Always Perform Last In The Grand Final Mae Muller, United Kingdom 2023 (photo: EBU)

With Austria drawing out its Eurovision running order spot, our hosts will sing last. It's time to drop this random draw, argues @bensvision.bsky.social and have the host country automatically awarded the final slot in the running order for the good of the Contest. escinsight.com/2026/03/18/t...

What a line up to be alongside

”Along the way, they chat with Pete & Linda, Erika Vikman, ESC Insight’s Ben Robertson, Euroviisutsomeksi’s Vilho, and JJ”

Nothing more authentically Melfest than our friend Eddie af Sillén

Thank you so much!

Fanning the Flames: Israel and UMK’s Difficult Balancing Act Promotonal image on how Finnish Euroviion selection show UMK handled the politics around a call for a boycott (photo:UMK)

While Finland's Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius celebrated victory with 'Liekinheitin', the fireworks in the Nokia Arena couldn’t mask the tension simmering outside. Ben Robertson reports from Tampere on a #Eurovision National Final caught between musical celebration and international protest.

Half Excel, Half Imagination: UMK's Quirky Confidence And Rebellion Promotional image for an article prvieiwng UMK 2026 (photo: Ben Robertson)

What sets UMK, Finland’s selection show for Eurovision, apart from the others is the quality of its staging concepts, argues @bensvision.bsky.social. Here, he speaks with Show Producer Matti Myllyaho to learn how Yle finds each act, the quality-over-quantity approach, and how it all comes together.

Time for my favourite part of the #melfest season, revealing what all the sponsors are doing and giving away as we go around the six week tour!

The stalls are all open BEFORE the live show starts, no matter if rehearsal, matinee or televised, but do stop running when the show on stage begins - so get early and enjoy the true #melfest atmosphere!

And finally GB Glace have a photo op swing as well as an interactive quiz to win prizes as well as vouchers for free ice cream that could even be redeemed in the kiosks at the arena

Popular sweets selection mix Gott & Blandat has a guess the number of sweets in the jar game alongside another prize spin wheel

Coca Cola has a booth where you compete to guess when the key change happens in a song (I got Popular) and after playing you get to have a free sample can

McDonald’s are here with karaoke booths to record yourself on classic #melfest bangers, just butchered by lyrics about Maccy D’s. Vouchers and T-shirts giveaways on offer too

Lidl takes over as official #melfest supermarket and has an AI build a song station, complete with a QR code to hear your finished product. Plus a spin wheel to win treats like….carrots

Strawberry hotels has a Photo Booth where one can dress up in dressing gowns and pretend to be on a luxurious staycation

Swedish train company SJ has a QR code for a schlager quiz to win free train tickets, a Photo Booth and train themed temporary tattoos for children

Official bank of #melfest Swedbank has the most important thing - free bags - and a 360 degree camera dress up booth

Finnish chocolate giants Karl Fazer are here with a classic drop game. I was the big winner and got a bar of chocolate for this evening

Jewellery chain store Guldmynd has a four person ring toss game to play, prizes and vouchers to be won and giveaways for the kids

Crisps brand OLW had a reaction touch screen game to play.

21 was a good score - good enough to win two bags of crisps for this evening’s #melfest viewing

Rehydration brand Resorb has a maze race to play and free samples of three of their rehydration flavours

Big shout out to OGAE Sweden
who has a stall for the first time this year. Ask them about being a member - they even have an international members section for all the #melfest fans from abroad

First up is of course the official merch stall with hats, tote bags, glittery things and T-shirts for #melfest fans big and small

Time for my favourite part of the #melfest season, revealing what all the sponsors are doing and giving away as we go around the six week tour!

Bookmark this article for when you see his performance tonight…and you don’t understand

Watching the #melfest rehearsal now, final ten minutes are on.

Artists no longer on stage and remain in the green room and no recap repeated. Still awkward interviews with each act, but time reduced to about 3 or 4 minutes.

Better, but zero entertainment or climax to the show.

An image that links to an article on the Eurovision Insight website. it quotes the article, saying "It reminds me of the thrown-out rehearsal concept from Liverpool 2023, where the original plan was for acts in the semi-finals to be brought onto stage to learn their qualifying fate. Not only is this terrible entertainment, but it is unnecessarily cruel for acts to have their fate linger for so long."

The new voting system at MelFest means a new way of presenting the votes, and many of the artists are not in favour of the highly visible way in which tension is being pulled out of them. @bensvision.bsky.social goes into more depth on the impact of the changes. escinsight.com/2026/01/30/m...

This has to change
And has to change at the next rehearsal
For the good of entertainment
And for the good of the artists

Full article after the rehearsal, but these are #melfest heat voting rules:
🥇Most votes in first round
🥈Most points in age group voting after two voting rounds
3rd-6th places are decided by age group voting position.
Finalkval spot goes to song from 3rd to 6th with most total votes

Instinct after first rehearsal at #melfest

1. Greczula
2. A*Teens
3. Indra
4. Jacqline
5/6 noll2/Junior Lerin