Eurovision national finals 2026 - what we know so far

The Eurovision 2026 season is almost upon us!

Before the big week of Eurovision in May, there are many months of countries choosing their entries in national finals. Not every nation competing in Eurovision will hold a competition to select their entries.

Currently, there are six countries that have postponed their decision on whether they will compete in Vienna next year due to EBU's decision on whether Israel will participate. They are: Belgium, Ireland, Iceland, Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain.

These are the confirmed national finals and dates for 2026:

Albania

Festivali i Këngës #64 will be held between 17 and 20 December 2025. The full list of artists competing was announced in October.

Austria

The last time Austria used a national selection to choose their entrant was the crowd favourite Zoë in 2016. They will return in 2026 with Austria: Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich? on 20 February 2026 with 12 acts.

Croatia

Croatia will be holding their national final DORA to choose their entry for Vienna. Dates are to be confirmed but it will take place in February.

Denmark

The long-running Dansk Melodi Grand Prix will be used to select the Danish entry for Eurovision 2026. The final will be held on 14 February.

Estonia

Eesti Laul will be used to select Estonia's Eurovision 2026 representative. The final will be held on 14 February with other dates and details still to come. Multiple previous Eesti Laul entrants are back for their chance to represent Estonia.

Finland

While Finland are one of the countries not yet confirmed as competing in 2026, the hugely popular Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2026 is still going ahead and is scheduled for 28 February.

Germany

Not much information about Germany's selection is available yet but it is said to be sometime in February 2026.

Greece

Greece will be holding their national final Ethnikós Telikós 2026 again next year but we do not have those dates yet but we do know it will be held in February. What we do know is there will be two semi-finals of 14 acts each and then a final of 14 artists.

Iceland

While a decision on Iceland's participation at Vienna 2026 is yet to be decided, RÚV is still going to be holding Söngvakeppnin in 2026.

Italy

Italy's Sanremo Music Festival has been running longer than Eurovision itself. The five-night marathon will run from 24 - 28 February with the winner earning the right to represent the Eurovision powerhouse in Vienna.

Latvia

Supernova will once again choose Latvia's Eurovision entry and will be held from 31 January to 14 February over two semi-finals with 10 acts to compete in the final. Artists will be released this month.

Lithuania

The final of Lithuania's national final Eurovizija.LT 2026 will be held on 27 February with between five and six heats before the final. Dates are artists to come.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg will use a national final yet again to choose their artist. The Luxembourg Song Contest will be held on 24 January. Artists were announced on 30 October 2025 with one returnee from the previous edition.

Malta

MESC will be back for 2026 but we do not have any details about the artists as yet. A semi-final of 18 acts will be held on 15 January and a final of 12 acts on 17 January

Moldova

Euro fans were pleased to see the return of Moldova for 2026, and they will be having a national final on 17 January 2026.

Montenegro

For the second-year running, Montenegro will use a national final to choose their Eurovision entrant. Montenegro: Montesong 2025 will be held on 21 December 2025.

Norway

Norway's long-running Melodi Grand Prix will choose their entry for Vienna but no other details are known at this time.

Poland

Poland again will use a national final to choose their 2026 song, however the name of the show is not yet known. What is known is that it will be held on 14 February 2026 and 10 acts will compete with 100% public voting.

Portugal

Portugal will hold their popular national final Festival da Canção again next year with two semi-finals with eight acts each and a final with 10 acts to compete. Dates are not yet known nor are the names of the artists competing.

San Marino

The San Marino Song Contest will be held between 3 and 7 March 2026 with two semi-finals each with 20 acts, and then a final with 20 acts.

Serbia

Serbia's Pesma za Evroviziju is back for 2026 but no other details are available at this stage.

Spain

Spain is another country that is currently uncertain as to whether they will compete next year due to the EBU vote on Israel's participation. However, Benidorm Fest will still go ahead with songs released 18 December and two semi-finals and a final held between 10 - 14 February 2026.

Sweden

Sweden's famous Melodifestivalen will again choose their Eurovision 2026 entry. Heats will begin from 31 January every week for five weeks with the final due on 7 March 2026.

Ukraine

Vidbir will be used to select Ukraine's artists yet again. The show will be sometime in February 2026 with up to 10 acts competing (including one wildcard).

First dates

With all that information, the first events coming up are:

17 - 20 December: Albania

21 December: Montenegro

What about Australia?

While we do have confirmation that Australia is competing at Eurovision 2026, whether an artist will be chosen internally or through a national final is not yet known. Watch this space!

Does that mean all other nations are choosing internally?

No - not necessarily. The selection season is always unpredictable, and many nations are yet to announce how they will select. More national finals are expected to be added in due course.

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