Should industrial metal band FLEISCH represent the UK at Eurovision 2026?

Every year before United Kingdom announce their Eurovision entry, there is always much conjecture and debate among fans about who should be the next entry. There is always a stack of names thrown around as a potential entry. Entries from the United Kingdom over the last few years have ranged from playing it relatively safe, to taking a risk with new artists (notable mention here is Sam Ryder and the risk really did pay off!).

So... who should represent the United Kingdom in 2026? Well, every year there is one band in the United Kingdom that desperately wants to represent their country and they like to start their campaign very early. That band is FLEISCH.

FLEISCH is an industrial metal band from Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, formed in 2012 by Jonathan Blunsdon. The band's lineup includes Blunsdon (vocals/guitar), Connal Bower (drums) and Martin Davey (bass). FLEISCH draws inspiration from bands like Rammstein and Eisbrecher, known for their high-energy performances and stage presence.

The 2026 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be their third campaign to be the United Kingdom representative. Their efforts on social media have been relentless. These guys are taking Eurovision very seriously!

2024 Campaign - Firefly

Since March 2023, the independent and unsigned FLEISCH has actively campaigned to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest, using the hashtag #fleischforeurovision. They released singles Fuel in October 2023 and Firefly in December 2023, with the latter being their preferred entry for Eurovision 2024.

Despite their efforts, the BBC did not select them for the 2024 contest. Undeterred, FLEISCH continued to advocate for their inclusion in future Eurovisions.

2025 Campaign - Ammunition

Not to be deterred, for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, FLEISCH were at it again on their socials, urging the BBC to send something very different to Europe.

In late 2024 the band announced the track they intended to put forward, and in September 2024 the band released Ammunition, a pounding industrial anthem they thought could shock Eurovision viewers in the best way possible. The track became the centrepiece of their latest “FLEISCH for Eurovision” campaign, complete with hashtags, teaser clips and asking supporters to help push the BBC toward a heavier sound.

However, it was not to be. The United Kingdom once again opted for a more traditional route, with FLEISCH watching from the sidelines — but certainly not giving up. The band quickly pivoted their sights to 2026, declaring they were already working on their next Eurovision song.

2026 Campaign - Rock Rock

Never stopping their campaign to represent United Kingdom, FLEISCH on 22 August 2025, the band posted the following on their Facebook page in regard to the release of a song for Eurovision 2026.

"September is fast approaching and we are working hard in the background to get ready for the release of our next single. ROCK ROCK will be released on all streaming services on Friday 26th September. Don't worry, you will be able to hear it much earlier than that. All will be revealed soon."

"We sincerely hope that its 3rd time lucky and the BBC will seriously consider the song for Eurovision. As always, thank you all for the incredible support."

Rock/metal at Eurovision has had a mixed but memorable history. While pop and ballads often dominate, rock acts have carved out their own niche, from Lordi’s win for Finland in 2006 to Italy’s Måneskin winning in 2021. These successes show that when rock entries bring strong staging, authenticity and undeniable energy, Europe takes notice. Australia’s own Voyager proved that again in Liverpool, winning their semi-final and securing a top 10 finish with their blend of prog-metal and pure Eurovision spirit. And like FLEISCH, Voyager spent years campaigning to represent Australia at Eurovision.

Industrial metal isn't that common at Eurovision, and this could be a double-edged sword, but it could help them stand out. However, the United Kingdom selection system and Eurovision audiences may or may not embrace that genre. One notable outlier here is Iceland's Hatari who was a huge fave with fans! This is part of FLEISCH's promotion strategy and they continually say that the BBC/United Kingdom needs to send something different.

If they are not chosen for Vienna 2026, one thing is for certain, FLEISCH will continue to advocate for their inclusion in future Eurovision events. Come on United Kingdom, we dare you to send something REALLY different - send FLEISCH!

FLEISCH's music is available on platforms like Bandcamp, where they invite fans to join their Eurovision campaign. For more information and updates, you can visit their official website or follow them on social media through their Linktree.

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