Elephant in the room: New Eurovision rules, old problems; new tunes, old mates

Elephant in the room: New Eurovision rules, old problems; new tunes, old mates

Author: JOY 94.9 - LGBTI, LGBTIQA+, LGBTQIA+, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGB, Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Intersex, Queer Podcasts for all our Rainbow Communities January 10, 2026 Duration: 55:30

JOYEurovision is back for season 2026. And with it being the 70th edition of the world’s biggest music competition, we all should be celebrating right?

The news over the break has made things difficult for Eurovision fans, including Michael and Io.

In this season return:

  • Get the latest news about the semi final allocation draw
  • Catch up on the new Eurovision rules introduced after the General Assembly
  • Dive into the issues behind Israel’s participation
  • Find out about the fallout from the EBU General Assembly vote
  • Find out how it’s affecting the JOYEurovision team in 2026

Get involved

Follow JOYEurovision across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky and X at linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

Not in Australia? Grab this podcast via Spotify Podcasts.

Playlist

Käärijä – Disko Balls

Go-Jo & Erika Vikman – Appetite

Tina Karol – Шиншила

Subwoolfer – Dark Side of the Moon

Aiko – Time

Nemo – Ride My Baby

ADONXS – Perfume

The post Elephant in the room: New Eurovision rules, old problems; new tunes, old mates appeared first on JOY Eurovision.


There's a particular kind of glitter that doesn't wash off for months, and a specific enthusiasm that arrives every spring. JOY Eurovision lives in that space year-round. More than just a recap show when the contest lights up our screens, this podcast dives deep into the music, the politics, and the sheer spectacle that makes Eurovision a global phenomenon for the LGBTIQA+ communities and allies who cherish it. You'll hear from the team at JOY 94.9 as they break down the latest news, analyze the competing entries with a keen ear, and share the unique perspectives that come from a rainbow community for whom Eurovision has always felt like a home. Expect thoughtful commentary, lively debates, and interviews with people who are just as passionate about the contest's history and its future. It’s for anyone who knows the lyrics to a losing entry from 2007, who debates the merits of a key change, and who believes the song contest is a vibrant, evolving celebration of diversity and pop culture. Tune in to find your people and get the full story behind the performances.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

JOY Eurovision
Podcast Episodes
Australia’s Eurovision Top 100 2026: Counting down from 35 to 23 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:31
Easter Monday wasn’t just full of buns, eggs and bunnies – it was full of your Eurovision favourites! For the seventh time, Australia voted for their top 100 Eurovision songs of all time, thanks to the amazing people at…
Australia’s Eurovision Top 100 2026: Counting down from 48 to 36 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:52
Easter Monday wasn’t just full of buns, eggs and bunnies – it was full of your Eurovision favourites! For the seventh time, Australia voted for their top 100 Eurovision songs of all time, thanks to the amazing people at…
Australia’s Eurovision Top 100 2026: Counting down from 61 to 49 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:45
Easter Monday wasn’t just full of buns, eggs and bunnies – it was full of your Eurovision favourites! For the seventh time, Australia voted for their top 100 Eurovision songs of all time, thanks to the amazing people at…
Australia’s Eurovision Top 100 2026: Counting down from 74 to 62 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:32
Easter Monday wasn’t just full of buns, eggs and bunnies – it was full of your Eurovision favourites! For the seventh time, Australia voted for their top 100 Eurovision songs of all time, thanks to the amazing people at…
Australia’s Eurovision Top 100 2026: Counting down from 87 to 75 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:17
Easter Monday wasn’t just full of buns, eggs and bunnies – it was full of your Eurovision favourites! For the seventh time, Australia voted for their top 100 Eurovision songs of all time, thanks to the amazing people at…
Australia’s Eurovision Top 100 2026: Counting down from 100 to 88 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:53
Easter Monday wasn’t just full of buns, eggs and bunnies – it was full of your Eurovision favourites! For the seventh time, Australia voted for their top Eurovision songs of all time, thanks to the amazing people at OGAE…
Just say yes: Reviewing Italy’s Festival di Sanremo 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:09
The Festival della canzone italiana (aka Sanremo) is a European music staple and well-known as the Eurovision precursor. Over five nights, the 76th edition of the festival delighted Italians and kept us hoping for a big…
It’s no April Fools: Eurovision Asia and Delta (666 ABC Canberra) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:12
April 1 is never a good day to release news. Thankfully Eurovision Song Contest Asia organisers announced theirs a touch earlier. ABC Canberra‘s James Findlay chatted with Michael about the newest addition to the Eurovis…
We want more: Reviewing Lithuania’s Eurovizija.LT 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:12
There are some Eurovision national finals that are very well know, and then are are some which, well, are often missed. Lithuania is often caught in the latter category, but we reckon it’s time for that to change. Michae…