Eurovision Song Contest 2003 winner Sertab has revealed she was invited to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
Posting on social media, Sertab, who brought Turkey victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 with “Every Way That I Can”, revealed she was invited to perform at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. The singer explained she was invited to perform in the final, but declined due to wider political issues in the world and a scheduling clash.
Sertab would likely have been invited to perform as part of ‘Celebration!’, which will celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Contest with eight past Eurovision Song Contest participants taking to the Stadthalle stage. The eight acts are:
- Alexander Rybak – Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with “Fairytale”
- Verka Serduchka – Represented Ukraine at Eurovision 2007 with “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”
- Erika Vikman – Represented Finland at Eurovision 2025 with “Ich Komme”
- Kristian Kostov – Represented Bulgaria at Eurovision 2017 with “Beautiful Mess” placing second
- Lordi – Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 for Finland with “Hard Rock Hallelujah”
- Max Mutzke – Represented Germany at Eurovision 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey
- Miriana Conte – Represented Malta at Eurovision 2025 with “Serving”
- Ruslana – Winner of Eurovision 2004 with “Wild Dances”
Eurovision 2026
As announced by the EBU in August, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held in Vienna following JJ’s victory for Austria with “Wasted Love” in Basel. 35 countries are set to take part. Both semi-finals are scheduled for May 12 and 14, while the Grand Final will take place on May 16. The contest will be hosted in the Wiener Stadthalle, the same venue used in 2015, which can accommodate up to 16,000 spectators.
The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna on May 12, 14, and 16, 2026.
Source: Turkiye Today
Turkey first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1975. During the 20th century, Turkey only managed to place in the top 10 on two occasions, ninth in 1986 and third in 1997. Turkey won in 2003 with “Every Way That I Can”, their first ever entry completely in English. They went on to achieve six top 10 results in the following years. They withdrew in 2013, citing dissatisfaction with the rules of the contest.
