How Cyprus chose Antigoni for Eurovision 2026 — and why it says everything about how seriously they take the contest

Forget chaos, scandals or last-minute internal picks. Cyprus has done something rare in Eurovision history: it actually organised a structured, transparent selection process. The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) revealed that the country’s representative for Eurovision 2026, Antigoni Buxton, emerged from a two-stage procedure that mixed expert judgement with public consultation — a balance few broadcasters ever pull off without drama.

The first stage relied on a five-member panel of music professionals, tasked with scoring nine artists proposed by major Greek record labels. Each juror rated the candidates from 1 to 9, evaluating them individually rather than through a collective shortlist. No endless TV rounds, no manipulated televotes — just cold, clinical scoring.

The second stage, however, invited the Cypriot public to have a say through an online questionnaire hosted on CyBC’s official website. Instead of voting for specific artists, the audience was asked to express opinions on the type of artist, musical style and stage concept they wanted to see representing Cyprus on Europe’s biggest stage. The feedback wasn’t symbolic — it shaped the jury’s final interpretation.

Out of this hybrid model of industry expertise and audience input, Antigoni Buxton emerged as the clear favourite. And with that, Cyprus officially locked its entry for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Vienna in May 2026.

It’s easy to overlook how unusual this is. In a contest where broadcasters often act like shadowy record labels with voting privileges, Cyprus is signalling that it wants Eurovision to be both credible and participatory. After years of accusations that small countries “just buy Swedish songs and hope for points,” CyBC’s model — involving local producers, Greek industry figures and the general public — is a bold statement of intent.

Politically, it’s also smart. Eurovision is soft power disguised as sequins, and small nations like Cyprus know it. A transparent process allows CyBC to look democratic, modern and accountable while reinforcing national identity through culture. The message is simple: we’re not just competing — we’re curating who we are on stage.

And of course, Antigoni herself is a PR dream: British-born, Greek-Cypriot roots, bilingual appeal, and a sound that already merges traditional Mediterranean flavour with global pop polish. If ever there was an artist capable of representing the island’s cultural duality — and getting TikTok talking about it — it’s her. So while the rest of Europe is still struggling with chaotic national finals and “surprise internal choices,” Cyprus quietly did its homework.
Source: CyBC