Iceland Ignites the Stage: VÆB Crowned at Söngvakeppnin 2025 to Set Eurovision Ablaze!»

Tonight, Iceland lit up with the final of Söngvakeppnin 2025 – the festival that selects the island’s Eurovision representative. For the first time, the final did away with a superfinal round, with the winner determined by televote and an international jury. The show was a rollercoaster of contrasts, packed with emotions and, let’s be honest, a healthy dose of tedium.

Show Recap:
The evening kicked off with hosts Benedikt Valsson, Guðrún Dís Emilsdóttir, and Fannar Sveinsson, who dazzled us with a musical interlude straight out of «La La Land» – a moment so charming it felt like a perfume ad, yet left many wondering if it was merely a dress rehearsal. Soon after, rapper Herra Hnetusmjör took to the stage as the first guest, paving the way for the introduction of the six finalists.

• Ágúst – “Like You”: The artist began by singing amongst the crowd before strutting onto the stage with four dancers. A pop tune with a hook so catchy that, under different circumstances, it might have set trends.
• Bjarni Arason – “Aðeins lengur” (A Bit Longer): The veteran delivered a heartfelt ballad in Icelandic, accompanied by a pianist. A classic approach that, sadly, felt a tad predictable.
• Júlí & Dísa – “Fire”: With a set designed to mimic urban chaos – which ended up looking more like the backdrop of an old sitcom – the duo presented a pop-dance number with rap segments from Dísa.

• VÆB – “RÓA” (ROW): Decked out in silver tracksuits against a backdrop of rolling waves, this duo – one of the favorites – delivered arguably the most original performance of the night by blending rap, pop, dance, and Icelandic folklore.

• Tinna – “Words”: The former gymnast ventured into country territory, accompanied by visuals of herself and snippets of her lyrics. An attempt at raw vulnerability that resonated with only a select few.
• Stebbi JAK – “Set Me Free”: Closing the show, in a set replicating a prison cell, the artist presented a punk-rock anthem in English, providing what many considered the grand finale – or at least the most explosive closing act of the night.

And the winner is…

After an interlude led by Hera Björk – last year’s Söngvakeppnin winner – the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: the voting.
International Jury Ranking:
• VÆB – “RÓA”: 74 points
• Júlí & Dísa – “Fire”: 63 points
• Stebbi JAK – “Set Me Free”: 57 points
• Tinna – “Words”: 53 points
• Ágúst – “Like You”: 45 points
• Bjarni Arason – “Aðeins lengur”: 38 points

Then, following a performance by Finland’s 2023 Eurovision rep, Käärijä, alongside the Swedish duo Hooja, the televote results were revealed:
• VÆB – “RÓA”: 93 points
• Stebbi JAK – “Set Me Free”: 89 points
• Júlí & Dísa – “Fire”: 74 points
• Bjarni Arason – “Aðeins lengur”: 39 points
• Ágúst – “Like You”: 23 points
• Tinna – “Words”: 22 points

The combined scores delivered the final ranking:
• VÆB – “RÓA”: 167 points
• Stebbi JAK – “Set Me Free”: 142 points
• Júlí & Dísa – “Fire”: 137 points
• Bjarni Arason – “Aðeins lengur”: 83 points
• Tinna – “Words”: 75 points
• Ágúst – “Like You”: 68 points

With 163 points, VÆB emerged victorious and will represent Iceland at Eurovision 2025, aiming to break their recent streak of missing the final since 2023. Will this herald a renaissance for Iceland on the European stage, or is it just another excuse for viral memes? Only time – and some wry tweets – will tell.