Alexander Rybak performs a musical mashup with Akylas's song Ferto

Norwegian musician and 2009 Eurovision winner Alexander Rybak shared a video on social media featuring a violin performance that combines his track Fairytale with the song Ferto by artist Akylas. Akylas responded positively to this musical collaboration. Meanwhile, preparations for the Eurovision 2026 contest have been announced. The first semi-final is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, featuring Akylas performing fourth alongside competitors including Sweden, Italy, and Finland. The second semi-final will follow on Thursday, May 14, with 18 countries competing, including France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The final is set for Saturday, May 16. A total of 25 countries will participate in the final, consisting of 20 semi-final qualifiers, the Big Five nations, and the host country, Austria.