© Rtl Grafik
Following 83 song submissions and a weekend of exceptional performances, the international jury has narrowed them down to eight finalists.
Last weekend, RTL played host to auditions for the upcoming Luxembourg Song Contest. The international jury, made up of professionals and creatives from the Eurovision world, was on the hunt for the perfect song to potentially represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Among the 58 auditioning candidates, there were both well-known Luxembourgish artists as well as fresh faces to the scene. The judges concluded the weekend by saying:
"We were impressed by the diversity of the acts who took part in the auditions. It’s so important that everyone had an equal chance to perform for the judges, which is what makes the Luxembourg Song Contest so special. Some of the artists who auditioned are just starting out in their musical careers, and we hope the experience, as well as the feedback from the jury, will help them to further develop their talents in the future. It was an honour for us to be part of the selection process and we wish each of the contestants all the best in their future careers."
The eight finalists
Andrew the Martian
A completely self-taught artist, Andrew sees music as the language of his emotions. From a young age, he’s been captivated by the raw connection between performers and their audiences. Born in Portugal and having lived in Luxembourg for the past 10 years, Andrew devotes himself entirely to music, cultivating diverse and authentic sounds.
Daryss
Daryss comes from a theater background, having studied at the Conservatoire of Dramatic Arts in Mons, Belgium. Storytelling through acting, singing, and dancing has driven her since childhood. After numerous plays and musicals, she now focuses more on music to express emotions and connect with others. She runs a theater studio for children and adults, she also directs and teaches, while helping out in the family restaurant.
Eva Marija
At age 3, Eva Marija fell in love with the violin after watching Alexander Rybak's Eurovision winning Fairytale. She pursued a multi-disciplinary path at the Luxembourg City Conservatoire, studying violin, singing, piano, and bass guitar across genres from jazz and classical to pop/rock. Born and raised in Luxembourg to Slovenian parents, she remains connected to both cultures. Performing since age 14, she's currently studying songwriting in London.
Hugo One
Hugo One began singing in his school choir – and never stopped. Alongside classical training, he has performed on Luxembourg stages from the Philharmonie to Den Atelier and Luxembourg Pride. His musical world blends soul, pop, and disco to move both body and heart. Outside of music, Hugo works as an event manager.
Irem
Irem trained in classical music theory and jazz dance at the Luxembourg Conservatoire. She performed in several musicals through "Kolléisch in Concert Musical" before launching her own musical journey. Her debut EP Look At Me came out in 2023, followed by Diamonds & Birkins in 2025. She regularly performs at festivals and venues across Luxembourg and is making a name for herself in the local music scene. She is also pursuing a master's degree in
physics in Vienna.
Luzac
Singer, songwriter, and composer Luzac fell in love with singing after watching High School Musical at age 9. He spent years writing and composing for other talents before launching his solo career in 2021 with the single J'y arriverai. After placing third in LSC 2025 with Je danse, he collaborated with many Luxembourgish artists and performed at numerous festivals. Alongside his music career, Luzac works as a specialised educator in psycho-educational support.
ShiroKuro
ShiroKuro is a pop/rock trio based in Liège, Belgium. Their debut EP In Sight was released in 2022. Matias Pollicino, Nathanaël Paulis, and the Luxembourger Louis Comblin met at the Royal Conservatory of Liège, where two earned master's degrees in contemporary composition and one in percussion. They later specialised in concert production, artist management, and music production. All classically trained, Louis plays guitar and piano, Matias is on drums, while Nathanaël handles vocals and violin.
Steve Castile
Steve Castile discovered music through a piano app on his iPod - soon replaced by real instruments. He has played guitar and piano for 15 years and later took up songwriting and music production. Eight years ago, he added singing to his repertoire. Alongside music, Steve earned a bachelor's in psychology and is currently completing a master's in Cultural Media Studies in Freiburg im Breisgau.
The winner will be decided on 24 January at the Rockhal for the Luxembourg Song Contest 2026, with the winning performance potentially heading to Vienna for Eurovision in May.
