Danish broadcaster DR has confirmed that Denmark’s Eurovision 2026 representative Søren Torpegaard Lund will perform his entry in Danish, following intense public debate about whether the song should be translated into English.
Debate Over Language Choice
Since Søren’s victory at Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026 with the song “Før vi går hjem”, discussions had arisen over whether an English version might improve the country’s chances in the competition.
However, DR has now confirmed that the original Danish version will remain unchanged for Vienna. The singer had previously expressed his wish to perform the song in the language in which it was written.
Erik Struve Hansen, who is responsible for programming for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and Eurovision in DR, said:
“We are extremely proud that Søren Torpegaard Lund takes to the stage in Vienna with ‘Før vi går hjem’ exactly as it was written: in Danish. Søren writes and sings from the heart – and his feelings, dreams and stories live strongest in his own language.”
Also, Søren Torpegaard Lund commented on his social media:
“For me, it has never been about which language I would prefer. It has been about being open to the process and giving all possibilities an honest chance. Together with my team, the songwriters and DR, we have investigated what could give the song the best conditions internationally.
But the further we got into the process, the clearer it became that ‘Before we go home’ already stands strongest where it started – in its original Danish language. This is the version that a whole community both inside and outside of Denmark has fallen in love with.
Even those who don’t understand Danish have fallen in love with an atmosphere and a vibe. And I actually experience that’s a strength. When the language is not understood word for word, a mystery emerges that perfectly fits the song’s theme about temptation and what happens after midnight. The Danish language is allowed to be something attractive and almost enchanting.
That’s you too, the song has lived in my heart from the beginning. And I take pride in standing by what feels authentic to me. Sometimes it takes the courage to defy statistics and expectations but for me, authenticity is most important. This is the one that makes my performance the strongest.
Therefore it feels absolutely right to let the song live on in its original form. I am both proud of it and really happy about it.”
Denmark will appear in the second half of the second semi-final on May 14.
Denmark’s Eurovision Journey
Denmark first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1957 and notched up their first win in 1963 with Grethe and Jørgan Ingmann’s “Dansevise”. Denmark later earned two third-place finishes in 1988 and 1989 but was then relegated three times in 1994, 1996, and 1998. They finally achieved their second victory in 2000 with the Olsen Brothers’ “Fly on the Wings of Love”, and have missed the Grand Final eight times since the introduction of the semi-finals. A six-year qualification streak from 2008 culminated in its third win in 2013 with Emmelie de Forrest’s “Only Teardrops
Sissal represented Denmark in 2025 with “Hallucination”. She qualified for the final, breaking Denmark’s five-year non-qualification streak. She would eventually finish in 23rd place, earning 47 points. Of these, 45 came from juries, while 2 came from the televote.
Are you ready to hear Danish again? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News source : DR
Photo credits : DR
Euan T