<p><strong>***Episode recorded before the Eurovision 2026 host reveal***</strong></p><br><p>With Finland and Sweden continuing to battle for National Final supremacy, we hear from both UMK and SVT as they strive to improve year on year.</p><br><p>UMK Show Producer Matti Myllyaho explains how the show continues to reinvent itself, how they seek international audiences across the continent and beyond, and the on-going hype surrounding this year's line-up.</p><br><p>Later on we also cross to Sweden for our annual pre-Melfest catch up with Melodifestivalen Executive Producer Karin Gunnarsson as the discusses the KAJ effect, the pressure to keep her country at the top of the Eurovision leaderboard, and how she chooses which artists make the cut each year.</p><br><p><a href="https://open.acast.com/networks/60076470795a1c638da16c25/shows/5f213edc04a43f13795a1c09/episodes/patreon.com/eurotrip_podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click this link to sign up to The Euro Trip + on Patreon</a> for just £4.99 a month.</p><br><p>To support the podcast, head to <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/eurotrippodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Buy Me A Coffee</a></p><br><p>Follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroTripPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eurotrippodcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://open.acast.com/shows/5f213edc04a43f13795a1c09/episodes/TikTok" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a>&nbsp;or email [email protected], and find us online at&nbsp;<a href="https://open.acast.com/shows/5f213edc04a43f13795a1c09/episodes/61d48085f4100f0012cf1a64/eurotrippodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">eurotrippodcast.com</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>