239 Gdansk

Welcome to Gdansk
"Where Freedom Found Its Voice"

Welcome to Gdansk, the proud maritime heart of Poland’s Baltic coast, where colorful merchant houses rise beside quiet canals and the scent of the sea drifts through centuries of history. Here, along the broad Motława River, the city reveals itself in layers of Hanseatic grandeur, resilient spirit, and vibrant modern life.

Stroll along the elegant Long Market (Dlugi Targ), where richly decorated facades glow in shades of amber, ochre, and sea-green, leading toward the towering silhouette of the Gothic St. Mary’s Church, one of the largest brick churches in the world. The ornate Neptune Fountain, symbol of the city’s deep maritime identity, stands proudly at the heart of the square, watching over streets that once welcomed merchants, sailors, and travelers from across Europe.

Yet beneath the beauty lies a powerful story of resilience. During the final months of World War II, nearly 90 percent of historic Gdansk was destroyed, leaving the once-grand Hanseatic city in ruins. What visitors see today is the result of one of Europe’s most remarkable reconstruction efforts. The historic center was painstakingly rebuilt using historical records, paintings, and architectural fragments. The result is not merely restoration but a proud act of cultural memory, preserving the spirit of the city for generations to come.

Gdansk is also forever linked to the struggle for freedom. At the Gdansk Shipyard, the independent trade union Solidarity was born in 1980 under the leadership of Lech Walesa, sparking a movement that would eventually help bring an end to communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe. Today the striking European Solidarity Centre stands beside the historic shipyard gates, telling the story of courage, solidarity, and the peaceful fight for democracy.

Beyond the historic center, Gdansk forms part of something uniquely Polish: Trójmiasto, or the Tricity. Together with the elegant seaside resort of Sopot and the modern port city of Gdynia, Gdansk creates a vibrant urban stretch along the Baltic Sea. The three cities lie side by side, connected by beaches, forests, and boulevards, working closely together and forming one of Poland’s most dynamic metropolitan regions.

Spend your days wandering medieval streets, relaxing on sandy Baltic beaches, or enjoying fresh seafood in waterfront restaurants as ships glide past the historic crane on the riverfront. From the echoes of Hanseatic trade to the birth of modern democracy, Gdansk is a city shaped by both hardship and hope.
Here, every brick tells a story, every square reflects a rebirth, and every breeze from the Baltic carries the quiet pride of a city that rebuilt itself and helped change the course of history.

Highlights

⇧ Dlugi Targ and the Town Hall

In the heart of the Old Town, full of colorful facades and historic charm. During the time of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Gdansk was one of the richest cities in Europe. The elegant Long Market, lined with richly decorated merchant houses and crowned by the Gothic-Renaissance Town Hall, remains the city’s most iconic and vibrant square.

The Gdansk Crane (Zuraw)

This iconic symbol of Gdansk is the largest preserved medieval port crane in Europe and a true symbol of the city’s maritime history. It's situated at the picturesque waterfront which is lined with historic buildings

Artus Court (Dwór Artusa)

A meeting place for merchants and a center of social life. Today, it is a popular attraction for visitors and part of the Gdansk History Museum. Inside, the vast Gothic hall displays ornate decorations and towering model ships that recall the city’s proud maritime traditions.

Gdansk Old Town (Sródmiescie)

Famous Gdansk townhouses with the Old Town behind them. Over 90% of the historic center was destroyed during World War II and has since been beautifully rebuilt.

Gdansk Baltic Beach

Almost the entire Polish Baltic Sea coast is made up of sandy beaches. In Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot also the whole coastline (except for the ports) is one long stretch of beautiful sand. During the season, the beaches are crowded with people enjoying the sun.

Sopot Pier (Molo)

The longest wooden pier in Europe, stretching 511 meters into the Baltic Sea. A beloved seaside promenade where locals and visitors stroll above the waves, enjoying fresh sea air and views of the elegant resort town of Sopot.

St. Mary’s Church

The largest brick church in Europe dominates the skyline of Gdansk. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, this immense Gothic basilica can hold up to 25,000 people and rewards those who climb its tower with sweeping views across the historic city and the Baltic coast.

European Solidarity Centre

A modern museum that tells the story of the Solidarity movement and its important role in bringing freedom and democracy to Poland.

Mannerist Armoury

Where cultural and architectural influences from across the continent came together, an example of Dutch-influenced architecture in Gdansk.
Built in the early 17th century, the richly ornamented façade reflects the city’s prosperity during its Hanseatic golden age.

Venue and Presenters

Gdansk Stadium (Polsat Plus Arena)

A striking modern stadium inspired by the amber for which the Baltic coast is famous. Built for UEFA Euro 2012, it hosts major football matches, concerts, and events. The golden façade glows in the sunlight, making it one of the most distinctive stadiums in Europe.

Edyta Górniak

One of Poland’s most celebrated singers, known for her powerful voice and emotional performances. She rose to international fame after finishing 2nd at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 with the song “To nie ja!”. Since then, she has remained a prominent figure in Polish pop music & television.

Justyna Steczkowska

One of Poland’s most distinctive and versatile vocalists, celebrated for her wide vocal range and artistic stage presence. She first gained national attention in the mid-1990s and represented Poland at ESC in 1995 with the song “Sama.” She has remained a prominent figure in Polish music for decades.

Michal Szpak

One of Poland’s most recognizable pop artists, known for his powerful voice and flamboyant stage presence. He represented Poland at ESC in 2016 with the song “Color of Your Life.” His dramatic style and distinctive vocals have made him a standout figure in modern Polish pop music.

Participants

40 countries

from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania will be on stage in Gdansk

Returning countries

Estonia and Philippines

Withdrawing countries

Italy and Turkey

Returning Artists

16	M. Pokora / 12 times for Monaco and once for France, Poland and Haiti / Silver Medallist

11	Michael Bublé / for Canada / Double Bronze Medallist

10	Eleni Foureira / 7 times for Albania and once for Greece and Turkey / Silver Medallist

06	Angèle van Laeken / 4 times for Belgium and once for Luxembourg / Global Music Champion

05	Mirela / 3 times for Spain and once for Andorra / Global Music Champion

04	Elhaida Dani / for Albania / 22nd place Nucci / for Serbia / Semi Finalist ZHANGYE / for China / Bronze Medalist

03	LYRA / for Ireland / 11th place nublu / for Estonia / 20th place Tomas Robin / for Czech Republic / 9th place

02

Funambulista / for Spain / Bronze Medallist
HUNTR/X / for South Korea / Bronze Medallist
Justin Jesso / for Liechtenstein / 21st place
Kaleo / for Iceland / 17th place
Klavdia / for Greece / Silver Medallist
Lovex / for Finland / Global Music Champion
Martija Stanojkovic / for North Macedonia / Semi Finalist
Tim Schou / for Denmark / 7th place
Valeriya Bearwolf / for Russia / 18th place
Vanesa Horáková / for Slovakia / 12th place

DEADLINES

March 14th:
Vote in the semi finals

March 26th:
Vote in the final

March 31st:
Submit a song for the next edition

Voting

Give 12, 10, 8...1 point for your top 10
In the final you also have to choose 3 substitutes

Voting forms:
Semi final
Final

Songs & Videos

Dropbox entitled "239 Gdansk"

YouTube playlist at TVGlobalMusic

Live Voting

The final
The televote

Scoreboards

The final
The televote
Semi final one
Semi final two

The Result

Countries receiving most 12 points / United Kingdom, 4
Countries giving 12 points to the winner / Denmark, Ireland, Iceland and Chad
Countries receiving points from most juries / Netherlands and Poland, 21
Highest placing country not scoring a top mark / Germany in 13th with 10 points from Czech Republic and Estonia as highest marks
Lowest placing country scoring a top mark / North Macedonia in 25th getting 12 points from Bosnia-Herzegovina

Gdansk unfolded in two distinct acts.

Act I – The Juries Draw the Map
The first signal came immediately from Slovakia, whose 12 points went to Czech Republic. That early gift put Czech Republic on top at once, and after Bosnia-Herzegovina and Denmark had also voted, it was still Czech Republic leading the way. In those opening moments, the board felt scattered rather than shaped, with points landing in many different places and no obvious front-runner yet emerging.

Then Andorra changed the picture. Its 8 points to Germany were enough to lift Germany into first place, briefly turning the scoreboard in a new direction. But that lead did not last long. When Portugal handed out its votes, the Netherlands collected a crucial 12 and surged to the top. From there, the Dutch entry became the contest’s central reference point.

Through Liechtenstein, Philippines, Germany, Greece, Serbia, France and Poland, the Netherlands stayed in front. It was not always by much, but it kept finding enough support to remain the act everyone else was chasing. Behind, Portugal and the United States began to gather weight, while the United Kingdom stayed in the frame without yet looking like the likeliest jury winner.

Then came the United Kingdom jury, and the balance shifted. Portugal took 10 points from that set and moved into first place, overtaking the Netherlands. China’s jury then produced a deadlock, pulling the two countries level on 64 points each. North Macedonia left that tie untouched.

The United States jury nudged Portugal back in front, and San Marino strengthened that position further by awarding Portugal 12. Russia and Finland did not disturb the summit, and when Cyprus also gave Portugal 12, the Portuguese entry looked to have built a meaningful cushion.

But the late juries kept the suspense alive. Czech Republic pushed the Netherlands back into first by the slimmest possible margin, 96 to 95. Switzerland immediately reversed it, lifting Portugal ahead again, 97 to 96. Canada changed nothing at the top. Then Ireland swung the pendulum once more, giving enough to the Netherlands to move it up to 104. The Dutch jury could not vote for its own country, so the lead held for one more set. Finally, Sweden voted, and its points were enough to pull Portugal level.

By the end of the jury sequence, the top of the board looked like this:
Netherlands – 104
Portugal – 104
United States – 87
United Kingdom – 85
Liechtenstein – 77
Sweden – 74

It was not a jury win for one country, but a shared summit. Netherlands and Portugal had reached the same height by different routes, and the United States and the United Kingdom were close enough behind to hope for a public surge.

Act II – The Public Changes the Temperature
Then came the televote, revealed one country at a time from the bottom of the jury ranking upwards.
At first, the numbers were modest and the board barely shifted. Switzerland opened with just 14 points, and several of the early countries followed with similarly limited support. Movement, yes — but only in the lower half.
The first real signs of momentum came in the middle. France picked up a strong 34 points from the public, Denmark added 30, and Bosnia-Herzegovina and Poland both received 28. Enough to reshape the midfield, but not enough to challenge the summit.
Then came Russia. Already well placed after the juries, it received 35 televote points — the second-highest of the night. For a moment, it looked like the benchmark. A serious score, and a clear statement.

But the scale of what was coming next had not yet been revealed.
When the televote reached the United Kingdom, the contest changed instantly. Sitting just behind the jury leaders, it now received 63 points — by far the highest televote score of the night. Not just a boost, but a leap. From contender to clear leader in one move.
The United States followed, but with only 16 points from the public, it could not enter that fight.
Then came Portugal, one of the joint jury winners. Its televote: 17 points. A surprisingly low return at exactly the moment it needed strength, leaving it unable to respond to the British surge.

Finally, the Netherlands stepped forward. The last country to receive its points. Its televote of 31 was solid — clearly stronger than Portugal’s — and enough to move into second place overall. But it was not enough to close the gap.
And with that, the outcome was sealed.

The Conclusion
This was a final shaped by balance first, and then by impact.
The jury vote never belonged fully to one country. Czech Republic led early, Germany had its moment, the Netherlands controlled long stretches, and Portugal kept returning to the summit until the two stood level at the end.
The televote resolved what the juries had left open.
Portugal was strong, but not strong enough with the public. The Netherlands improved and briefly looked like the likely winner. But the United Kingdom found the one thing that mattered most in this format: a decisive moment.
The largest televote of the night did not just win the contest. It broke it open.
And when the final points settled, the result did not feel like an upset — but like a shift that had been waiting to happen.

The Champion
This was United Kingdom's 45th medal and the 20th of gold. United Kingdom triumphed the first time in GM19 and the last time was in GM221.
United Kingdom debuted in GM03 and has now competed 232 times, reaching 212 finals and finishing 115 times in the top 10.
MEEK's score of 148 points is the highest for United Kingdom, since Harry Styles won GM205.
Well done United Kingdom, MEEK and HoD Per who wins for the 17th time.

The Winner

“Fabulous” by MEEK is a confident, high-gloss pop anthem that radiates self-assurance and unapologetic individuality. The title says it all: this is a celebration of owning who you are, turning heads not for approval, but simply because you can. Beneath the shine and attitude lies a message about stepping into your identity without hesitation, embracing both the spotlight and the shadows that come with it.

Musically, the track leans into polished pop production with a rhythmic pulse that feels tailor-made for movement. Crisp beats, layered synths, and catchy melodic hooks give the song its infectious energy, while the chorus bursts with charisma and sleek, theatrical flair. MEEK’s vocal delivery balances cool control with expressive confidence, carrying the song’s attitude with ease.

In terms of reception, “Fabulous” has found its footing among listeners drawn to bold, personality-driven pop. Its vibrant energy and memorable hook have helped it gain traction across streaming platforms and social media, reinforcing MEEK’s artistic identity as someone unafraid to take up space and command attention.