Greek singer Akylas said on Friday that finishing in tenth place at the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final in Vienna was unfair to the delegation. Speaking on the morning show Kalomairi Mazi on August 7, the Greek representative said the final result did not reflect the actual effort put in by his team.
Akylas noted that the placement was a sharp drop from where prediction odds had ranked him before the contest. He said he felt psychologically strange after the result, adding that emotions are not gears and that he believed 100 percent that his team was wronged.
He clarified that he was not claiming first place, explaining that he was spellbound by the performance of winner Dara. After watching her perform in the second semi-final, Akylas said he told his team members that she would win because her performance was fantastic. He added that he did not know what went wrong or what his team should have done differently.
Pressure and Self-Restrictions in Vienna
Akylas also described the intense pressure he faced during his two weeks of rehearsals in Austria. He admitted that he was so focused on giving 100 percent and not disappointing the Greek public who voted for him that he did not go out at all in Vienna. To avoid getting sick, he attended almost no pre-parties.
Reflecting on his stay, Akylas said that if he could turn back time, he would try to enjoy the experience more. He called representing his country an unprecedented event and a great honor, adding that he was deeply grateful for the immense love he received from fans in Greece.
He explained that artists experience a massive peak at Eurovision while in the spotlight, but after the event the focus shifts back to releasing new music and building momentum.
Future Eurovision Plans and Album
When asked about returning to the European contest, Akylas described the process as soul-draining despite its beautiful moments. He said he would 100 percent enter again in a few years once he develops a new recipe, a new formula, and a new character.
Three months after the competition in Vienna, the singer is on a summer concert tour across Greece. He is also writing and preparing new tracks for his upcoming studio album.
