Lady Bits win EURvision 2026: ‘Big things are coming for us!’

The duo Lady Bits are the big winners of EURvision 2026. The song contest at Erasmus Paviljoen on Friday night included a creative program full of witty jokes, enjoyable audience games, and inspiring artists.

EURvision, according to the organisers the biggest show on campus, showcases Erasmus University’s musical talent in a heated contest. This Friday night, the auditorium is shining with purple lights. A guy is walking around with a violin in his left hand and its bow in the right one. At a central row, a lady is wearing a pink sweatshirt, the back of which says ‘I hope you have the best day ever’.

Simply excited

Two guys are sitting in the middle of the most central row in the audience. They’re well acquainted with the musical events on campus – even just applied to the Erasmus Music Association board earlier that day. Tonight, they come to support Raina. When asked whether she should win, one of the guys says ‘No’. “You can’t put that in”, his friend interrupts him. He ignores his friend. “I said what I said. She’s great, but not everyone would understand her performance like they would a fast-paced rock song.”

Fine minutes before the show, people keep entering the auditorium in flocks. At the same time, three girls are loudly chattering at the back seats. “No one!”, is their answer to the question who they are most excited to see tonight. They love the real Eurovision so much, they made it a tradition to go to all related contests. “We also went to Het Grote Songfestivalfeest in Amsterdam where Eurovision artists from different years performed their songs.” The true Eurovision fans are simply excited to vote for the best performance.

Lyrics in Bengali

The night opens with Parel, last year’s winner, bringing a big crew on stage, including Kristina, the 2024 winner, and the violinist previously spotted. The night continues with songs portraying the emotions of being homesick, burning fingers during guitar solos and even lyrics in Bengali.

Then Lady Bits gets on the stage and tells their story about a lady in the mountains and her lost husband. Accompanied by guest accordionist Sebastian, fashionably dressed, and poetically expressing their lyricism, the tell-tale clearly got to people’s hearts.

‘Easy’ song

When the Lady Bits are announced as winner, the audience couldn’t applaud louder. After half an hour of congratulations post the show’s ending,  Bettie and Fritz find a quiet moment to share more about their EURvision experience and what’s coming next for them.

“We’ve been making music together for two to three years. We also participated in EURvision two years ago when we won the judges’ heart, but the audience didn’t choose us, so we ended up like fifth”, they explain.     

Lady Bits wrote their song this year, My man went over the mountain, with the intention of winning the contest with it. The song is inspired by an Irish dance and challenged them to make a livelier song instead of the usual slow songs they make and describe as ‘easy’.

Gap year

What’s next for Lady Bits? EUC-student Bettie: “I want to explore more different types of music, but I think we’ll keep writing forever. I can’t see a future for us where we don’t keep writing.” Together? They look at each other. “For sure, you’re not gonna lose me, I’m sorry”, Philosophy student Fritz said.

Bettie will be taking a gap year to focus on her music. Both are confident that with the support they’ve received. “Big things will be coming soon for us!”

“Let me say one more thing”, Bettie continues. “All of this stuff happens because a bunch of cool people are really motivated about other people’s music. Poetry nights and the Erasmus Music Association and such just taught me how important it is to be excited about what others are doing and to work together. Working together is infinitely better.”