One of Eurovisions favorites, Danish Søren Torpegaard Lund, victim of homophobic reactions wants to remain true to himself.

The competition is gearing up in Vienna in a rather tense atmosphere. Despite the insults received on social media, the young Dane, who will be singing in his own language and not in English, wants to believe in an inclusive society.

Published: 30/04/2026 18:08
Reading time: 2 minutes

Soeren Torpegaard Lund, Eurovision candidate, one of the favorites, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 27, 2026 (MATTHEW JAMES HARRISON / AFP)

Considered one of the Eurovision favorites, the Danish Soeren Torpegaard Lund has sparked a wave of homophobic reactions in his usually progressive country for his electro-pop title performed in leather pants and a transparent, tight-fitting top. The artist simply wants to “stay true to himself.”

Soeren Torpegaard Lund has always lived to the rhythm of the Eurovision, and the victory of the Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst in 2014 in Copenhagen particularly touched him. “One of my greatest memories is when Conchita Wurst won… It had a huge impact on me in my teenage years as a young queer person, to stay strong, discover who I was, and openly affirm it. It was really a very cool moment,” he said.

It is precisely in the country of his heroine, Vienna, that the 27-year-old artist will represent Denmark at Eurovision with “Før vi går hjem” (Before we go home), a disco-influenced song, an ode to the nightclub scene evoking the paradoxical attraction of some individuals to toxic relationships.

And, unlike previous years, he has a chance of winning, as the Scandinavian country, already a three-time winner of the septuagenarian competition (in 1963, 2000, and 2013), is one of the favorites among bettors.

On stage, the artist will strive to “stay true to himself, because some people in Denmark have tried to tone down my performance, and there has been a kind of homophobic backlash from Danes,” he laments. Despite the homophobic insults on social media, Soeren wants to believe in an inclusive society.

“I hate seeing that it still happens,” he sighs. “But I also loved being able to respond… in the ‘you can’t touch me’ mode… Everyone can be themselves at the same time.”

Originally from a small town in the center of the country, Soeren won the Danish Eurovision selection in February, and for the newspaper Politiken, it was “the right choice.” The journal of reference wrote, “He is an artist comfortable on stage, extroverted, with a choreography already ready that could easily fit into the Eurovision Song Contest.”

His other challenge will be to restore the taste of Eurovision to a country that has lost interest. “It has been a bit of a downfall over the past ten years, but I feel like it’s clearly making a comeback,” he assures. While his focus is on the musical experience, he acknowledges the tensions around the competition. Five European broadcasters, including Spain and Ireland, are boycotting the event to protest against Israel’s participation, and over a thousand artists are calling for unity.

“In times of crisis, we humans have always tended to come together to try to create hope,” he admits. His act of rebellion? Refusing to translate his song into English as is customary for lesser-known languages.

He will also have the pride of representing the entire Kingdom of Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening the territorial integrity of the Arctic region. “I am proud to represent countries that have to fight for their own rights, their own freedom,” concludes the 27-year-old artist.