Eurovision returns to our screens tonight with 25 nations battling it out on stage in the Grand Final in Austria.
Tonight’s contest – which is now in its 70th year – has been overshadowed by a boycott of five countries, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia, over Israel’s participation.
The competing countries in the grand final will be Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Ukraine and the UK whose entrant is Look Mum No Computer, otherwise known as Sam Battle.
The Eurovision Song Contest grand final will take place on Saturday at 8pm, and will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Follow the latest updates from the Eurovision Grand Final
Who will win Eurovision 2026? Bookies favourites revealed
The contest has been hitting headlines this week, from countries boycotting the event in protest against Israel’s participation to the UK entry Look Mum No Computer’s national ’embarrassment’.
Odds on who could be crowned the winner have, therefore, been fluctuating. However…one act seems to keep a constant champion standing.
Bookies are backing Finland as the favourites, represented by Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen with their song Liekinheitin, to claim the Eurovision Song Contest trophy.
The top 10 contenders, according to William Hill:
Finland: 11/10
Australia: 15/8
Bulgaria: 9/1
Greece: 14/1
Denmark: 28/1
France: 66/1
Israel: 12/1
Malta: 66/1
Italy: 40/1
Romania: 18/1
Sweden: 80/1
……..
UK: 125/1
Eurovision fans gathered in Vienna to protest Israel’s participation in tonight’s event
Divisions over Israel’s participation are hanging over the event’s 70th anniversary.
Host city Vienna has been decked in hearts and the contest’s ‘United by Music’ motto this week, in which singers and bands from 35 countries have been competing onstage for Europe’s musical crown.
But Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland have decided to boycott the competition over Israel’s inclusion.
Pro-Palestine groups staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner ‘no stage for genocide,’ while a demonstration against Israel’s participation is planned ahead of tonight’s show.
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Who is hosting the Eurovision final?
The hosts for this year’s competition are Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski.
Victoria from Innsbruck in Tyrol, Austria, is a TV presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer.
She signed her first record deal at 16 with Sony Music and later celebrated her big breakthrough in 2016 with a victory on the TV show Let’s Dance – where she has been a permanent host since 2018.
Michael, from Leoben, Austria, has graced the screens in both TV and film, as well as becoming a presenter.
His big breakthrough came with the 2004 film Nacktschnecken. He has hosted events including the Nestroy Theater Prize and the Amadeus Awards.
Members of the audience start taking their seats…as Israel’s supporters dress themselves with flags
The audience have started filling the stadium and taking their seats, as supporters of Israel drape their national flag around themselves.
UK in Eurovision: A potted history
The United Kingdom has competed in Eurovision on 65 occasions, taking part in every contest since 1959.
One of the so-called ‘Big Five’ nations, alongside France, Germany, Spain and Italy, the UK gains automatic qualification to the final every year because it is one the largest contributors to the European Broadcasting Union.
Despite finishing in last place on four occasions including twice in the past five years (2019 and 2021) including latterly scoring “nul points” with James Newman, the UK remains one of the most successful countries in the competition.
Here are the UK’s five previous wins:
- 1967: Sandie Shaw – Puppet on a String
- 1969: Lulu Boom Bang-a-Bang (joint winner with France, Spain and The Netherlands)
- 1976: Brotherhood of Man – Save Your Kisses for Me
- 1981: Bucks Fizz (pictured above) – Making Your Mind Up
- 1997: Katrina and the Waves – Love Shine a Light
UK’s Eurovision act Look Mum No Computer and Australia entry Delta Goodrem perform dress rehearsal ahead of tonight’s live final
Eurovision acts performed last-minute dress rehearsals ahead of tonight’s live final in Vienna, Austria.
UK’s entry Look Mum No Computer will compete against favourites including Finland, Greece and Australia.
Look Mum No Computer, real name Sam Battle, will perform his zany entry Eins, Zwei, Drei.
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Eurovision superfans gather in Vienna
Excitement builds across the UK and the continent with one hour to go before this year’s grand final kick off. Lets look at some Eurovision superfans who were pictured at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna earlier today.
