Europe’s most flamboyant and beloved musical competition is back, and this year, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is pulling out all the stops for its 70th anniversary. The grand spectacle unfolds in Vienna, Austria, a city that has now hosted the contest three times—previously in 1967 and 2015, and again this year, thanks to Austria’s victory in 2025 with JJ’s “Wasted Love.” The Wiener Stadthalle is abuzz, as 25 countries prepare to battle it out in the Grand Final, hoping to claim the iconic trophy and the right to host next year’s event.
The journey to this climactic night began earlier in the week, with two semifinals on May 12 and 14. Thirty-five nations entered, from Eurovision stalwarts like Sweden and Italy to further-flung participants such as Australia and Azerbaijan. After a whirlwind of performances, only 25 remain in the running, including Denmark, Germany, Israel, Belgium, Albania, Greece, Ukraine, Australia, Serbia, Malta, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Croatia, United Kingdom, France, Moldova, Finland, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Cyprus, Italy, Norway, Romania, and Austria. The stakes? Not just continental bragging rights but also the honor of bringing the contest home in 2027.
For those tuning in from across the globe, Eurovision’s reach has never been greater. In the United States, fans can stream the Grand Final live on Peacock or YouTube, while UK viewers can catch the action on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The broadcast starts at 3 p.m. Eastern Time in the U.S., 8 p.m. in the UK, and 22:00 Greek time (GMT+2). In Greece, ERT1 will air the show, with additional coverage on ERT’s Second Program radio, ERT COSMOS, and ERTFLIX, which even offers Greek sign language interpretation. Meanwhile, Australians can enjoy free streaming via SBS On Demand.
The 70th anniversary has inspired a few changes and special touches. According to the BBC, this year’s voting process includes new safeguards for online voting and a jury system designed for diversity in age, background, and gender. The show itself promises a dazzling mix of nostalgia and innovation: 2025’s winner JJ will open the night with a performance that blends Mozart-inspired elements and his own music, joined by over 40 dancers and acrobats. Three interval acts are set to feature Eurovision legends—Ruslana, Lordi, and Verka Serduchka—alongside an all-star lineup of past champions performing classic hits from the contest’s storied past.
Bookmakers and fans alike have been speculating for weeks about who will take home the prize. Finland, represented by singer Pete Parkkonen and violinist Linda Lampenius with their song “Liekinheitin,” are the clear favorites, with odds as low as 11/10. Australia, never shy about making an impression, is sending Delta Goodrem with “Eclipse,” and she’s hot on Finland’s heels in the betting. Greece’s entry, “Ferto” by Akylas, has also captured the imagination of fans and bookies, bolstered by a high-energy performance and staging by veteran choreographer Fokas Evangelinos. The song’s title, meaning “Bring It,” has become a rallying cry for Greeks worldwide, many of whom hope to see the trophy return to Athens for the first time in two decades.
According to Greek Reporter, Akylas’s performance features an ambitious, fast-paced routine with a poignant homage to Helena Paparizou’s 2005 winning act, “My Number One,” also staged by Evangelinos. The buzz around “Ferto” has been building since the start of the promo tour, with the Greek entry consistently ranked among the top contenders. Not to be outdone, Cyprus’s Antigoni Buxton will take the stage with “Jalla,” a track that fuses contemporary pop with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences, earning plenty of praise for its energetic choreography and strong visual identity.
Of course, Eurovision wouldn’t be Eurovision without its share of drama and political intrigue. This year, several countries—including Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, and Slovenia—are boycotting the contest in protest over Israel’s participation, and protests have been organized in Vienna ahead of the final. Despite these tensions, the event presses on, a testament to Eurovision’s enduring mission to unite Europe (and beyond) through music, as it has since its inception in the aftermath of World War II.
In the UK, anticipation is tinged with a bit of realism. The act “Look Mum No Computer,” featuring Kent-based singer/songwriter Sam Battle, will represent Britain with the electro-pop number “Eins, Zwei, Drei.” Battle, a self-confessed Eurovision superfan, is best known for his quirky YouTube channel and his passion for vintage electronics and synthesizers. “I have always been a massive Eurovision fan, and I love the magical joy it brings to millions of people every year, so getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour that I am taking very seriously,” Battle told the BBC. Yet, bookmakers are not optimistic, giving the UK odds of 300/1 to win. The last British victory was nearly three decades ago, when Katrina and the Waves triumphed in 1997 with “Love Shine a Light.”
Fans in Greece and Cyprus are particularly excited, with both countries qualifying for the Grand Final after electrifying semifinal performances. The Greek and Cypriot entries will perform sixth and twenty-first, respectively, in the Grand Final running order. In the lead-up to the big night, Greek broadcaster ERT aired “Ferto Promo Tour – The Movie,” a documentary chronicling Akylas’s journey from the Greek national final to the stage in Vienna. ERT also hosted a special “Eurovision Night” talk show, bringing together past contestants and celebrity guests to discuss the competition and share their predictions.
As the world tunes in, the Wiener Stadthalle is set to become a melting pot of cultures, sounds, and stories. Whether you’re cheering for a perennial powerhouse, rooting for an underdog, or just soaking in the spectacle, Eurovision 2026 promises to be a night of unforgettable performances, dazzling costumes, and, as always, a few surprises along the way. With favorites like Finland, Australia, Greece, Israel, and Romania in the mix, and the added excitement of the contest’s 70th birthday, this year’s Grand Final is shaping up to be one for the ages.
For all its glitz and controversy, Eurovision’s true magic lies in its ability to bring people together—if only for a few hours—through the universal language of music. And as the final notes ring out in Vienna, millions of viewers will be reminded once again why, after seven decades, Eurovision remains Europe’s most cherished musical tradition.