The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is about to take to the stage for the Grand Final in Vienna, Austria.
This week has seen two semi-finals, confirming the final spots for the main event kicking off Saturday night.
The UK will be hoping not ot face the dreaded Eurovision curse and get zero points with Look Mum No Computer representing with his song Eins, Zwei, Drei, while Australia has climbed the ranks of favourites thanks to Delta Goodrem’s performance.
Controversy does surround the competition once again due to the inclusion of Israel, which has made it to the final with Noam Bettan’s song Michelle, with pro-Palestine protests expected during the broadcast.
The competition is still expected to draw millions of viewers when the finalists come out on Saturday night, with hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski leading the evening’s proceedings.
So without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the main event…
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Who is in the final of Eurovision 2026?
Following the semi-finals, we now have our complete list of countries for the Grand Final taking place in Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle.
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The big five – or the big four this year – who automatically get a spot in the final include the UK, Germany, France and Italy. Spain, the country that usually makes up the fifth spot, is boycotting this year’s contest.
Host nation Austria, having won the 2025 competition, also gained an automatic place in this year’s final.
Tuesday night’s semi-final confirmed a place for:
- Belgium: Essyla – Dancing on the Ice
- Croatia: Lelek – Andromeda
- Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin
- Greece: Akylas – Ferto
- Israel: Noam Bettan – Michelle
- Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – Sólo quiero más
- Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova!
- Poland: Alicja – Pray
- Serbia: Lavina – Kraj Mene
- Sweden: Felicia – My System
While on Thursday night, the following countries confirmed their spots:
- Albania: Alis – Nân
- Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
- Bulgaria: Dara – Bangaranga
- Cyprus: Antigoni – Jalla
- Czechia: Daniel Zizka – Crossroads
- Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
- Malta: Aidan – Bella
- Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me
- Ukraine: Leléka – Ridnym
- Norway: Jonas Lovv – Ya Ya Ya
Eurovision 2026 final running order
The full running order for Saturday’s Grand Final is:
- Austria: Cosmo – Tanzschein
- Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
- Germany: Sarah Engels – Fire
- Israel: Noam Bettan – Michelle
- Belgium: Essyla – Dancing on the Ice
- Albania: Alis – Nân
- Greece: Akylas – Ferto
- Ukraine: Leleka – Ridnym
- Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
- Serbia: Lavina – Kraj Mene
- Malta: Aidan – Bella
- Czechia: Daniel Zizka – CROSSROADS
- Bulgaria: Dara – Bangaranga
- Croatia: Lelek – Andromeda
- United Kingdom: Look Mum No Computer – Eins, Zwei, Drei
- France: Monroe – Regarde !
- Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova!
- Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin
- Poland: Alicja – Pray
- Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – Sólo Quiero Más
- Sweden: Felicia – My System
- Cyprus: Antigoni – JALLA
- Italy: Sal Da Vinci – Per Sempre Sì
- Norway: Jonas Lovv- YA YA YA
- Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me
Which countries are boycotting?
Spain is not the only country boycotting this eyar, as Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands confirmed they would boycott the event on account of Israel’s inclusion.
As the deadline for participation in the contest counted down, Iceland also confirmed last minute it was also pulling out.
In December last year, the EBU conducted a vote that gave Israel the green light to compete in this year’s Eurovision, despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Explaining Spain’s decision to boycott the event, RTVE’s president José Pablo López, said the broadcasters who fund the EBU and thus Eurovision ‘shared a collective responsibility’.
‘While Israel has regularly participated in the competition, the current events and the genocide currently taking place make it impossible for us to look the other way,’ he said.
‘It is not accurate to claim that Eurovision is merely an apolitical music festival. We are all aware that the contest carries significant political implications. The Israeli government is equally aware of this fact and leverages the event on the international stage.’
Ireland had even stated before the EBU vote that RTÉ had plans for a boycott ‘if the participation of Israel goes ahead’.
In a statement, the broadcaster said it would be ‘unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza’.
‘It is RTÉ’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU’s decision is made,’ its statement continued.
Will you be watching Eurovision this year?
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Yes – I never miss it
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Not my thing
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I usually do – but I’m boycotting this year
‘RTÉ is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.’
This week, it was also revealed that Ireland will instead air an old Eurovision-themed episode of Father Ted, while broadcasters of other boycotting countries are also refusing to air the contest.
Who is the favourite to win? Latest odds
Finland heads into this year’s Eurovision Song Contest as the clear bookmakers’ favourites, according to online bookmaker Grosvenor Sport.
They also paint a grim picture for the UK, with the act currently priced among the outsiders at 250/1.
Simon Kew, spokesperson for Grosvenor Sport, offered some insight into the odds, saying: ‘Following the latest Eurovision semi-final, the betting market has tightened considerably at the top, with Finland strengthening its position as the outright favourite after being cut from 10/11 into 3/4.
‘Represented by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen with Liekinheitin, Finland has built serious momentum at exactly the right time and now heads into Saturday’s grand final as the act to beat.’
Eurovision winner latest odds
- Finland – 3/4
- Australia – 17/4
- Greece – 10/1
- Israel – 12/1
- Denmark – 16/1
- Romania – 18/1
- France – 33/1
- Italy – 33/1
- Bulgaria – 40/1
- Moldova – 50/1
- Sweden – 50/1
- Ukraine – 50/1
- Croatia – 66/1
- Malta – 66/1
- Czech Republic – 80/1
- Albania – 100/1
- Cyprus – 100/1
- Serbia – 100/1
- Lithuania – 200/1
- Norway – 200/1
- Poland – 200/1
- Germany – 250/1
- United Kingdom – 250/1
- Austria – 500/1
- Belgium – 500/1
How to vote
If you wish to cast a vote on Saturday night, then it will have to be done online.
You can vote by heading to Eurovision’s official voting website or by downloading the official Eurovision Song Contest App from the App Store.
During the voting window, you will be able to cast up to 10 votes for your favourite countries.
You can use all your votes on one country, or you can spread the wealth between up to 10 different countries. You will not, however, be able to vote for your own country.
Votes will cost 15p per vote, and voters will be asked to enter bank card details or use Apple or Google Pay in order to successfully register a vote.
How to watch in the UK
The final will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8pm.
Graham Norton will be back to provide his usual brand of colourful commentary across the evening.
After Angela Scanlon and Rylan Clark were on duty for the TV coverage of the semi-finals, Rylan will return to cover the final with Sara Cox over on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
It’s also been confirmed that drag queen and Strictly star La Voix will be announcing the UK’s scores.