Live. Eurovision 2026: Follow the Vienna grand final of the world's greatest song contest

Akylas Mytilinaios may have boots with the fur, but his song "Ferto" belongs in an arcade.

+10 points for the cat hat, though. 

A stellar intro that wakes the audience up. Albania's chain-mail cloak and shades is exactly what the show was starting to lack: style.

Alis’ Godly vocals feel like we’re being transported to heaven. His song ‘Nân’ is about mothers longing for how much they wait for their children and no matter what, they will be there.

And boy are we MOTHERING.

Let's hope the audience thaws out from Belgium's "Dancing On The Ice".

Let's move on...

Israel’s representative Noam Bettan took to the Eurovision stage tonight with his song “Michelle”, receiving both loud cheers and audible boos inside Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle. TV viewers could also hear pro-Palestinian chants during parts of the performance as security remained on high alert around the arena.

For a song titled 'Fire', I expected more for Germany.



Sarah Engels has strong vocals, but the track sounds like a girl band that should have been left in 80s.

Maybe the ‘draw of doom’ is real after all.

Denmark has set the bar high, with a chic and sexy performance of “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”).

Søren Torpegaard Lund managed to keep his buttery vocals while dangling upside down from a glass cube. If Lady Gaga is in need of a new music video choreographer, she knows who to call.

Slay!

Despite the controversies surrounding this year’s contest, millions of viewers are expected to tune in worldwide as Eurovision celebrates its 70th anniversary with tonight’s grand final in Vienna.

Here we suggest best places where you can watch the Eurovision Grand Final throughout the evening.

BBC presenter Graham Norton acknowledged the countries refusing to participate in this year's Eurovision due to Israel's involvement, as the show's flag ceremony commenced.

As Europe twiddle its thumbs for the grand final to finally kick off, we're breaking down the first three performances.

Denmark will open up tonight's show, with Søren Torpegaard Lund performing “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”). Here's hoping there will be more mesh outfits.

Germany will be next up, with Sarah Engels' empowerment bop "Fire". Fingers crossed the stage can handle the heat.

Then, it's Israel. Noam Bettan will sing "Michelle", but following the string of protests - it's likely the performance will be met with backlash.

 Are your TVs switched on yet?

Amid demonstrations on the streets, many social media users have also expressed their choice to boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter) one user wrote: "I'm doing the Eurovision boycott thing, so you're all spared my usual low quality, hilarious live commentary for the evening."

Another said: "Hot girls boycott Eurovision."

The atmosphere in Vienna has remained tense during Eurovision week, with protests over Israel’s participation taking place across the city. Earlier today, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near the Eurovision Village under heavy police security.

Amid the political backlash, which you can learn more about here, it's clear that nothing can dampen Eurovision flamboyance.

To get you in the mood for tonight's fabulous antics, we've rounded up some of the most eccentric looks from the semi finals.

And the award for best hair goes to...

Want a banana?

When you have Eurovision at 8pm and the school nativity at 9pm.

Vienna is called the “City of Music,” home to Mozart, Beethoven, and Johann Strauss II. Their works are still performed in halls like the Musikverein, near today’s Eurovision-style shows.

Wiener Stadthalle, Austria's largest indoor arena, is starting to fill as fans take their seat (or stand).

With five countries boycotting over Israel’s participation, this year’s Eurovision is facing its deepest identity crisis in years despite the “United by Music” slogan.

Today, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez doubled down on the boycott in a video posted on Instagram and X, saying Spain would not attend Eurovision because “silence is not an option” and insisting the country is “on the right side of history.”

Ahead of tonight's competition, Italy's Sal da Vinci has given an impromptu performance to journalists in the press room.

Fabien Randanne from 20Minutes shared the moment reporters cheered and danced on X (formerly Twitter).

• Finland : 1
• Australia : 3
• Israel : 2
• Greece : 2
• Romania : 0
• Denmark : 1
• Italy : 0
• Bulgaria : 3
• France : 4
• Cyprus : 1
• Other : 1

The grand final running order has been revealed, and it's bad news for Germany.

Denmark will be kicking off the show, with Søren Torpegaard Lund performing the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”).

Germany’s Sarah Engels will follow, taking on what’s been previously described as the ‘death slot’ or the ‘draw of doom’. This is because no country that has performed second in the running order of the final has ever gone on to win the competition.

Will Germany be able to burn away the long-standing superstition with its song ‘Fire’?