What to know about the Eurovision Song Contest as it turns 70 with a Vienna extravaganza

The Eurovision Song Contest is turning 70, with a fewer governmental clouds hanging implicit its glitter-drenched party.

The yearly philharmonic extravaganza that has been likened to a popular euphony Olympics takes spot successful Vienna, Austria , May 12-16. It will spot singers and bands from 35 countries vie onstage for the continent’s philharmonic crown – but with some high-profile absentees who are boycotting to protestation Israel’s participation.

Here’s a usher to each things Eurovision: What it is, who to watch for and however to take part.

A contention to unite a continent

Eurovision is an planetary popular euphony contention founded successful 1956 to δοκιμή caller live-broadcasting technology and foster unity aft the trauma of World War II. From an archetypal 7 contestants, it grew to see dozens of nations from crossed Europe, arsenic well arsenic farther-flung Israel and Australia.

The contention is simply a campy yet heartfelt solemnisation of diversity, nationalist pridefulness and the joyous powerfulness of popular with a planetary fanbase. Organizers accidental past year’s contention was watched by 166 cardinal radical astir the world, and fans from 75 countries person bought tickets for the unrecorded shows successful Vienna.

The contention has displayed moments of supreme silliness – winning songs “La, La, La” and “Boom Bang-a-Bang,” anyone? – arsenic well arsenic pieces of popular perfection similar ABBA ‘s 1974 winner “Waterloo.”

Other memorable winners see Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion – who competed for Switzerland successful 1988 – Austrian resistance diva Conchita Wurst successful 2014, Italian stone set Måneskin successful 2021 and Ukrainian folk-rap radical Kalush Orchestra successful 2022.

United by music, divided by politics

Eurovision’s motto is “United by Music,” but it has repeatedly been embroiled successful world events. Russia was expelled successful '22 aft its full-scale penetration of Ukraine .

The 2024 contention successful Malmo, Sweden , and past year’s lawsuit successful Basel, Switzerland , saw pro-Palestinian protests that called for Israel to beryllium expelled implicit its behaviour of its war against Hamas successful Gaza and allegations it tried to manipulate voting successful favour of its contestant.

Tensions came to a caput successful December when 5 countries – Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain – pulled retired of the contention aft organizers decided to let Israel to compete.

Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania person returned aft skipping the lawsuit for creator oregon fiscal reasons successful caller years, meaning 35 countries will vie successful Vienna, down from 37 successful 2025. Several pro-Palestinian protests are planned during Eurovision week.

Finnish favorites and a Boy George cameo

Eurovision historiographer Dean Vuletic said “Eurovision is Europe’s biggest election,” with winners decided by a premix of nationalist juries and viewers’ votes.

Finland is the oddsmakers’ favourite with “Liekinheitin” (“Flamethrower”), a high-intensity mashup featuring violinist Linda Lampenius and popular vocalist Pete Parkkonen.

Also highly rated are 17-year-old French vocalist Monroe with pop-operatic emotion ballad “Regarde!” and Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund with the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”).

Australia, a keen Eurovision subordinate contempt being thousands of miles from Europe, has sent established star Delta Goodrem with “Eclipse,” a slick midtempo ballad. Greece’s Akylas is becoming a instrumentality favourite with party-rap track “Ferto” (“Bring It”).

Vuletic besides tipped Cyprus’ entry, the folk-influenced dance-pop τραγούδι “Jalla” by Antigoni. It’s already a deed connected YouTube and “could beryllium the up-tempo feelgood τραγούδι that radical vote for,” helium said.

Israel, which has won Eurovision 4 times and came 2nd successful 2025, has sent crooner Noam Bettan with the ballad “Michelle.” Singer Senhit, representing small San Marino, has enlisted 1980s icon Boy George to marque a impermanent quality connected enactment anthem “Superstar.”

Paul Jordan, an adept known arsenic Dr Eurovision, said the contention has moved beyond its estimation for “sugary pop.” This year’s entries scope from classically influenced “popera” to electro-pop, powerfulness ballads and folk-influenced songs.

“There’s not a batch of cheesy popular numbers,” Jordan said. “There’s such diverseness that I don’t think there is such a happening arsenic a ‘Eurovision sound’ anymore.”

How it works and however to vote

Traditionally the contention is hosted by the erstwhile year’s winner, and past year’s victor was Austrian vocalist JJ with pop-opera τραγούδι “Wasted Love.” The 2026 contention is being held astatine the Wiener Stadthalle successful Vienna, the third clip Austria’s superior has hosted Eurovision.

The contention will beryllium aired by nationalist broadcasters successful participating nations, connected streaming work Peacock successful the United States and connected the Eurovision YouTube transmission successful some countries.

Participating countries each enters a vocalist oregon set with an archetypal τραγούδι that tin beryllium nary much than 3 minutes agelong and is performed live, often with spectacular staging.

Two semifinals, connected May 12 and 14, will winnow the tract of competitors down to 25 who will vie successful the expansive last connected May 16, hosted by Austrian singer/crystal heiress Victoria Swarovski and histrion Michael Ostrowski.

Viewers successful participating countries tin vote during the unrecorded last connected by telephone oregon text message, but aren’t allowed to vote for their ain country’s act. Viewers successful the U.S. and different nonparticipating countries tin vote online astatine www.esc.vote .

Each country’s nationalist vote is translated into points, connected a standard of 1 to 12, for the highest-ranked acts.

The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, has toughened voting rules successful effect to vote-rigging allegations, halving the fig of votes per outgo to 10 and tightening safeguards against “suspicious oregon coordinated voting activity.”

After a voting interval, each state successful turn announces its assemblage and nationalist voting results, with the points tallied on-screen until a winner emerges. The fast-changing rankings and suspense astir whether immoderate state gets the dreaded “nul (zero) points” are each portion of the excitement.

Questions bent implicit Eurovision’s future

The withdrawal of countries including seven-time winner Ireland and Spain – 1 of the “big five” nations that wage the astir to the contention – is simply a large stroke astatine a clip when galore nationalist broadcasters look backing pressures and κοινωνικά media has lured distant some eyeballs.

Eurovision is looking to the future, and to different continents, with the archetypal Eurovision Song Contest Asia owed to take spot successful Bangkok successful November.

Jordan said that, astatine 70, Eurovision is “part of our European culture” and tin weather the latest storm.

“It still gets radical talking. It still brings us each together. It still gets immense viewing figures, it’s still creating hits,” helium said. “At a clip when broadcasting is changing, radical still marque a day with their television acceptable connected that Saturday night.” [AP]