What's happened
Finalists including Poland, Greece and Australia have progressed to the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final in Vienna. Hosts and the Eurovision “Big Four” are automatically through, while other countries compete in semi-finals. UK entry Look Mum No Computer will perform in the semi-finals, with full broadcast options available.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The field remains crowded as 25 countries compete for ten final spots, with the UK’s Look Mum No Computer among the entrants in semi-final rounds.
- The event’s structure continues to favor the traditional powerhouses via automatic qualification for the final, while audience voting remains split across semi-final rounds.
- Viewer accessibility is being addressed with sign language and audio description options across BBC platforms, showing an emphasis on inclusive coverage.
- As the contest marks its 70th edition, the geographic and political mix—boycotts by some nations and returns by others—highlights enduring tensions and evolving alliances within the Eurovision community.
How we got here
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Vienna, Austria. After two semi-finals, 25 countries are in contention for the final on Saturday. The Big Four (UK, France, Germany, Italy) have automatic spots in the final, while other participants vie for the remaining slots. Some nations such as Spain are boycotting this year, and others like Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania have returned to the competition.
Our analysis
The Scotsman, Politico report on participants and semi-final results; UK coverage notes from BBC platforms and announcers across official Eurovision feeds.
Go deeper
- Who are the other semi-finalists still to be decided for the final?
- How might the boycotts by Spain and other nations affect voting patterns this year?
- When will the UK vote in semi-final 2 and how can viewers participate?
More on these topics
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Eurovision Song Contest - Annual song competition held among the members of the European Broadcasting Union
The Eurovision Song Contest is an international song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union and featuring participants representing primarily European countries.
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Vienna - Capital of Austria
Vienna is the national capital, largest city, and one of nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's most populous city, with about 1.9 million inhabitants, and its cultural, economic, and political centre.
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Germany - Country in Europe
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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Italy - Country in Europe
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.