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Key events
8. 🇦🇺 Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
Time for Australia, who have sensibly decided that if you’re going to do Eurovision, you may as well do it properly. Cue early-noughties icon Delta Goodrem, with by far the biggest ballad-to-banger transformation of the night.
Ever since Dami Im was royally mugged in 2016, Australians have been understandably cautious about whispering “we could actually win this.” But honestly? This could genuinely win this.
The staging is fabulous – please keep an eye out for the lifting platform at the end, apparently previously used by Beyoncé, because Eurovision loves nothing more than borrowed prestige. Delta sounds phenomenal, and I’m even willing to forgive the slightly clunky “when we eclipse” metaphor, largely because they’ve distracted me with extremely pretty lighting.
7. 🇺🇦 Ukraine: LELÉKA – Ridnym
Ukraine have still never failed to make a Eurovision Grand Final, and this thunderously dramatic power ballad was never going to end that streak. It’s no Wild Dances, but LELÉKA (caps lock DRINK) has an absolutely belting voice and understands the Eurovision assignment completely.
There’s also a sustained note that appears to last for roughly the length of a domestic flight – allegedly 28 seconds, which must be a Eurovision record. I’m less convinced by the “outfit accidentally introduced to a shredder” aesthetic, but it does give the wind machine something to really get its teeth into.
Classic Ukraine, honestly. Big vocals, huge drama, zero fear. Enjoyed that enormously.
6. 🇬🇷 Greece: Akylas – Ferto
If you’re Greek, you’re probably already very excited about this. If you’re not, stay with me, because this is a genre-busting fever dream that somehow mashes up Gangnam Style, Crazy Frog and Santa Baby, drops the whole thing into a video game universe, and tops it off with a tiger hat and furry moonboots.
‘Ferto’ means “bring it” in Greek, which you will now know forever, because Akylas says it (by my count) 82 times over the next three minutes. This is essentially four cans of Red Bull in Eurovision form, so brace yourselves.
Update from Martin: this had easily the best reception in the hall so far. Definitely a fan favourite.
5. 🇦🇱 Albania: Alis – Nân
First things first, Nân means ‘mother’ in Albanian, and this song is a moving cultural tribute to the Albanian diaspora and all the mothers left behind.
It’s high drama from start to finish, with a choral backing track that all gets a bit O Fortuna. I love it, and the English subtitles are helpful, thank you Albania. During Thursday’s second Semi-Final they were in Times New Roman, but somebody’s now updated them to Calbri or something less visually annoying. I dearly wish I had been in that meeting. ‘What about Comic Sans?’ ‘Absolutely not.’
4. Belgium: ESSYLA – Dancing on the Ice
This was a surprise qualifier on Tuesday, to most of the fandom, anyway. Not to me, because I kept the faith. Belgium do cool, understated pop extremely well, and this is definitely one of the more contemporary-sounding songs in this year’s line-up.
It has that slightly aloof, “too chic to try too hard” energy that Belgium specialise in (see also Loïc Nottet from 2015), and it works. Apparently it’s not actually about dancing on ice, there’s some kind of metaphor going on about the slippery perils of love. Exactly what that metaphor is remains between ESSYLA (caps lock drink) and her therapist, but it’s sassy and I like it.
Only one boot, so half a drink. Nope, no idea either.
3. 🇮🇱 Israel: Noam Bettan – Michelle
Time for Israel’s Noam Bettan to perform, and as in recent years, his appearance comes with some controversy around Israel’s participation in Eurovision. This year that’s led to Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands sitting things out, which is clearly not a conversation that’s going away any time soon.
28-year-old Noam is French-Israeli and sings in Hebrew, French and English, and to my ear the string arrangement makes it feel closer to something France might send than Israel’s usual style. We haven’t seen backing dancers for Israel since Noa Kirel in 2023, but Noam has five, all in boots so DRINK. Also mirrors, so double bingo.
2. 🇩🇪 Germany: Sarah Engels – Fire
Next up it’s time for Germany, which this year has confidently picked up the Fuego baton and delivered a catchy girl bop complete with extensive hairography, bass-heavy dance break and mandatory ‘fire’/‘liar’ rhyming arrangement.
In a bold, subversive move, Sarah Engels has resisted adding ‘desire’ to the Eurovision lyric bingo, but does gift us: “Like a vampire, you hide and come out at night.” Which feels like a missed opportunity, because plenty of things hide and come out at night. Owls. Hamsters. “Like a badger” was right there. Call me next year, Germany.
This is fun and bouncy and very Eurovision, and also flames, boots galore and a dress reveal, so drink freely. I enjoyed that, and if you didn’t, you’re a liar, liar.
1. 🇩🇰 Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
Am I allowed to have favourites this year? *checks contract* Yes, apparently I am, and we’re opening with one of them.
Før Vi Går Hjem means “before I go home,” and it’s a pulsing three minutes of Danish dance, complete with a very polished routine – Søren’s musical theatre background is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, in the best possible way. It’s giving Yungblud in Olly Alexander’s sweaty box circa 2024, and it’s easily one of the more contemporary tracks in this year’s contest. Going first isn’t ideal, but someone has to, and this is a very solid way to start the show.
Also our first clothing reveal, and it’s a quite sexy fishnet top. DRINK.
Soren Torpegaard Lund, representing Denmark Photograph: Ian West/PA
Time to meet our hosts!
Tonight’s presenters are terrible called Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski. Victoria Swarovski is a TV presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer, and also a member of the actual Swarovski family, so expect an evening of increasingly sparkly wardrobe changes.
Ostrowski is a film and TV actor and popular presenter, who has spent the entire week in variations on the same 1970s blue polyester outfit, for reasons known only to him.
As per Eurovision tradition, they will somehow manage to be both wooden and cheesy at the same time. Normally I’d say we wouldn’t have it any other way, but after this week’s semi-finals I found myself yearning for Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer. Or Petra Mede. Or, frankly, the slow release of death.
In case you hadn’t noticed, this year’s contest is in Vienna, or Wien if you’re a local. It’s a city of music and culture, and for one week only, also Eurovision. Last time Vienna hosted was in 2015, after Conchita Wurst’s legendary win. That was the 60th anniversary, and we’re now back in Vienna for the 70th. If you’re wondering why that maths isn’t mathing, it’s because the 2020 contest never happened. You’re welcome.
2015 was also the last time I didn’t spend Eurovision week in the host city. But I’m not experiencing FOMO at all and am ABSOLUTELY FINE.
The opening flag parade was in full swing, but has inexplicably been paused halfway so JJ can sing Wasted Love. This version is a dance remix, which I’m enjoying very much.
Oh, the flag parade is back on. Do keep up, everyone.
We open with a VT featuring the paper boat from JJ’s winning performance last year. It’s on some kind of interminable journey from Basel to Vienna, which is technically only about 500 miles so I don’t know what all the fuss is about.
It arrives at the Wiener Stadthalle to find JJ performing with the ORF Symphony Orchestra in front of 10,000 excited fans, including our very own Martin Belam! Have the best night, Martin.
Are we all ready? Cue Te Deum, and let’s get this show on the road!
Ready for some bingo?
It wouldn’t be Eurovision without a vaguely irresponsible bingo-based drinking game, so take a sip (or a fistful of Pringles, should you prefer) for any occurrence of the following:
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Mirrors
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Clothing reveals
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Fire
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Knee boots
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A dance break that arrives before the first chorus
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Someone lying dramatically on the floor
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Interpretive dance by men in mesh
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Artists who style their names entirely in capital letters, for no apparent reason
Please drink responsibly, pace yourselves, and remember: Eurovision is a marathon, not a sprint. Unlike Finland’s staging, which is very much a sprint.
How are we all celebrating this evening? As per time-honoured tradition, it’s just me in my pyjamas with a plateful of finger food and a sleeping labrador. I don’t drink much these days, but I might have a glass of Grüner Veltliner once the scoring begins. Please share in the comments, so I can live vicariously through your snack selection.
A message from roving reporter Martin Belam!
I’ve been in Vienna since Thursday and it has been Eurovision all the way. I went to a watch party on Thursday night for the second semi-final, where Antigoni’s Jalla for Cyprus really got the crowd excited. A few Brits tried to get a sing-a-long going for the chorus of Look Mum No Computer but the lack of enthusiasm in the room suggests Sam Battle might have a hard time with the public vote.
On Friday I went on a behind-the-scenes tour at the venue, and really if you’ve never been to Eurovision before the scale of it is just incredible. I saw all the props lined up ready for the changeovers – they only have 42 seconds between acts to reset the stage – and got to sit down on in the couches in the green room.
As for the rest of tonight’s line-up, I am a big fan of Lithuania’s Klaus Nomi-esque look from Lion Ceccah, and Croatia’ tattooed ladies Lelek have something hauntingly medieval about them. Greece’s fun if irritating entry, Ferto, has a lovely little breakdown where it goes all 8-bit like it has been recorded on an old Nintendo GameBoy while Satoshi’s Viva, Moldova! is an energetic bop that will liven up the show without coming anywhere near winning.
It’s Eurovision 2026!
Evening all, and welcome to this year’s Eurovision song contest grand final liveblog! After five years working backstage at actual Eurovision, I am BACK on my liveblog sofa to guide you through tonight’s Viennese whirlwind of glitter, drama and pyrotechnics.
And as an added bonus, your usual host Martin Belam is inside the Wiener Stadthalle watching tonight’s show live, bringing us invaluable sparkly-boots-on-the-ground insight into what’s actually going big in the arena, as opposed to what Eurofans are angrily typing in all caps online.
Are you ready? Kick-off is at 9pm, so grab snacks, drinks and any emotional support sequins you may need, and strap in for a long but hopefully joyful night of Eurovision nonsense.
Yaaaaas Eurofans. We are SO back.
Key events
24th over: New Zealand 135-4 (Halliday 36, Gaze 22) Sophie Ecclestone comes back. New Zealand need precisely 49, and have 54 balls to get them in (if they keep playing that long). New Zealand’s balcony is full now, of people in bobble hats or sheltering under towels – obviously nobody thought to bring a blanket.
23rd over: New Zealand 132-4 (Halliday 34, Gaze 21) Jacqueline Williams, one of the umpires, runs off before the over starts and Rose Dovey replaces her. Perhaps she needs a better waterproof. Dean continues. There seems little reason to keep saving Lauren Bell for later, with New Zealand well ahead of DLS par, apparently en route to victory, England needing a cluster of wickets and Bell by a margin the most threatening bowler. Perhaps, given that it is now apparently raining reasonably strongly, England would prefer not to risk potential slips, skids and injuries.
22nd over: New Zealand 125-4 (Halliday 33, Gaze 15) Gibson’s over starts with a wide, contains another wide, and another might have been heading the same way before Halliday just nudged it past Amy Jones with the toe of her bat and sent it running away for four. The rain is increasing and so is New Zealand’s total. The DLS par score is currently 112, so they’re well ahead.
21st over: New Zealand 117-4 (Halliday 28, Gaze 14) Filer continues, four singles are scored, and it’s umbrellas up in the stands now. The main camera from the Cathedral Road End is very misty – it looks like either a fog’s rolled in, or it’s been smeared with a dirty dishcloth. As there’s no evidence of fog from any other camera it’s presumably option one.
20th over: New Zealand 113-4 (Halliday 26, Gaze 12) Gaze nicely diverts to third for four, and having come in with the game nervously balanced is keeping her side comfortably on the right side of the equation. With the completion of this over we now officially have a game of cricket on our hands!
19th over: New Zealand 108-4 (Halliday 25, Gaze 8) Lauren Filer is back, a fourth over for England’s most expensive bowler. She sends one wide and short to Gaze, who crashes a cut past point for four. Next ball is drive to mid-off, where Bell misjudges its path, letting it come off her hand and run away for a couple. Eight off the over.
18th over: New Zealand 100-4 (Halliday 24, Gaze 1) New Zealand tick into triple figures, and are now just ahead of where they need to be on DLS. Two more overs are required for this to constitute a game.
WICKET! Green b Gibson 37 off 43 (New Zealand 97-4)
Maddy Green is bowled through the gate, and that is a big wicket in the context of this game, which is balanced on a DLS knife-edge!
17th over: New Zealand 94-3 (Green 37, Halliday 21) A strangled lbw shout off the second ball, which I thought was very decent but the players didn’t really engage with and the commentators instantly dismissed. Turns out I was right, though, and had England reviewed Halliday would have been on her way. England could do with a couple of quick wickets to shake the feeling that New Zealand are in pretty good control of this run chase.
Meanwhile, with rain potentially imminent, the game will pause while the players take drinks.
16th over: New Zealand 90-3 (Green 35, Halliday 19) Dani Gibson comes into the attack. There is, I’m told, a bit of rain about and according to my rain radar there’s more to come, and they’re unlikely to be playing cricket in 45 minutes. Four more overs are required for this to constitute a game.
15th over: New Zealand 84-3 (Green 32, Halliday 17) Charlie Dean is by a margin the team’s most economical bowler, and England will be grateful that she’s still keeping a lid on it – just four off this over, and 12 off the three she’s bowled so far.
14th over: New Zealand 82-3 (Green 32, Halliday 15) Hello! Well then. Halliday sweeps Ecclestone for four and reverse-sweeps also for four. Add a misfield and a bit of smart running and New Zealand are ramping it up nicely. Thirteen off the over.
13th over: New Zealand 69-3 (Green 29, Halliday 5) Shot! Maddy Green is keeping New Zealand on the tracks singlehandedly at the moment. She drives a full ball from Dean through the covers for four.
I’m going to have a short break, Simon Burnton is here to oversee a clump of wickets/flurry of boundaries/delete as appropriate.
12th over: New Zealand 62-3 (Green 24, Halliday 4) A clever shot from Maddy Green who loosens the shackles a little with a paddle for four off Ecclestone. Four more! Green steps out and lofts Ecclestone over the top of mid on for another boundary. A single down the ground brings Halliday on strike. Ecclestone dots out the rest of the over.
11th over: New Zealand 53-3 (Green 15, Halliday 4) Dean starts with three dots, landing it on a pocket square. Green gets a single down to long on but that’s the only run off the over. The pressure cooker begins to hiss…
10th over: New Zealand 52-3 (Green 14, Halliday 4) New Zealand are behind where they need to be on the DLS by about ten runs. Sophie Ecclestone puts the squeeze on and Charlie Dean is going to join her from the opposite end. This is not going to be easy for New Zealand.
9th over: New Zealand 49-3 (Green 12, Halliday 3) Ouch! Lauren Bell is hit on the hand as Green rifles a drive back at her. She looks in some pain as it hit her where she already had some strapping. The physio is called for and she’s up and smiling again. Phew. Shot! Maddy Green times a pull shot and it cracks off the bat and away for four.
8th over: New Zealand 43-3 (Green 7, Halliday 3) Halliday clips for a couple but it’s a miserly first over from Ecclestone and that’s all New Zealand can muster off it.
7th over: New Zealand 41-3 (Green 7, Halliday 1) Brooke Halliday joins Green with plenty of work to do, she’s off the mark with a clip off the toes. Lauren Bell has her dander up and is hunting for wickets. That’s the powerplay done, we’re going to see some Sophie Ecclestone for the first time this series.
WICKET! Georgia Plimmer lbw b Bell 7 (New Zealand 40-3)
Another one! Lauren Bell has three LBWs and New Zealand are in all sorts in the Cardiff mizzle.
6th over: New Zealand 40-2 (Plimmer 7, Green 7) There’s drizzle falling again in Cardiff and the wind is gusting. It seems to be putting Lauren Filer off as she sends down a very scruffy over… Green pulls a short ball for four, a leg side wide evades Amy Jones and runs away for four. Another wide and a couple more to Green and it’s an expensive 12 runs off the over.
5th over: New Zealand 28-2 (Plimmer 7, Green 1) Maddy Green is the new batter, she looked in good touch up in Durham and her side need runs from her again now. She gets off the mark with an airy poke that flies past gully. Edgy stuff from the visitors in Cardiff.
WICKET! Melie Kerr lbw b Bell 1 (New Zealand 27-2)
Stone dead! Lauren Bell has Melie Kerr bang in front and Kerr chooses not to review! That’s the big wicket for England, Bell has two and New Zealand are under pressure now.
4th over: New Zealand 27-1 (Plimmer 7, A Kerr 1) Filer drifts too straight and is clipped off the pads fine for four by Plimmer.
3rd over: New Zealand 21-1 (Plimmer 2, A Kerr 0) Amelia Kerr arrives in the middle, replacing her mentor and childhood hero.
WICKET! Suzie Bates lbw b Bell 12 (New Zealand 21-1)
Drop! Bell draws Suzie Bates into the drive with a lovely outswinger, it goes to Heather Knight at first slip and she spills the chance! Oh no, Bell can’t hid her disappointment.
That’s out though! The very next ball Bell pins Bates lbw and Bates walks off! A lovely moment as the crowd rise, England and New Zealand’s players pause to applaud her all the way off the field as she brings a two decade long international career to an end.
2nd over: New Zealand 12-0 (Bates 10, Plimmer 1) New Zealand need to win to tie the series, Suzie Bates would love to finish with a win and she looks to have the bit between her teeth. She stands tall and pulls Lauren Filer through wide mid on for an imperious four!
1st over: New Zealand 6-0 (Bates 6, Plimmer 0) Bates edges a full ball and picks up four to get the White Ferns under way. Close! Bell gets her outswinger going, draws the drive and nearly takes the edge. Top bowling. Bates gets a couple with a dab down past third.
Here come the New Zealand batters, Suzie Bates walks out in her 184th and last ODI. Can she take a chunk out of this total for her side? Georgie Plimmer is at the other end. Lauren Bell will start with the ball for England. Play!
England make 181-7 (New Zealand set 184 to win on DLS)
Sophie Ecclestone arrives with free reign to have a swing. She clips through midwicket for a couple and takes one down the ground. Dean gets a single, Ecclestone bunts the final ball of the innings through cover for four!
Decent finish by England, the re-adjusted target is just three runs more though. New Zealand will be out for the chase shortly.
WICKET! Amy Jones c Sharp b J Kerr 27 (England 172-7)
Amy Jones falls in the last over, attempted slog sweep but falls foul of the long square boundaries at Cardiff. Izzy Sharp with a safe pair of hands in the deep.
32nd over: England 172-6 (Jones 27, Dean 15) Mair returns and Jones greets her with another sublime drive through the covers for four. Charlie Dean then gets a full toss from Mair and she paddles it fine for four more! Twelve off the over for England.
31st over: England 160-6 (Jones 21, Dean 9) Three singles and a couple from England as they rotate strike well off Amelia Kerr. Shot! Amy Jones drives in-to-out over extra cover. Lovely timing and placement. That’s the area Charlotte Edwards wants her players to be able to access more of. Amy Jones showing how to do it in style.
30th over: England 149-6 (Jones 12, Dean 7) Amy Jones misses a sweep off Bates but the ball beats Gaze behind the stumps and runs away for four. Four more singles make it eight off the over. Three overs to go, England need some boundaries.
29th over: England 141-6 (Jones 10, Dean 5) More like it from Amy Jones, she powers a drive through the off side off Patel. England need all the runs they can muster, that cluster of wickets really knocked them off their stride.
28th over: England 134-6 (Jones 4, Dean 4) Missed run out! Suzie Bates fluffs the throw from the deep, had she taken it cleanly then Amy Jones was well short of her ground. Bates is fuming with herself, last ODI or not.
27th over: England 127-6 (Jones 2, Dean 0) Skipper Charlie Dean arrives in the middle to join Amy Jones. Patel rattles through a wicket maiden.
WICKET! Dani Gibson b Patel 2 (England 127-6)
Gibson goes cheaply! Backs away to leg and misses the carve through the off, Patel rattling the stumps. England losing all their momentum in Cardiff.
26th over: England 127-5 (Jones 2, Gibson 1) England now have two new batters at the crease and seven overs to get as many as possible.
WICKET! Alice Capsey c Sharp b Mair 45 (England 125-6)
Two quick wickets! The partnership is broken and then demolished. Capsey tries to slap Sharp through the off side but gets it too high on the bat. That feels like a big wicket for England’s hopes of a challenging target, Capsey was well set.
25th over: England 123-4 (Capsey 44, Gibson 0) Dani Gibson joins Capsey. She defends her fist ball from Amelia Kerr watchfully.
WICKET! Freya Kemp c Mair b AC Kerr 20 (England 123-4)
Caught at long on! Kemp tries to take Kerr down the ground for a big one but doesn’t get the connection.
24th over: England 117-3 (Capsey 39, Kemp 20) Capsey in particular has been busy since the resumption. She uses her crease well to create room to carve Patel away for a couple. A glide past point brings up the 50 partnership between this pair. Seven runs in all off the over.
23rd over: England 110-3 (Capsey 33, Kemp 19) Amelia Kerr tightens things up for her side, just a couple of runs off her latest. There are ten overs left in the innings now, England have seven wickets left and probably need to look at opening their shoulders.
22nd over: England 108-3 (Capsey 32, Kemp 18) Capsey punches for four off the back foot. Four singles make it eight off the over and the hundred is up for England too – the home side have been the more dynamic of the two since the resumption.
21st over: England 99-3 (Capsey 25, Kemp 16) Another productive over for England, seven runs pocketed off Amelia Kerr’s third over. We’re going to have more spin with Nensi Patel thrown the ball for the next over.
20th over: England 92-3 (Capsey 23, Kemp 12) Rosemary Mair replace Illing. Freya Kemp gets on the front foot and drives down the ground for a couple before taking a single to mid on. Capsey take a single to point and Kemp gets two more into the deep. England are busy and hustling between the wickets.
19th over: England 86-3 (Capsey 22, Kemp 7) England’s total will be recalculated by DLS, it’ll be interesting to see how they approach the next 15 or so overs they have left in their innings. Kemp and Capsey rotate the strike nicely off Amelia Kerr’s looping leggies, five singles off the over.
18th over: England 81-3 (Capsey 20, Kemp 4) It’s Bree Illing with the ball in hand for the White Ferns, she struggles with her line initially, firing two wides down the leg side. Capsey and Kemp both take singles into the off side. Cricket has broken out in Cardiff!
Right then, take two. The players take to the field, its going to be a 33 over game. Freya Kemp and Alice Capsey are in the middle for England. Play!
Play to restart at 3.45pm
Good news, we’ll have a reduced overs game of 32 overs per side starting at 3.55pm. All eyes to the skies now to hope it remains clear in Cardiff.
Still raining in Cardiff, apparently they can still get a game on if they are out there by 5.30pm. So the wait goes on.
May as well get stuck into some FA Cup Final action with Rob Smyth while we wait for the rain to relent:
It looks to be brightening up a little in Cardiff so there is hope they could get back out there this afternoon. I’ll post any updates as we get them.
For any club cricketers out there creaking into another Saturday fixture… let Nigel Martyn* be your inspiration.
*Yep, that one.
Unfortunately we will now lose overs to the rain having had an hour delay to the start of play. Cardiff isn’t alone in languishing under leaden skies, there’s plenty of rain around the shires but Tanya also has some play to supply updates on. Not jealous at all.
Rain stops play
They’ve gone off, covers on. Now we wait.
17th over: England 77-3 (Capsey 19, Kemp 3) Amelia Kerr brings herself on for a twirl in the gloom. Her second ball is a drag down and Capsey doesn’t miss out, pulling away behind square for four. Capsey then cuts for three, Freya Kemp looks to be hobbling a bit, running in damp conditions is never nice. Time for drinks… I’m not sure we’ll be back for much longer after them mind.
The Edinburgh club loses out in a winner-takes-all match for the Scottish Premiership title at Celtic Park.
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