UK News
Eurovision song contest 2026 – live | Eurovision 2026
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:
-
Mirrors
-
Clothing reveals
-
Fire
-
Knee boots
-
A dance break that arrives before the first chorus
-
Someone lying dramatically on the floor
-
Interpretive dance by men in mesh
-
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.
The family of Shaun Burton, say they are “devastated” by the loss.
Source link
Key events
In the opening half an hour against Cape Verde, Mikel Oyarzabal, the centre-forward, did not get a single touch.
Kyle Green gets in touch: “Your highlighting of Lalas and his absurdity is something that has prevented me from wanting to watch the coverage on Fox. While every channel has its pros and cons I just can’t.
“I’m 45 and probably the youngest of anyone who remembers him as a player instead of an opinionated insert insult here. As for the match this could be more competitive than it looks on paper Spain need a win the pressure is on them. Saudi Arabia could hold out for a draw and see what happens in their last match. “
News from the England camp, and it seems to be good news on Declan Rice.
“I’m ready and fit, raring to go. I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.
“In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70-minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.”
Alex Reid has penned today’s weekend special Football Daily.
Portugal v Uzbekistan on Tuesday enticingly pits the incredibly nice, incredibly 41-year-old-superstar-tolerant Roberto Martínez against Fabio Cannavaro, who’s won a Ballon d’Or as a player and the Chinese Super League as a coach. While the fixture following that game really does see the dream of Thomas Tuchel – in his first international job with England – taking on Queiroz, who is in charge of his ninth national side with Ghana.
The expected formations are 4-2-3-1 for Spain, and 5-3-2 for the Saudi Arabians.
The Saudi team features two Donis changes: Ali Lajami, a defender, and Nasser Al Dawsari, a midfielder, are preferred to Mohammed Abu Al Shamat and Mohamed Kanno. You may recall Salem Al Dawsari, the Saudi captain, as the man who scored the winner against Argentina.
An entertaining read, even for those of us who have just seen the clips.
In a conversation where his co-panelist is casually reminiscing about his days playing alongside Messi or exchanging shirts with Ronaldo Nazário at the World Cup, what exactly is Lalas going to talk about – coming on as a second-half substitute for Earnie Stewart in a friendly against Scotland in 1998? Helping the Kansas City Wizards finish last in the 1999 MLS Western Conference? Did Lalas enjoy an elite playing career? No. But does he do the background reading that could compensate for his relative lack of standing in a conversation with titans like Henry and Zlatan? Also no. But is he charming or funny or charismatic or otherwise magnetic on screen? Eh, no.
For the record, I once interviewed Alexi Lalas on the challenge of playing against Romario in the 1994 World Cup. He had this to say:
“He could kill you in so many different ways. If you remember from that World Cup, he scored so many types of goals. That ranged from solo adventures to an outside-of-the-right-foot half-volley off a corner kick. Romario was both the most difficult to play against and the best that I have faced.
“Roberto Baggio was doing his thing, but in terms of consistency and living up to the hype, he [Romario] was the best. As with all stars, there was a moment when the fans sit up in their seats, and that was a feeling I got with Romario. When it got close to him and the potential for his involvement in a play was there, everybody sat up in their seat. They knew that something spectacular would be happening.”
Saturday’s match reports here.
The Saudi Arabia coach, and Blackburn legend, Georgios Donis, spoke about the challenges facing his team: “Spain is not the same team when Yamal or Williams are on the bench.
“While they still have plenty of possession, they lack the individual one-on-one penetration when these two are missing. I’m not saying it’s a problem for Spain, but when those players are missing, they play in a different way. We saw this very clearly against Cape Verde.
“We are playing against one of the best teams in the world, and it’s very important that when you play against these kinds of teams, you should enjoy the experience and respect the opponent, but not too much.
“It is very hard for any team playing against Spain to have any time in possession. So what we must do is to be more in control of our movement and compact, and when the ball goes through the lines, be able to defend dynamically.
“It’s nice to see miracles in football, and we’ve seen favourites losing against underdogs. Of course, it’s great for Saudi football to have a great memory of the result against Argentina, but we aren’t drawing anything from that.
“I think we’ll feel more pressure in that [Cape Verde] game than we will against Spain.”
The Spain coach, Luis De La Fuente had this to say in his Saturday press conference: “This generation of footballers is highly competitive and really fired up… It’s going to be a completely different story,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday. There is no drama or crisis. The bottom line is simply that we need to win tomorrow.”
Four changes for Spain: Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also come into the side with Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Gavi dropping out.
The teams – Lamine Yamal starts
Spain: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Gonzalez, Rodri, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal. Subs: Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Fabian, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Munoz, Iglesias.
Saudi Arabia: Al Owais, Abdulhamid, Tambakti, Lajami, Al Amri, Al Harbi, Nasser Al Dawsari, Al Khaibari, Al Juwayr, Al Buraikan, Salem Al Dawsari. Subs: Al Aqidi, Al Kassar, Majrashi, Yahya, Al Shehri, Al Boushal, Kadesh, Al Johani, Al Ghannam, Al Hajji, Al Hamdan, Mandash, Kanno, Thakri, Abu Al Shamat.
Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil)
Perhaps one of the Saudi -players can write themselves into this high-grade selection?
Perhaps it can be their goalkeeper.
Madrid screening of Spain v Saudi Arabia cancelled due to heat
The public screening of Spain’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Madrid on Sunday has been cancelled because of extreme heat forecast for the Spanish capital, officials said.
The match, due to kick off at 6pm local time on Sunday, had been scheduled to be shown on a giant screen installed by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) at a fan zone in Plaza de Colón in central Madrid.
Madrid city council and the federation decided to cancel the screening after national weather agency AEMET issued an orange heat warning – the second-highest level – for the Madrid region, with temperatures forecast to reach 40C.
“The decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the health of attendees, event staff and support services involved in the event,” Madrid city hall said in a statement, apologising for any inconvenience.
Officials urged supporters to watch the match indoors in air-conditioned spaces and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.
Large parts of Spain are experiencing unusually high temperatures for June as a mass of hot air from North Africa moves across the Iberian Peninsula.
A total of 13 of Spain’s 17 regions are on orange alert for heat on Sunday, while the northern Basque Country bordering France is on red alert, the highest level.
Authorities advised residents and visitors to take precautions during the heatwave, including drinking water regularly, staying in cool environments, limiting outdoor physical activity during the hottest hours of the day and taking extra care of vulnerable people. AFP
Can Saudi Arabia repeat the magic of 2022?
Argentina arrived in Qatar on a 36-game unbeaten run. When Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 10 minutes, a comfortable afternoon seemed in the offing. Saleh al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari had other ideas, Argentina had three goals disallowed for offside in the space of 13 minutes and the greatest comeback in Saudi Arabia football history was made. Argentina went on to lift the trophy, while defeats to Poland and Mexico meant the Saudis did not reach the knock-out stage.
Unai Simon over David Raya is a controversial choice for De la Fuentes. The Arsenal keeper could lay claim to being Europe’s best this season.
“Those at the Champions League final had a few more days, so I got there on the Wednesday night,” Raya says. “I arrived a bit before Fabián [Ruiz]. I was saying hello to some of the others in reception when he arrived. I went to say congratulations; that was almost the first thing I did. I couldn’t really talk [to him] after the final; I just didn’t have it in me. The next day we talked about the game properly. Just two mates chatting … I was happy for him that he could lift the trophy for a second time.”
A high pressure game for the European champions, as Sid Lowe reports.
“If we had scored one, the game would have changed,” Martín Zubimendi said. Immediately after the game, De la Fuente had offered a simple analysis: when the ball doesn’t want to go in it doesn’t want to go in, he insisted. Spain had racked up 27 shots, after all. Ferran Torres had hit the bar and seen another clear opportunity saved. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who stopped that, saved six more and was named the man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri said. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.”
We wait to see what role Lamine Yamal will play today. His coach would surely like to be able to use him.
The worst mistake we could make would be to compare him to anyone. He is the midst of a process. He has exceptional footballing maturity and lives it all with total naturalness. He has great serenity and strength. We have to let him follow his path but those players who have something different are ready for that. They’re geniuses, like Dalí [who] can paint a picture, or Michelangelo. They’re different. What is exceptional to us, isn’t to them. In those extremes, they feel comfortable. Why? Because they are different. What we think is exceptional, they consider normal.
Preamble
Spain’s campaign did not get off to a flying start, and Luis de la Fuentes may wake up in the night to visions of Cape Verde’s Vozinha. He will have Georgia on his mind ever since Monday. Saudi Arabia are no pushovers and gave Uruguay a scare in their opening match. Memories of downing Argentina four years ago still abound, and so Spain might beware. They can ill afford to go into the final game with Uruguay at a disadvantage. All eyes on Lamine Yamal, whose fitness situation remains opaque, though Spain need their other forwards to come to the party.
Kick-off 5pm UK, 1pm ET, 2am AEST. Join me.
A topless man can be seen driving erratically in Edinburgh before abandoning his car and attacking a black man and a delivery rider.
Source link
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoJeremy Clarkson hits back with sweary response over BGT backlash
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoCar boot sale to return to Bicester after 20 years
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoJeremy Clarkson reveals new Clarkson’s Farm surprise guest stars
-
UK News2 weeks agoUK defence spending plan ‘well short of what’s required’ and harder choices needed, says John Healey – UK politics live | Politics
-
UK News3 weeks agoTwo arrests and three police officers injured in protest at asylum hotel
-
Oxford News3 weeks agoOxford sports bar brawl with bottle and pool balls thrown
-
UK News3 weeks agoJohn Healey resigns as defence secretary in disagreement with Starmer over spending – UK politics live | Politics
-
Student Life2 weeks agoHome Office proposes doubling of Campsfield capacity