It’s the world’s biggest music competition, and this year the Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Switzerland – the location of Eurovision’s first ever show.
Canadian singing royalty Celine Dion (a previous Eurovision winner) has already delivered a pre-recorded speech during the semi-finals and there’s speculation she may turn up for the final in Basel – health permitting.
Now, with 26 nations set to compete for the coveted glass microphone, here are the best bits to watch out for.
Who will win?
Sweden’s entry Bara Bada Bastu (Just Sauna), performed by Finish comedy group KAJ, is the song to beat. An ode to – you’ve guessed it – saunas, it comes complete with a quartet of bucket hat-wearing and towel-draped dancers.
A total earworm – it’s got double the number of views on YouTube of any other competing act.
It’s the bookies’ favourite by a longshot, and Sweden has past Eurovision form – with seven wins to its name, a feat matched only by Ireland, which didn’t make it through to the final this year.
Austrian-Filipino singer-songwriter JJ – who originally trained as a countertenor – is representing Austria with operatic ballad Wasted Love.
Making the most of his falsetto voice – in a way not dissimilar to last year’s winner Nemo – it tells a story of unrequited love, saving a techno breakdown for the last third of the song. Classic Eurovision.
The bookies fancy this one too, and it’s the second favourite to win.
Back in the game after its act was unceremoniously kicked out of the competition shortly before the final last year, the Netherlands has Claude representing the country with C’est La Vie.
A refugee from the bloody civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he moved to the Netherlands at the age of nine.
His English and French language song, which combines elements of chanson and French-Caribbean zouk, is a tribute to his mother, who taught him to see the light in life despite hardship.
French singer Louane, also has an emotional French language song written for her mother, who died when she was just 17.
Maman tells a story of three female generations, ending with her daughter’s voice, guaranteed to put a lump in your throat unless you have a heart of stone.
What about the UK?
Remember Monday are representing the UK with What the Hell Just Happened?
The country pop trio, who auditioned for The Voice UK in 2019, first met at Farnborough Sixth Form in Hampshire, and are the UK’s first all-female group act since Precious in 1999.
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They were guaranteed to make the final, as the UK is part of Eurovision’s “Big Five” – the countries who make the biggest financial contributions to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
They’ll be hoping for a better result than Olly Alexander, who came 18th at Malmo in 2024, and Mae Muller who placed second last at Liverpool in 2023.
Their song’s title will prove a gift to headline writers should they fail in that mission…
From deeply moving to silly, to utter filth
Eurovision never fails to surprise with its power pop and outrageous outfits, and this year is no exception – with both plenty of quirk and plenty of heart on offer.
Slovenian comedian Klemen Slakonja is best known for his impressions of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
But his ballad – How Much Time Do We Have Left – is a moving response to his wife’s cancer diagnosis.
His performance includes him being hung upside down to symbolise his disorientation on receiving the life-changing news.
Diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, actress Mojca Fatur, has defied the odds and joins him at Eurovision, providing a message of hope and survival against the odds.
In a blast to the past, San Marino’s entry, Tutta L’Italia, was written by Gabry Ponte – one of the members of Eurodance group Eiffel 65, who wrote late 90s hit Blue (Da BaDee). It’s a tribute to everything Italian, mixing dance beats with the traditional folk of Calabria.
Following the same theme, Estonia’s Espresso Macchiato also offers an absurd review of all things Italian and is performed by Tommy Cash – a previous Charli XCX collaborator.
Meanwhile, Malta’s Miriana Conte’s original lyrics had to be rewritten due to complaints they broke broadcasting guidelines with an X-rated innuendo. Even with tweaked lyrics the song is pretty raunchy.
While Finland’s Erika Vikman’s song, Ich Komme, is all about “pleasure” and “ecstasy”. Interpret those themes as you will.
War amid the glitz
Despite a strict apolitical stance, geopolitical conflict has affected Eurovision over the last few years.
In 2022, Russia was banned from participating over the Ukraine war, and both this year and last, there have been calls for Israel to be banned over its actions in Gaza.
Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7 2023 attacks which were the catalyst for Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, is representing Israel.
She will perform her Hebrew, French and English language entry, a piano ballad, New Day Will Rise.
Israel has won Eurovision four times, and last year finished in fifth place.
This year, the ban on certain flags being waved in the auditorium has been relaxed, meaning Palestinian symbols are likely to be seen in the St Jakobshalle arena.
Meanwhile, Ukraine, which first entered the competition in the year after Russia invaded, has made it to the grand final each time since then – winning in 2023 and coming third last year.
This year the country will be represented by alternative rock group Ziferblat (whose name translates as clock face), with the dramatic track Bird Of Pray.
The English and Ukrainian language song features lyrics about reuniting with lost loved ones and returning home.
Sky News will be covering the grand final on Saturday night, so check back in to see who claims the Eurovision title.
