Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Which Act Will Waltz To Victory In Vienna?
The countdown is on for the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest which takes place between May 12-16 in Vienna.
Finland are the hot favourites on betting sites to win the competition ahead of France, Denmark and Australia, but the UK are well down the pecking order at 125/1.
This year’s event has been marred by political controversy which saw Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia all withdraw because of Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
In the aftermath of last year’s contest, four of the above countries, plus Belgium and Finland, had questioned whether Israel had boosted the public vote for Yuval Raphael, who finished second overall, despite ending in a tie for 14th with the juries.
The spirit of Eurovision uniting nations clearly looks to have taken a back seat this year, but there are still a healthy 35 countries participating in Austria, who won last year with Wasted Love.
Austria can be backed at 500/1 to become the first country to make it back-to-back victories since Ireland won it three years in a row between 1992-4 and then again two years later.
That seems an unlikely scenario, but what about those nations that have a genuine chance?
We run the rule over the top seven and assess their prospects for the Grand Final.
Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Odds:
Finland
Act: Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen
Song: Liekinheiten
The duo have topped the betting since February and are showing no signs of budging with their rock/classical fusion track Liekinheiten which translates as ‘Flamethrower’.
It’s gone down pretty well in Finland where it was number one in the charts for a spell, but aside from some impressive violin playing from Lampenius and strong vocals from Parkkonen, it lacks a killer hook.
They shouldn’t have any problems getting out of the first semi-final, but how will the juries and public react?
Chances: Clear favourites on betting apps, but there are better songs out there.
France
Act: Monroe
Song: Regarde !
The last two Eurovision winners have been genre-defying mash-ups with an operatic twist and the wonderful Regarde ! is in a similar vein.
Classically-trained French-American teenager Monroe hits all the high notes in this theatrical ballad which has plenty of pop to satisfy a younger audience.
At 17, Monroe already has an album under her belt, but she regards participating at Eurovision as "a tremendous honour".
She added: "I want to showcase the richness and diversity of French music. I want to offer Europe an intense, sincere performance with a universal message: love is what brings us together."
Chances: As one of the ‘Big Five, France are guaranteed a spot in the Grand Final and this track would be a worthy winner.
Denmark
Act: Soren Torpegaard Lund
Song: For vi gar hjem
Denmark have twice won Eurovision this century and could be on for a third with this track from actor and singer-songwriter Soren Torpegaard Lund.
Lund co-wrote For vi gar hjem (‘Before we go home’) and decided to keep it in the original Danish instead of translating it into English, a gamble which may just pay off.
It’s a high-energy song with a great chorus and could be bringing home plenty of 12 points in the Final, despite being overtaken in the betting by France in the last couple of weeks.
Chances: It’s already had more than two million YouTube views which suggests it is top-three-material.
Australia
Act: Delta Goodrem
Song: Eclipse
Delta Goodrem is already a major star and has surprisingly decided to dip her toes in the Eurovision pool for Australia.
Goodrem rose to stardom as shy schoolgirl Nina Tucker in Aussie soap Neighbours in the early 2000s, but branched out with a singing career that yielded nine number one singles and five chart-topping albums.
She’s spent the last nine seasons as coach on Voice Australia and her book Bridge Over Troubled Dreams was a bestseller.
The Eurovision-loving Australians have brought out a big-hitter after last year’s risque Milkshake Man failed to reach the Grand Final, but will it be enough?
Chances: It’s a safe track, but lacks originality.
Greece
Act: Akylas
Song: Ferto
Akylas can’t be accused of being unoriginal for this techno track which is sung mainly in Greek, but sprinkled with English, French and Spanish.
The 27-year-old from Serres left music school to train as a chef, later singing on cruise ships before going viral with cover versions on TikTok.
His career has come full circle as he hopes to bring Greece only their second Eurovision victory with Ferto, which should appeal to the young and older ravers.
Chances: Akylas and Ferto have personality in spades and could cause a surprise.
Israel
Act: Noam Bettan
Song: Michelle
Yuval Raphael, a Nova Festival survivor and last year’s Israel entry, is back as a co-writer for the multi-lingual Michelle, a more upbeat offering than recent songs which focused on resilience, survival and the human spirit.
Born in Israel to French immigrant parents, Noam Bettan uses French, Hebrew and English to get his message across about a difficult girlfriend.
Israel have finished in the top five in the last three years and Michelle can’t be ruled out for a similar outcome.
Chances: Israel have done well with the televote in the last two years and their hopes could rest on another strong showing in this area.
Sweden
Act: Felicia
Song: My System
Sweden have won Eurovision seven times – the joint highest with Ireland – and Felicia has a shot at adding an eighth with this song which romped to victory at the Melodifestivalen in Stockholm.
Already a chart-topper in Sweden, the odds on My System have drifted in recent weeks, but this techno banger is expected to come good with national juries and the voting public.
The Swedes have only once been outside the top 10 in the last 11 editions and this catchy, energy-filled anthem is likely to keep that trend going.
Chances: Top five is within reach and possibly better.
United Kingdom
Act: Look Mum No Computer
Song: Eins, Zwei, Drei
Look Mum No Computer is the moniker used by likeable musician Sam Battle, who has a massive YouTube following for his quirky videos on building his own synths.
Battle also runs a museum in Ramsgate, Kent, called This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete, described as an "interactive museum celebrating obsolete and experimental technology".
A young version of the Doc on Back to the Future, Battle was the former frontman of Indie act ZIBRA, which played at Glastonbury 11 years ago.
True to Eurovision tradition, the 37-year-old inventor has mixed English with German to produce a track which is unlikely to trouble the leaderboard, but we hope it at least avoids the nil points that befell James Newman in 2021.
Chances: Won’t replicate Sam Ryder’s success and is likely to finish in the bottom half.
Who will win Eurovision this year? And where will the United Kingdom finish? Let us know in the comments below or vote in our poll above!
