Eurovision Song Contest 2026: How to Watch, Vote & Everything You Need to Know

The 70th edition of the world’s biggest live music event is here — and it’s happening right now in Vienna, Austria.

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ – The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is the historic 70th edition   ║
║   of the competition, held in Vienna, Austria.                     ║
║ – Two Semi-Finals take place on 12 & 14 May; the Grand Final      ║
║   is on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at Wiener Stadthalle.               ║
║ – 35 countries are competing — the smallest field since 2003,     ║
║   following a historic five-country boycott over Israel's entry.  ║
║ – US viewers can watch live on Peacock and the official Eurovision ║
║   YouTube channel, available free for the first time in a decade. ║
║ – Voters can cast up to 10 votes per person, either by phone,     ║
║   SMS, or online at esc.vote; Rest of World voters pay €0.99.     ║
║ – Austria's JJ won the 2025 contest with "Wasted Love", earning   ║
║   Vienna its third-ever right to host Eurovision.                 ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

A Milestone Moment: Welcome to the 70th Eurovision Song Contest

Seventy years. One stage. Thirty-five nations. The Eurovision Song Contest has been uniting audiences, dividing living rooms, and launching careers since 1956 — and its diamond anniversary edition is no exception. Taking place in the imperial city of Vienna, Austria, this year’s contest carries the weight of history alongside the electric energy of one of the world’s most-watched annual television events.

Austria earned hosting rights after singer JJ triumphed at the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland, with his emotionally charged performance of “Wasted Love.” It marks Vienna’s third time hosting Eurovision, having previously done so in 1967 and again in 2015 — both times at the very same arena now welcoming the world once more.

What makes the 70th edition particularly fascinating — and contentious — is the backdrop of a historic boycott, a reshaped voting landscape, and an international lineup of artists that spans pure pop to gothic drama, folk revival to disco spectacle. Whether you’re a lifelong Eurovision devotee or tuning in for the first time, this guide covers everything you need to know to watch, vote, and fully immerse yourself in the spectacle.

The Venue: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna

The contest is staged at the Wiener Stadthalle, a 16,152-seat arena that also hosted Eurovision in 2015. But the experience extends far beyond the arena walls:

• The Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz serves as the public hub, with live performances, screenings, and fan events.
• The EuroClub at Prater Dome hosts the official after-parties and intimate performances by competing artists.
• The “Turquoise Carpet” ceremony — held on 10 May at the historic Burgtheater — officially introduced all competing delegations to the world’s press and fan community.

The Green Room this year takes inspiration from Vienna’s iconic Kaffeehauskultur (coffee house culture), recognised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Designed by Florian Wieder, it transforms the backstage lounge into a warm Viennese café — a beautifully symbolic space where artists from across the globe share the same table.

When to Watch Eurovision Song Contest 2026

All three live shows broadcast from Wiener Stadthalle at 21:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time). Here is the complete schedule at a glance:

Full Schedule Timeline

What Happens in Each Show

First Semi-Final (12 May): Fifteen countries compete for ten coveted Grand Final spots. Pre-qualified countries Germany and Italy also take to the stage as guest performers during this show, though they do not compete. The show opens with a tribute to “L’amour est bleu” performed by Vicky Leandros, the Luxembourg legend who first sang it in Vienna back in 1967.

Second Semi-Final (14 May): Another fifteen countries battle it out for the remaining ten places in the Grand Final. Pre-qualified nations Austria, France, and the United Kingdom perform here as non-competing guests.

Grand Final (16 May): The culmination of the week — 25 artists take the Wiener Stadthalle stage, comprising the host nation Austria, the Big 4 (France, Germany, Italy, UK), and the 20 qualifiers from both semi-finals.

Dress Rehearsals & Family Shows

For those who want to understand the full week structure, here’s the broader timeline:

How to Watch Eurovision Song Contest 2026

In Participating Countries

If your country is one of the 35 taking part, the best way to watch is via your national broadcaster’s TV channel or streaming service, usually with local-language commentary. Instructions appear on-screen during broadcasts, making it easy to vote simultaneously.

In the United States 🇺🇸

American fans have excellent options this year. All three live shows are available on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform. Streams begin at 3:00 PM ET on show days. Additionally — and for the first time in nearly a decade — all three shows are being streamed live and free on the official Eurovision YouTube channel, making the contest more accessible to US audiences than it has been in years.

In the United Kingdom 🇬🇧

UK viewers watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with full commentary and voting access. Note that the official Eurovision YouTube stream is not available in the UK, so the BBC remains the go-to destination. Graham Norton returns as the beloved commentator.

In Australia 🇦🇺

SBS broadcasts all three shows, with Australian artist Delta Goodrem competing this year with her song “Eclipse” — representing the country for the 12th time it has participated in the contest, and generating enormous national interest. The Semi-Finals air at 5:00 AM AEST, with prime-time replay broadcasts beginning 15–17 May at 7:30 PM AEST.

For the Rest of the World 🌍

Non-participating countries can stream all live shows on the official Eurovision YouTube channel at no cost. Simply search “Eurovision Song Contest” on YouTube or follow the official links at eurovision.com/vote-and-watch.

The Hosts

Presenting the 70th Eurovision Song Contest are two Austrians perfectly suited to the occasion:

Victoria Swarovski — A TV presenter, model, entrepreneur, designer and singer from Innsbruck, best known internationally as a long-running host of the popular show Let’s Dance. She brings glamour, warmth, and genuine star power to the Eurovision stage.

Michael Ostrowski — A celebrated actor and TV presenter from Leoben, recent Romy Award winner for hosting excellence, known for his natural charm and wit.

Emily Busvine, presenter of the FM4 Morning Show, serves as the Green Room host — keeping the Viennese “coffee house” buzzing with personality throughout every live show.

The Competing Nations: 35 Countries, One Stage

This year’s field of 35 is the smallest since 2003, before the semi-final format was introduced. Three countries — Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania — make welcome returns after absences ranging from one to three years. However, five countries — Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain — are absent, in protest over Israel’s inclusion amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Spain’s absence is particularly significant: it marks the first time the “Big Five” has been incomplete since Italy rejoined in 2011, and has been widely described as the biggest crisis in the contest’s history since 1970.

Semi-Final 1 Countries (12 May)

🔒 = Pre-qualified for Grand Final; performs but does not compete in Semi-Final

Semi-Final 2 Countries (14 May)

🔒 = Pre-qualified for Grand Final; performs but does not compete in Semi-Final

Voting in the Semi-Finals

Voting is the heartbeat of Eurovision — and understanding how it works helps you make the most of your 10 votes. Here is a deep breakdown of how the semi-final voting system operates.

Who Can Vote in Each Semi-Final?

This is where many fans get caught out. You can only vote in the Semi-Final in which your country is participating or assigned to vote. The Big 4 and Austria (the host) are assigned as follows:

• Semi-Final 1 (12 May): Germany and Italy vote
• Semi-Final 2 (14 May): Austria, France, and the United Kingdom vote

Even though these five nations are already guaranteed Grand Final places, their audiences and professional juries still have a meaningful say in determining which competing countries progress to Saturday.

How to Cast Your Semi-Final Vote

By Phone or SMS: Instructions appear on-screen during the live broadcast. Follow the prompt for your country’s specific phone number or SMS short code. Standard call/text rates may apply depending on your provider.

Online at esc.vote: Available for viewers in participating countries as well as those watching from non-participating territories. The “Rest of the World” online vote costs €0.99 and gives international fans a direct say in who advances.

Semi-Final Voting Timeline

How Many Votes Can You Cast?

Each viewer can vote up to 10 times. You may spread those 10 votes across up to 10 different countries, or concentrate all 10 on a single favourite. One firm rule applies regardless: you cannot vote for your own country.

The Jury Component in Semi-Finals

Professional national juries watch a dedicated Jury Show (essentially the most important rehearsal, held the evening before each live broadcast) and cast their votes in advance. In the Semi-Finals, both jury votes and public televotes are combined to determine the Top 10 qualifiers from each show. This 50/50 weighting between jury and audience means a single spectacular live performance really can change everything.

Voting in the Grand Final

The Grand Final on Saturday, 16 May brings together 25 countries — the five pre-qualified nations plus 20 semi-final qualifiers. The voting structure is more expansive and more dramatic than the semi-finals.

Grand Final Voting Timeline

How Does Grand Final Voting Differ?

In the Grand Final, the voting window is significantly longer than in the semi-finals. Because voting opens before the first song and remains open throughout all 25 performances, viewers can revise their opinions as the night unfolds. The extended window of approximately 40 minutes after the last song gives fans ample time to deliberate on their final allocation.

The Scoring System Explained

Points in Eurovision follow the classic format: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12 points are awarded by each country — both from their national jury and from their televoting audience.

• Jury vote: Each country’s professional panel awards their full set of points (including the famous “douze points” — 12 — going to their top pick).
• Televote: The combined public vote from each participating nation is translated into the same points scale, with 12 points going to the most popular entry.
• Rest of World vote: The aggregated international online vote is treated as a single bloc of points, using the same scale, ensuring fans worldwide have a genuine impact on the result.

Countries cannot vote for themselves at any stage — neither the jury nor the public.

How Does Eurovision Voting Work? A Deep Dive

If you’re new to Eurovision or want to go beyond the basics, here is a comprehensive breakdown of the mechanics behind one of television’s most complex — and thrilling — voting systems.

The Dual Voting Structure

Every competing country provides two separate sets of points in the Grand Final:

1. National Jury Points Each participating broadcaster appoints a five-person professional jury, comprising music industry experts, journalists, and performers. These juries watch the Jury Show (the evening before the Grand Final) and cast their ranked votes independently. Their collective scores are compiled and announced during the live show by each nation’s spokesperson — the moment fans know for the familiar “Good evening, Vienna…” reveal.

2. National Televote Points Viewers vote in real time during and after the Grand Final broadcast. Votes are aggregated by country and the top 10 entries receive points on the same 1–12 scale. A separate announcement reveals the televote totals for all competing countries after the jury scores have been revealed — creating two distinct waves of tension in the finale.

Why Are There Two Separate Votes?

The dual system was introduced to balance professional artistic judgment against popular public sentiment. In practice, jury votes and televotes often diverge dramatically — a song beloved by critics may receive middling public support, while a crowd-pleasing anthem dismissed by juries can rocket up the televote. These divergences are often where the real drama of Eurovision finals is born.

The “Rest of the World” Vote

For the first time in Eurovision history, the contest has increasingly embraced its global fanbase. Non-participating countries can vote online at esc.vote for a small fee of €0.99, with their combined votes aggregated into a single bloc of points, announced alongside the national results. This ensures that the diaspora communities, international pop fans, and Eurovision devotees worldwide — from the United States to Japan to South America — genuinely influence the result.

The Scoreboard and My Scoreboard Feature

The official Eurovision Song Contest app includes a “My Scoreboard” feature, allowing fans to track their personal points allocations, compare with friends, and share predictions on social media throughout the Grand Final. It’s a brilliant way to turn a viewing party into a competition of its own.

The Big Story: A Historic Boycott

No article covering the 70th Eurovision would be complete without addressing its most controversial chapter. Five countries — Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain — have withdrawn from the contest in protest over Israel’s participation, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and concerns about Israeli government-run advertising campaigns that targeted the Eurovision vote in both 2024 and 2025.

Spain’s absence is the most seismic: as one of the “Big Five” financial contributors, the country’s participation has historically been guaranteed, making this the first incomplete “Big Five” line-up since Italy rejoined in 2011. Several media outlets have called it the biggest crisis in Eurovision’s 70-year history.

Security in Vienna is significantly elevated, with police expecting protests and potential disruptions around the venue. Attendees face airport-level security screenings and bag restrictions.

Despite the controversy, the EBU has confirmed that 95,000 tickets have been sold, with fans travelling from 75 countries and territories — suggesting that audience appetite for the contest remains enormous, even in a turbulent year.

Ones to Watch: Key Artists & Favourites

Based on pre-contest bookmaker odds and critical buzz, here are some of the most talked-about acts heading into the live shows:

Finland — Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen (Liekinheitin): Consistently the early favourite according to Eurovisionworld odds ahead of the Semi-Finals. A powerful, genre-defying entry that has captured attention across Europe.

Greece — Akylas (Ferto): Sitting close behind Finland in the odds, Akylas brings intense, theatrical energy to a song that sounds unlike anything else in this year’s field.

Australia — Delta Goodrem (Eclipse): The most high-profile international entry. Goodrem’s established European fanbase and polished stagecraft make her a genuine contender, according to Eurovision researchers who point to her broad cross-continental appeal.

San Marino — Senhit & Boy George: The return of Senhit (who famously won the televote outright for San Marino in 2021) alongside the legendary Boy George of Culture Club is one of the contest’s most talked-about collaborations. Expect maximum showmanship.

Moldova — Satoshi (Viva, Moldova!): A fan favourite and crowd-pleaser, with Aliona Moon — who represented Moldova in 2013 — returning as a backing singer, adding an extra layer of Eurovision history to the performance.

Luxembourg — Monroe (Regarde!): Luxembourg’s fifth-ever entry, drawing on the country’s rich Eurovision history, and widely praised as a classy, emotionally resonant ballad.

70 Years of Eurovision: A Brief Timeline

Quick Reference: Everything in One Place

Who do you think will lift the Eurovision trophy on Saturday night — and which act has stolen your heart so far? Drop your predictions in the comments below, and bookmark this page for live updates as Vienna delivers one unforgettable night after another!