The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 16 in Vienna, Austria, celebrating its milestone 70th edition with an exciting array of performances and innovative accessibility features.
This year, the Grand Final will feature 25 countries competing for the coveted title, while the Semi-Finals are set for May 12 and May 14. The UK act LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER is among those vying for victory. Last year, the contest drew an impressive audience—7.1 million viewers tuned in for the Grand Final, with 1.2 million of them aged between 16 and 34.
Key details:
- The Grand Final starts at 8 pm.
- The Semi-Finals will eliminate 10 contestants.
- Voting in the UK will be online only, costing 15p per vote.
- Live Audio Description and British Sign Language interpretation will enhance accessibility.
- The BBC’s coverage is produced by BBC Studios.
Graham Norton will host the Grand Final—a role he has embraced enthusiastically. He expressed, “It feels really special to be back, gently guiding viewers through the Grand Final in this very momentous 70th anniversary year.” Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon will take charge of hosting duties during the Semi-Finals. Clark remarked on the significance of this year’s event: “It’s the biggest show on the planet. Being part of anything this big is something younger me could never have imagined.” Meanwhile, Scanlon described her excitement as joining “the greatest party on earth – equal parts thrilling and terrifying!”
This year’s contest also marks a return to Vienna—the city last hosted Eurovision in 2015. The anticipation surrounding this historic event is palpable, especially as fans look forward to seeing how the BBC enhances their viewing experience across platforms like BBC iPlayer.
Kalpna Patel-Knight from the BBC stated, “The BBC continues to be the home of Eurovision in the UK, and this year we’re once again offering a treasure trove of brilliant content for audiences to enjoy as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the contest across our platforms.” With such enthusiasm from both hosts and producers alike, this year’s Eurovision promises to be an unforgettable celebration.