The 70th Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Vienna, following Austria's victory in the previous year with JJ's song "Wasted Love", which scored 436 points. The contest will feature semi-finals on Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 May, culminating in the grand final on Saturday, 16 May, with all events commencing at 8pm UK time.
How to Watch Eurovision 2026 in the UK
UK viewers can watch the semi-finals and grand final live on BBC One, listen on Radio 2, or stream through BBC Sounds. Sara Cox and Rylan Clark are expected to provide commentary for the semi-finals, while Graham Norton is anticipated to return as the commentator for the grand final.
Participating Countries and Boycotts
This year's contest will see 35 countries participate, as Spain, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands are boycotting due to Israel's continued involvement, reducing the usual “Big 5” automatic qualifiers to a “Big 4”.
In full, Eurovision 2026 promises to be a memorable event despite the reduced number of participants. Fans can look forward to a week of music and celebration in Vienna.
