The BBC has announced its presenter lineup for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, with Sara Cox confirmed as the replacement for Scott Mills. Mills was dismissed from the BBC last month following allegations about his personal conduct, losing both his Radio 2 breakfast slot and his Eurovision hosting duties. Cox will now host the semi-finals on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, alongside Rylan, and will also present solo segments.
Eurovision 2026 in Vienna
This year marks the 70th edition of the annual competition, taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 12 to 16 May. The BBC's coverage spans television, radio, and digital platforms. Rylan will co-host the semi-finals on TV and iPlayer with Irish presenter Angela Scanlon, while Graham Norton returns to his beloved role on BBC One for the grand final on Saturday 16 May. Former Drag Race UK winner Tia Kofi will provide backstage gossip and updates from Vienna for the BBC's digital channels.
Presenters Share Excitement
Rylan expressed his enthusiasm, stating: "It's the 70th Eurovision Song Contest and the biggest show on the planet. Being part of anything this big is something younger me could never have imagined." Scanlon added: "It feels like joining the greatest party on earth – equal parts thrilling and terrifying! I grew up watching with my sisters, making very serious scorecards from the couch, so to now be part of it – especially in its 70th year – is genuinely surreal."
Grand Final Details
The first semi-final takes place on Tuesday 12 May, followed by the second on Thursday 14 May. The top 10 countries from each semi-final will advance to Saturday's grand final. During the second semi-final, UK viewers can vote for their favourites and see the first performance from UK entry Look Mum No Computer, who will sing "Eins, Zwei, Drei". As one of the pre-qualified "Big Four" countries (alongside Germany, France, and Italy, after Spain withdrew in protest over Israel's participation), the UK is guaranteed a spot in the grand final, as is Austria as the reigning champion and host nation.
Eurovision remains one of the most-watched TV events globally; last year's final in Basel, Switzerland, attracted an average UK audience of 7.1 million viewers.
