The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 16, 2026, in Vienna, Austria, celebrating its 70th edition with a star-studded lineup. The event promises to showcase innovative accessibility features, ensuring that all viewers can enjoy the performances.
Key details:
- The Grand Final will occur on Saturday, May 16, with 25 countries competing for the win.
- The Semi-Finals are scheduled for May 12 and May 14.
- The UK act LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER will perform during the contest.
- The opening act of the Grand Final will feature JJ, the winner from the previous year.
Graham Norton will host the Grand Final, while Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon will take charge of the Semi-Finals. Norton expressed excitement about returning for this momentous occasion, stating, “It feels really special to be back, gently guiding viewers through the Grand Final in this very momentous 70th anniversary year.” Meanwhile, Clark reflected on his participation by saying, “It’s the biggest show on the planet. Being part of anything this big is something younger me could never have imagined.”
This year’s coverage marks a commitment to inclusivity. Voting in the UK will be online only, with each vote costing 15p. Additionally, live audio description and British Sign Language interpretation will enhance accessibility during broadcasts. Kalpna Patel-Knight from BBC Studios highlighted this initiative: “The BBC continues to be the home of Eurovision in the UK… as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the contest across our platforms.”
The Eurovision Song Contest was last held in Vienna in 2015, making this return significant for fans. The average audience for last year’s Grand Final reached 7.1 million, with approximately 1.2 million viewers aged between 16 and 34 tuning in. Such numbers highlight Eurovision’s enduring popularity and its ability to engage younger audiences.
