Eurovision final unfolds amid protests over Israel as fans flock to Vienna for contest’s 70th anniversary

The Eurovision Song Contest final took place in Vienna amid protests over Israel’s participation and a five-country boycott. Fans packed the arena for the 70th edition, as performers from 25 nations competed for Europe’s biggest pop music prize.Eurovision 2026 final unfolds under shadow of political tensionsAfter a week’s buildup, acts from 25 countries took to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent’s pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world will cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision’s 70th anniversary event.The campy, colorful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs instead of soccer. And like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics. The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — boycotting in protest.The show opened with a performance by last year’s winner, the operatically trained Austrian singer JJ, and an Olympics-style flag parade of the 25 finalists. Then it was on to performances by the musicians, who had just 3 minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, pick the winner.First up was Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund, among the contest favorites for the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”), followed by Germany’s Sarah Engels with the power ballad “Fire,” the first of doubtless several performances to make liberal use of jets of flame.Israeli competitor Noam Bettan was cheered as he performed “Michelle,” a rock ballad in Hebrew, French and English. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his semifinal performance. Then came “Dancing on the Ice,” a techno-ballad by Belgium's Essyla.Ukrainian singer Leléka offered the ethereal, beautiful "Ridnym,” and Australian star Delta Goodrem showed what a diva should be like with her slick midtempo ballad “Eclipse” — and a bravura performance that sees her raised into the air above a glittery piano. A European country would likely host for Australia next year if she wins.Serbian metal band Lavina provided a dramatic change of pace with the angsty “Kraj Mene” — the sort of head-spinning variety that is the joy of Eurovision.Pleasant ballads like “Bella” by Aidan from Malta alternated with the five-part vocal harmonies of Croatian folk-pop group Lelek, the operatic voice of France's Monroe and British act Look Mum No Computer’s jokey oddity “Eins, Zwei, Drei.”Newcomers looking to grasp the essence of Eurovision and its interplay of pop and politics should look no further than two of the fan favorites. Rapper Satoshi’s ebullient “Viva, Moldova” is a bouncy, pro-European song from a country moving toward the European Union after decades in Moscow’s orbit. Greek artist Akylas’ song “Ferto,” or “Bring It,” provides a playful take on conspicuous consumption in a country still scarred by the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.Both are likely to score highly with viewers, though national juries, which tend to be more impressed by technical excellence, may be less impressed. Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans. The act with the most points wins, and their country gets to host the competition next year.Finland is the favorite in betting odds with “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower,” a fiery duet between the singing of pop star Pete Parkkonen and the fiddling of classical violinist Linda Lampenius.But Eurovision often produces surprises.“Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It’s largely been a contest for underdogs,” said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic. “People like to see the underdog on stage. They like to the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer coun