Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Space Dog · 16-05-2026 10:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124472706#Comment_124472706

If Australia won the show would still be hosted by a country in Europe.

mrcheez · 16-05-2026 10:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124472709#Comment_124472709

Ah interesting didnt realise

mrcheez · 16-05-2026 11:05AM

Watched Finland now, generic forgettable, wonder why it's the favourite?

Famous Seamus · 16-05-2026 12:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124472749#Comment_124472749

Because the masses are asses, I don't get it at all, it's like they had tick list for what they needed to do towin and then added some more, it's a mess.

archfi · 16-05-2026 01:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124470998#Comment_124470998

I thought 1993 at Millsteet was fantastic, the set was great and a big departure from all previous contests.

Ruth Jacott (NL) and Vrede was well worthy of higher at the end.

On another note, BRING BACK LIVE MUSIC (the orchestra) - of course, they never will…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg0k6KuTVXQ

supereurope · 16-05-2026 01:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124472380#Comment_124472380

Same top 5 in both, and I suspect that will be the top 5 tonight. What I can't say is the order they'll be in.

My prediction is: Australia wins jury. If the televote is fair, Bulgaria wins that, if not it'll be second behind you-know-who. However, neither Australia, Bulgaria nor that country will get enough points from the other side of the vote, meaning the winning song will be the one that scored well with both sides of the vote. And I suspect that'll be Finland, our first "compromise" winner since 2019.

Logging off now in case things get heated here. Enjoy the show everyone, and I hope this thread will be open tomorrow to discuss the events of the final.

EDIT: just to add, I'm starting to worry about Sam from the UK. Hopefully he'll come away with something, but he looks set for a bottom 5 finish.

Photobox · 16-05-2026 01:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124472997#Comment_124472997

💯 I remember watching it live on a big TV in my local. All so proud, those were the days.

supereurope · 16-05-2026 01:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124472997#Comment_124472997

Very random fact about the Dutch song. The late Humphrey Campbell (who sang the Dutch entry the previous year) was on backing vocals, and he was the first singer on the Eurovision stage to wear a head mic. Austria's singer in 1997 was the first lead singer to wear a head mic.

Fun fact of the day!

Welsh Megaman · 16-05-2026 02:04PM

I’m calling it right now…

A U S T R A L I A

odyssey06 · 16-05-2026 02:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124473115#Comment_124473115

You are just hoping as it cant be held in New South Wales, they might have to make do with the old one.

supereurope · 16-05-2026 02:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124473115#Comment_124473115

I still think she'll struggle with the televote. No one under the age of 25 will remember Born to Try or Lost Without You, and even fewer will remember her as Nina on Neighbours. That said, the 40-somethings might be overcome with 2003 nostalgia…

Thinking about it, I think I bought her debut album back in 2003.

I tell you who WON'T be voting for Delta tonight…Kerry Katona.

tradfan1 · 16-05-2026 02:11PM

Bulgaria flying up the odds, now at no. 4, wonder could they actually do it…?

Dazler97 · 16-05-2026 02:22PM

Belgium ,the uk and Australia are my 3 favourites

Welsh Megaman · 16-05-2026 02:46PM

Looking forward to seeing these countries again tonight - Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and France.

Even have a soft spot for Italy. 🙂

Strazdas · 16-05-2026 02:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124473127#Comment_124473127

I believe Australia have never finished in the top 3 in the Grand Final televote. But that may not necessarily be a problem, as it's perfectly possible for a jury winner to win overall and not even score fantastically well in the televote (as per the two most recent winners).

tradfan1 · 16-05-2026 03:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124473243#Comment_124473243

Always love Italy😍 Think Sal will finish easily in the top 10. He's in a fantastic position in the running order - who won't love a party/wedding atmosphere a few songs from the end, including the groom getting dressed for his big day!

squonk · 16-05-2026 04:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124473127#Comment_124473127

I think we all bought her debut album. It was a cracking effort. Haven’t seen her entry this time but wish her the best.

yerwanthere123 · 16-05-2026 06:01PM

My attempt at predicting how tonight will go:

1. Finland

2. Australia

3. Israel

4. Bulgaria

5. Greece

6. Ukraine

7. Moldova

8. Romania

9. Italy

10. Denmark

***

11. Albania

12. France

13. Czech Republic

14. Sweden

15. Poland

16. Croatia

17. Serbia

18. Malta

19. Norway

20. Cyprus

***

21. Lithuania

22. Belgium

23. Germany

24. Austria

25. United Kingdom

Think the double zero might be on for the UK unfortunately, which would make it four televote zero's in six years for them. Would be pretty unprecedented. Think there's a possibility we might see more than one televote zero tonight though!

ConcertKing · 16-05-2026 06:12PM

Think Australia will have such a big lead after the jury vote that they will win handy enough!

Galwayguy35 · 16-05-2026 06:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124473128#Comment_124473128

That's gas altogether.

It's basically a one word song.

supereurope · 16-05-2026 06:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124473457#Comment_124473457

She had health problems around 2004 I recall, which stalled her career while she recovered. And then when she returned, she probably became more known for being the other woman in the McFadden/Katona breakup. No idea what she saw in him, but it wasn't a good career move to be more known for gossip column appearances than single releases.

Welsh Megaman · 16-05-2026 07:08PM

As I type, the gap between Australia and Finland has narrowed in the odds…and Bulgaria have jumped to third!

Always good when a country (especially a returning one) enter the contest with no great expectations, but after the first dress rehearsal everything just seems to click - great song, great staging, great performance.

Fair play to Dara, hope she does well tonight.

squonk · 16-05-2026 07:10PM

Yup. I didn’t realise she had heath issues but definitely she was the talented one in that pair up with McFadden. Could never understand it really myself. Was certain she could do way better. It’s a shame it derailed her career really. She didn’t deserve that kind of grief. I think once tonight is over I’ll give her song a look as I’m genuinely looking forward to hearing it and hopefully it’ll do the business for the Aussies later if it’s as good as is mentioned here.