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Sprinkle the sequins and turn up the volume: The annual Eurovision Song Contest culminated on Saturday with a grand finale live from Liverpool, England.
The competition, which has captured the changing zeitgeist of a continent since 1956, will feature catchy choruses, kaleidoscopic costumes and nods to the Ukrainian spirit.
According to organizers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), 161 million people watched the race last year, making it one of the most watched events in the world.
Here’s what to expect as artists across Europe and beyond vie for the continental pop crown.
Who is competing?
This year, 37 countries have sent Eurovision shows selected through national competitions or broadcasters’ internal selections.The winner of the previous year’s event will usually officiate, however, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine Continuing on, Great Britain was honored this year on behalf of 2022 winner Ukraine.
Six countries automatically qualify for the final: last year’s winners and the five countries that contributed the most money to the competition – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
The others must enter the semi-finals with 20 actors selected by public vote on Tuesday and Thursday.
The qualifying countries are: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
The final will be played at the Liverpool Arena on Saturday.
Australia?
Eurovision is more than geography. Eurovision is so popular in Australia that the country was allowed to compete in 2015. Other entrants from outside Europe include Israel and Azerbaijan.
who is the favourite?
It’s hard to predict the winner of a contest where past winners have ranged from ABBA to Finnish metal band Lordi, but bookmakers say Swedish diva Loreen, who won in 2012 with her power ballad tattoos, is the favorite.
Finland’s Käärijä was a hit in the semi-finals with his metal party pop anthem Cha Cha Cha, while Canadian singer La Zarra, who represented France, came out on top with her Edith Piaf-inspired song Évidemment.
Never underestimate left field entries like Croatia’s Let 3 with their song Mama ŠČ! is pure Eurovision camp: an anti-war rock opera, like Monty Python meets Dr. Strangelove.
What will happen in the final?
Some 6,000 people will take part in the final, which will be hosted by longtime BBC Eurovision presenter Graham Norton, Ted Lasso and West End star Hannah Waddingham, British singer Alyssa Dixon and Ukrainian rock star Julia Sanina.
Each game has to be sung live and sticks to a three-minute limit, but is free to create its own stage—the more spectacular the fireworks and the more elaborate the choreography, the better.
Russia’s war in Ukraine will add solemnity to a game known for celebrating cheesy pop music.
The show will open with performances from last year’s winners, Folk rap group Kalush Orchestra, and singer Jamala, who won the competition in 2016, will perform a song that pays homage to her Crimean Tatar culture. Ukraine has won the tournament three times since the country started competing in 2003.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend. He asked to address the final by video, but the EBU said such a talk would undermine the “apolitical nature of the event”.
How is the winner decided?
After all performances, audience members from participating countries can vote by phone, text message or app, but cannot vote for their own country.
For the first time this year, viewers from non-participating countries can also vote online, and the “rest of the world” total is given a country’s weight.
A national judging panel of music industry professionals also assigns their favorite songs a score of 1 to 12, with announcers popping up from each country to announce which song received the coveted “sleepy score” ( 12 points).
Public and jury votes are combined to give each country a single score. Ending with “nul points” was considered a national embarrassment. Britain has met this fate many times – most recently in 2021. It bounced back last year, however, when Sam Ryder finished second, and hopes that this year’s entrant May Müller will do well as well.
Where can I watch it?
Eurovision is broadcast by national broadcasters belonging to the EBU (including the UK’s BBC) and by the Eurovision YouTube channel. In the US, it’s streaming on NBC’s Peacock streaming service.
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