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  1. Keep an eye out for the British Sign Language interpreter on the BBCpublished at 20:11 BST

    Ryan tells us he's really looking forward to watching the show tonight with British Sign Language interpreters on the BBC.

    You can see Live Audio description and live signing on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button.

    He's obviously not the only one, and adds: "Rylan did say this on Thursday night [at the semi-final], "If you are not watching Eurovision with BSL, you are missing out because they do such a fantastic job."

    You can read more here about BSL interpreter Clare Edwards, who was hailed last year for her energetic performances at Eurovision and Glastonbury - she said just wants to make music accessible to deaf people.

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  2. Sweden's Felicia skips flag parade, but she'll still singpublished at 20:07 BST

    Emma Saunders
    Culture reporter

    Felicia sings with a diamante mask onImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Felicia wears a mask during her performance (and she also won the Swedish Masked Singer - was that her inspiration, we ask ourselves?

    Swedish act Felicia, who made it through to the final with her song My System, fainted backstage in Vienna following the second dress rehearsal on Friday, the star has confirmed.

    “The dress rehearsal yesterday felt great. But it was so incredibly hot in the green room and the more time went by I felt like I was getting more and more dizzy and when I got to the dressing room I was very weak. I got great help from the medical staff on site. Now I have slept well, drunk as much water as I can and have eaten. So now I am super ready for the day," Felicia said in a statement on Saturday.

    According to the Swedish delegation, the incident was caused by a drop in blood pressure and dehydration.

    As a precaution, Felicia will skip the flag parade - where all the entries enter the hall ahead of the contest waving their country's flag - and avoid sitting in the green room while in costume.

    Felicia had voice problems earlier this week but Swedish media have said the fainting incident was linked to this.

  3. For the first time tonight, here are the contestantspublished at 20:07 BST

    Mark Savage
    Music correspondent, at the Eurovision Song Contest

    A man holding a Maltese flag and a cowboy vest smilingImage source, AFP via Getty Images

    Just like the Olympics, the contest opens with a flag parade featuring all 25 of tonight’s contestants.

    Realising that absolutely not many really enjoy this part of the show, the producers have broken it up with another performance by JJ – this time, playing Wasted Love in a fetching gold puffer jacket, while acrobats swing from the rafters.

    If you’re getting impatient for the contest itself, don’t worry. We only have five minutes before the first song.

  4. JJ's opening performance brings the drama to Viennapublished at 20:05 BST

    Mark Savage
    Music correspondent, at the Eurovision Song Contest

    JJ stands with his arms apart looking up as he sings against a dark backgroundImage source, AFP via Getty Images

    The show has just started, and first up is last year's winner JJ. He’s the reason we’re all here in Vienna.

    We flash back to that night in Basel, Switzerland, as JJ lifts the trophy. Posing for photographers the next morning, he drops his good luck charm – a tiny paper boat, representing the castaway vibes of his winning song.

    But the paper boat makes its way home, travelling over the Black sea and into the Danube River, before being picked up by a sparrow and dropped into the Wienerstadthalle.

    Cutting to the arena, we hear the sound of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, accompanying JJ on a performance of Mozart’s Night’s Queen, that segues into his new single Unknown.

  5. It's showtime - the final of Eurovision 2026 has started!published at 20:00 BST
    Breaking

    It's the time we've all been waiting for, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 has begun.

    You can watch live at the top of this page, and we'll bring you the glitz, glam, rock, pop, orchestra, and everything else in between right here.

  6. How does tonight work?published at 19:57 BST

    The stage is set, the crowd is buzzing, and we've got live updates flowing. But first, here's a brief overview of how the night is set to pan out.

    First it's time for The Queen of the Night - the opening performance from last year's winner JJ.

    As he performs, out come the 25 finalists who are introduced through the flag parade.

    Next, meet your hosts, Austrian stars, Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski.

    Then...showtime.

    There's 25 acts to get through, one by one - buckle up and grab your snacks.

    If your country is competing, voting opens just before the first song is performed, and will be open for around 40 minutes after the last song, so there's a lot of time for viewers to pick their favourites.

    Then, it's time for the winners. For those in the UK, La Voix, a former Strictly Come Dancing and RuPaul's Drag Race UK contestant, will be the UK's first Eurovision "spokesqueen", delivering the national jury results live from Salford during Saturday's final.

    Get your scorecards ready, it's almost time.

  7. 'Our first dates involved watching Eurovision 800 miles apart'published at 19:56 BST

    Kris Bramwell
    BBC News

    Scott and Andreea smiling taking a selfie in front of a view over the top of a historic old cityImage source, Scott Taylor

    Scott will be watching Eurovision in Monza, Italy with his girlfriend Andreea, 53.

    "After an introduction by a mutual, Italian friend in 2021, we bonded over Eurovision before meeting in person and starting our relationship in February 2024," explains Scott.

    "We texted on and off to say happy birthday or happy new year but always tuned in to Eurovision together. “Those were our first 'dates' where we learned a lot about each other and our mutual taste for international culture, art, music."

    Tonight Scott will be watching Eurovision at Andreea’s apartment in Monza after years of watching it separated by 800 miles!

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  8. Graham Norton returns as our guide for this eveningpublished at 19:54 BST

    Emma Saunders
    Culture reporter

    Graham Norton in a pink velvet jacket

    We're less than 10 minutes away from Eurovision starting, and here's a reminder that Graham Norton will be taking the helm on BBC One for the 18th time!

    The comedian and presenter has had us giggling in our sequins with his repartee ever since he replaced the late, great Sir Terry Wogan as the BBC's Eurovision TV commentator in 2009.

    He's treated us to some classic zingers over the years, including this one about Bulgara's 2018 song, On Bones: "Some people love the song. I haven't met any of them, but that's what I'm told."

    Serbia's 2021 trio Hurricane were treated to this corker: "Less Destiny’s Child. More Destiny’s Inappropriate Aunt."

    And one year, when the French jury gave the UK one point, Graham quipped: "One. We built a tunnel to your country!"

    When he's not watching Eurovision, Graham can be found presenting The Graham Norton Show, or judging the acts on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

  9. Why are some countries boycotting Eurovision?published at 19:48 BST

    There are five countries boycotting the contest this year - Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain, after it was decided that Israel could compete.

    They were among a number of countries who had called for Israel to be excluded from the competition over the war in Gaza, and accusations of unfair voting practices.

    Ireland's RTÉ said it felt that its "participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk."

    But at a meeting in Geneva where a vote was held on new safeguards, a "large majority" of members agreed there was no need for a further vote on participation and that Eurovision 2026 could proceed as planned, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said.

    Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said he was "pleased" that members had been given an "opportunity to debate" Israel's place in the contest before the vote.

  10. What is this year's running order?published at 19:36 BST

    Helen Bushby
    Culture reporter

    A graphic of the Eurovision running order
  11. If the lights stop working, here’s whypublished at 19:34 BST

    Mark Savage
    Music correspondent, at the Eurovision Song Contest

    Two men looking at a computer in a dark room full of screens

    Eurovision’s stage includes 3,107 lighting fixtures and more than 28,000 individually controllable LEDs.

    Controlling them all is British lighting designer Tim Routledge. This is his fourth Eurovision, and he’s made one big addition to his rig for 2026: A treadmill.

    Over the last month of rehearsals and semi-finals, he’s run 500km while operating all the levers and switches that control the spotlights.

    "I decided this year that I wanted to keep moving while I’m working," he explained.

    And during tonight’s grand final? "I’m hoping to run a marathon."

  12. Eurovision... in cake form!published at 19:31 BST

    Your Voice logo

    "Eurovision fever has hit our house!" Marc tells us.

    "My six-year-old created this custom Lego Eurovision band complete with a show-stopping cake stage."

    We're here for this colourful creation - the staging definitely wouldn't look out of place in Vienna, and the cake would keep the performers' energy up.

    What more could you want?

    A Lego Eurovision band and cakeImage source, Marc/BBC
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  14. A handy guide to votingpublished at 19:20 BST

    Emma Saunders
    Culture reporter

    Voting will open just before the first song of the night is performed - but how does the process work?

    Each country gives two sets of points:The first set is awarded by a jury of seven music industry professionals, while the other comes from viewers at home

    How to vote: Viewers from participating countries can vote by telephone, SMS*, through the official app and at ESC Vote, external.

    Do I have to pay?: This year you have to pay to vote, either using a credit card or Apple/Google Pay. In the UK it's 15p per vote. Elsewhere, it costs up to €0.99. As well as aiming to raise money, it's to help stop fraudulent voting by making sure votes are coming from the country they are registered in

    Can I vote for my own country?: No, you cannot.

    How can I find out how my country voted? Once the voting window has closed, the spokesperson for all participating countries will reveal their jury points live on air

    What happens with viewers' points?: Viewers' points from all participating countries are added up following the jury points, and revealed from the lowest to the highest

    The result: This leads to the nail-biting result, which will reveal the winner of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest

    Media caption,

    How has Eurovision voting changed this year?

  15. Get the party started with Sophie Ellis Bextorpublished at 19:05 BST

    BBC Sounds

    Sophie Ellis Bextor in a flora dress, on stage.Image source, BBC/Sarah Jeynes

    Who is the ultimate Eurovision superstar?

    Sophie Ellis Bextor has counted down Radio 2 listeners’ top Eurovision icons ahead of tonight’s Grand Final - featuring favourites including Abba, Loreen, Celine Dion and Johnny Logan.

    And for the final, remember you can tune in to tonight’s live Eurovision Grand Final on the BBC Sounds app and listen on the go.

    Or if you’d prefer to listen via Smart Speaker, just ask your device to ‘Play Radio 2’.

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  17. What are the chances? This year's favourites to winpublished at 18:52 BST

    Helen Bushby
    Culture reporter

    Finland's entry performing on stage, he's in a black suit and she is in a silver outfit with a violinImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen are representing Finland this year

    The odds and expectations on who will win can change very swiftly, not least when each country places their vote after the juries have had their say.

    But as things stand, Finland are currently the favourites to win, followed by Australia, Greece, Israel and Romania.

    The UK is expected to land in the lower part of the leaderboard, but you will have to watch this space when those scores start jumping later on tonight!

  18. How to watch and listen to the Eurovision finalpublished at 18:48 BST

    Helen Bushby
    Culture reporter

    Graham Norton in a blue suit with the Union flag behind himImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Graham Norton is now a longstanding Eurovision commentator for the BBC

    We have you covered! You can tune into the grand final on BBC One, BBC iPlayer,Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from 8pm tonight.

    Graham Norton will be guiding us through the sequins and high notes on BBC One, while Rylan and Sara Cox will be your hosts on Radio 2.

    There will also be full coverage right here of course, but you know that already.

  19. 'Thanks for looking after the kids mum!'published at 18:46 BST

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    Nothing like a bit of time away when life at home gets busy, and that's exactly what Tommy and Tashie are doing - looks like they're making the most of it!

    They told us: "Tommy and Tashie calling! We’ve travelled to Vienna for Eurovision… thanks for looking after the kids mum! X"

    Tommy and Tashie with Eurovision face paintsImage source, Tommy and Tashiie/BBC
  20. A special countdown to the final - watch live abovepublished at 18:40 BST

    While the actual show doesn't begin until 20:00 BST (it's on BBC One and iPlayer), we've got plenty to keep you entertained beforehand.

    You can now watch dedicated countdown coverage at the top of this page - just click watch live above.

    Hosted by the BBC's Maryam Moshiri, there's lots of special guests - and Eurovision fun - coming your way.