Eurovision final latest: Look Mum No Computer flies flag for UK as Delta Goodrem is tipped to win contest - live updates

1 hour ago 6

By ISABELLA MACHIN, REPORTER

Updated: 19:50 BST, 16 May 2026

Eurovision returns to our screens tonight with 25 nations battling it out on stage in the Grand Final in Austria.

Tonight's contest - which is now in its 70th year - has been overshadowed by a boycott of five countries, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia, over Israel's participation.

The competing countries in the grand final will be Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Ukraine and the UK whose entrant is Look Mum No Computer, otherwise known as Sam Battle.

The Eurovision Song Contest grand final will take place on Saturday at 8pm, and will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Follow the latest updates from the Eurovision Grand Final

Here come the Brits...

In true British fashion, the nation has kept their upper lip stiff and showed up in force at tonight's event...despite the UK's questionable act., Look Mum No Computer.

Some went that extra mile, boiler suits and all.

Fans of LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER, representing the United Kingdom, pose ahead of the Grand Final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

Fans of LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER, representing the United Kingdom, pose ahead of the Grand Final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

Fans of United Kingdom pose ahead the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 (ESC) at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria on May 16, 2026. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Eurovision in the news: Israeli singer sailed through to the final amid controversy over Israel's military action in Gaza

Israel sailed through to the final of the competition, with the lovestruck pop song Michelle, performed by 28-year-old Bettan.

The contest's festive atmosphere has been upended in recent years by a controversy over Israel's military action in Gaza. Five countries have boycotted the 2026 event, including seven-time winners Ireland.

Bettan faced a mixed reception during the semi-final as a few audience members booed and shouted anti-Israeli slogans, while others chanted his name in support.

The negative reaction to Bettan's performance was audible on the TV broadcast, after Austrian broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the show, said it would not censor protests or negative reactions to any of the contestants.

 Ian West/PA Wire

Who will win Eurovision 2026? Bookies favourites revealed

The contest has been hitting headlines this week, from countries boycotting the event in protest against Israel's participation to the UK entry Look Mum No Computer's national 'embarrassment'.

Odds on who could be crowned the winner have, therefore, been fluctuating. However...one act seems to keep a constant champion standing.

Bookies are backing Finland as the favourites, represented by Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen with their song Liekinheitin, to claim the Eurovision Song Contest trophy.

The top 10 contenders, according to William Hill:

Finland: 11/10

Australia: 15/8

Bulgaria: 9/1

Greece: 14/1

Denmark: 28/1

France: 66/1

Israel: 12/1

Malta: 66/1

Italy: 40/1

Romania: 18/1

Sweden: 80/1

........

UK: 125/1

Eurovision fans gathered in Vienna to protest Israel's participation in tonight's event

Divisions over Israel's participation are hanging over the event's 70th anniversary.

Host city Vienna has been decked in hearts and the contest's 'United by Music' motto this week, in which singers and bands from 35 countries have been competing onstage for Europe's musical crown.

But Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland have decided to boycott the competition over Israel's inclusion.

Pro-Palestine groups staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner 'no stage for genocide,' while a demonstration against Israel's participation is planned ahead of tonight's show.

Read more here:

Who is hosting the Eurovision final?

The hosts for this year's competition are Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski.

Victoria from Innsbruck in Tyrol, Austria, is a TV presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer.

She signed her first record deal at 16 with Sony Music and later celebrated her big breakthrough in 2016 with a victory on the TV show Let's Dance - where she has been a permanent host since 2018.

Michael, from Leoben, Austria, has graced the screens in both TV and film, as well as becoming a presenter.

His big breakthrough came with the 2004 film Nacktschnecken. He has hosted events including the Nestroy Theater Prize and the Amadeus Awards.

Hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski on stage during the second semi-final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, in Vienna, Austria, May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner⿨

Members of the audience start taking their seats...as Israel's supporters dress themselves with flags

The audience have started filling the stadium and taking their seats, as supporters of Israel drape their national flag around themselves.

epa12964995 Members of the audience wear Israeli flags as they arrive for the grand final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Vienna, Austria, 16 May 2026.  EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

epa12964986 Members of the audience arrive for the grand final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Vienna, Austria, 16 May 2026.  EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

epa12964985 Members of the audience arrive for the grand final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Vienna, Austria, 16 May 2026.  EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

UK in Eurovision: A potted history

The United Kingdom has competed in Eurovision on 65 occasions, taking part in every contest since 1959.

One of the so-called 'Big Five' nations, alongside France, Germany, Spain and Italy, the UK gains automatic qualification to the final every year because it is one the largest contributors to the European Broadcasting Union.

Despite finishing in last place on four occasions including twice in the past five years (2019 and 2021) including latterly scoring "nul points" with James Newman, the UK remains one of the most successful countries in the competition.

Here are the UK's five previous wins:

  • 1967: Sandie Shaw - Puppet on a String
  • 1969: Lulu Boom Bang-a-Bang (joint winner with France, Spain and The Netherlands)
  • 1976: Brotherhood of Man - Save Your Kisses for Me
  • 1981: Bucks Fizz (pictured above) - Making Your Mind Up
  • 1997: Katrina and the Waves - Love Shine a Light

Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". - Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT        (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images)

UK's Eurovision act Look Mum No Computer and Australia entry Delta Goodrem perform dress rehearsal ahead of tonight's live final

Eurovision acts performed last-minute dress rehearsals ahead of tonight's live final in Vienna, Austria.

UK's entry Look Mum No Computer will compete against favourites including Finland, Greece and Australia.

Look Mum No Computer, real name Sam Battle, will perform his zany entry Eins, Zwei, Drei.

Read more here:

Eurovision superfans gather in Vienna

Excitement builds across the UK and the continent with one hour to go before this year's grand final kick off. Lets look at some Eurovision superfans who were pictured at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna earlier today.

epa12964535 British fans arrive for the grand final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Vienna, Austria, 16 May 2026.  EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

People pose outside the venue ahead of the Grand Final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

Fans of Denmark pose outside the venue ahead of the Grand Final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

epa12964516 Swedish fans arrive for the grand final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Vienna, Austria, 16 May 2026.  EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

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