Eurovision 2026 Grand Final: A Detailed Review of Entries

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10. Malta

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Artist: Aidan

Song title: Bella

Fun fact: Aidan has had 14 songs reach number 1 on the Maltese Radio Airplay charts

Hanan rating: 3.5/10

Rudi rating: 4/10

This song just doesn't do it for me (sorry).

The melody in Bella (Beautiful) doesn't hook me in, but on a positive note, you cannot deny the strong and powerful voice Aidan has.

He is bringing the Maltese language to the contest for the first time since the island's debut in 1971.

The song is a nostalgic, cinematic ballad about enduring love, heartbreak and longing. It's a favourite among many fans but I just don't think it'll cut through the other entries that ride the electro drop wave.

LYRICS (translated):

Oh beautiful

I'm still here waiting

I'll keep holding onto you

After all this time, it's you and only you

Beautiful

Maybe you'll think a little of me

All the nights that you danced with me

By the sea, they're calling me

Delta absolutely nails grand final performance

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By Hanan Dervisevic

In just three breathtaking minutes, Australia’s Delta Goodrem delivered a Eurovision performance destined for the history books.

She moved through a moonlit stage singing Eclipse, finishing her performance in an explosion of shimmering gold representing the sun.

Honestly, she performed like she has already won the whole competition. It was so nice of Delta to let Eurovision come to her concert.

That was top-class professionalism, confidence and a memorable performance.

10/10 no notes!!

No matter what happens in the voting, we can all be proud of how she's represented our country.

9. Serbia

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By Rudi Maxwell

Artist: Lavina

Song title: Kraj Mene

Fun fact: Lavina is a six-member metal band from Niš in Serbia, whose debut album, Odyssey, was released in 2022

Hanan rating: 3/10

Rudi rating: 9/10

A cape-wearing, vampiresque, leather-clad goth rising through the smoke to sing in a prog metal band, what's not to love about Serbia's entry?

This is one of my faves, with the best metal scream of the contest.

Kraj Mene starts off slowly but switches to have a metal-opera vibe before calming down again — then building for a full metal break.

Love the melodramatic feel to this tune, but metal doesn't always rate highly with the Eurovision audience.

LYRICS (translated):

And it took me a while

To sink back in the arms

Of a habit so vile

Unaware, you opened your heart

Gave it away, no second thought

Just so I could rip it apart

How do I show you just how much I care?

8. Australia - LET'S GO!!

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By Rudi Maxwell

Artist: Delta Goodrem

Song title: Eclipse

Fun fact: Goodrem's debut perfume Delta became the fastest-selling fragrance in Australian history

Hanan rating: 8.5/10

Rudi rating: 8.5/10

As expected Delta Goodrem has delivered a power ballad — and it's pretty awesome.

Eclipse plays into Delta's many strengths: her range of voice, her skilled piano playing and her fabulous sense of timing.

And it does not hurt at all that she'll be performing with one of the Eurovision staples: a wind machine!

I'm not saying Delta is GOING to be Australia's first ever winner … but she's giving it a really good shot, so fingers crossed!

LYRICS:

One touch

One kiss

All my life for a night like this

The world stops for us

Only love exists when we eclipse

When we eclipse

When we eclipse

When we eclipse

Quick break before Delta takes stage

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Are you nervous? I'm nervous.

There's a quick break before Delta Goodrem takes the Eurovision grand final stage.

LET'S GOOOO 🎉🎉🎉

Delta fans in the house

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Eclipse them Delta, and enjoy the process

— Ouphrontis

Born to try? Babe, you were born to win ✨

— DM

Delta Goodrem is definitely a favourite to go all the way for Australia and both Norway and the United Kingdom should be popular entries with the public but not sure how they'll run in the jury vote.

— Adam

7. Ukraine

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Artist: Leléka

Song title: Ridnym

Fun fact: Her name means stork: a migratory bird that always finds its way home

Hanan rating: 4.5/10

Rudi rating: 4/10

As one of the most successful countries in modern Eurovision, Ukraine will be aiming high, and Leléka's voice could certainly take them there.

The performance is deeply moving and poetic, with nature-inspired graphics helping to tell the story.

The song, which translates roughly to "To The Loved Ones", is rooted in Ukrainian identity. It was inspired by events around 2022 and explores themes of connection, resilience, and staying close to those you love even in times of hardship.

I don't know about you but the 30 second high note leaves me gasping for air even though I'm not the one singing!

LYRICS (translated):

Stitching, stitching

I will stitch together a new destiny

I will stitch, I will stitch, for my kin

My dearest ones

Delta up soon but how good of a chance does she have?

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Get ready Australia, Delta Goodrem is up after Ukraine!

I CANNOT WAIT!

University of Southern Queensland associate professor Jess Carniel believes Goodrem has an excellent chance to be on the left-hand side of the scoreboard in the grand final.

"And toward the top of it — given some of the impressive vocals she pulls out in the performance, I think she'll do well with the jury vote," Carniel said.

"However, she is up against some crowd favourites, such as Finland, Greece, and Denmark.

"We'll really just have to wait and see."

The crowd is going mental for Ferto

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By Hanan Dervisevic

It's certainly got me out of my seat!

Fans are screaming as Akylas mimics playing a Greek traditional instrument.

This is the first arena-wide singalong we've had.

I love this entry.

6. Greece

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Artist: Akylas

Song title: Ferto

Fun fact: Akylas has garnered millions of likes on TikTok for his viral covers

Hanan rating: 8/10

Rudi rating: 7/10

Oh yeah! Greece is bringing the campy fun with Ferto (which translates as 'Bring it'), a fast-paced dance track with some video game samples sprinkled in for good measure.

The song may sound like a joke, but it's very clever when you look at the lyrics.

Akylas sings about themes of greed, corruption and the juxtaposition between materialist consumption and our emotional needs.

I can absolutely see this song finishing in the top 5, depending on how the juries respond.

LYRICS (translated):

Real estate, bring it

Sashimi tuna, bring it

Gold watch, designer shades

I'm telling you, bring it

Leather coat, bring it

And escargot, bring it

Rally cars, yacht with stars

I said bring it

Albania request subtitles on screen

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Albania has participated in Eurovision 22 times since its debut in 2004, but has never won.

Last year, the country came eighth.

This is the only song where subtitles in English appear on the screen. It is a request by the artist himself.

5. Albania

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Artist: Alis

Song title: Nân

Fun fact: Alis won the fifth edition of X Factor Albania

Hanan rating: 7.5/10

Rudi rating: 7/10

Nân brings a deeply cultural tribute to the Albanian diaspora and the mothers left behind.

It depicts the quiet grief of a mother waiting at the doorstep for a child who has migrated for a better life.

The opening bars of the song throw you straight into the emotional deep end with the chanting choir behind Alis.

Alis' voice is one of my favourites this year and he knows how to emote and convey his message very well.

Nân is heartfelt and touches my soul. I would love to see it do well.

LYRICS (translated):

Know that mother waits for you

She waves you down the road

Still standing at the doorway

As two weeks, two years, this summer, too, is gone

4. Belgium

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By Rudi Maxwell

Artist: Essyla

Song title: Dancing on the Ice

Fun fact: Essyla rose to prominence as a finalist in The Voice Belgique in 2020-21, when she was runner up to Jérémie Makiese, who represented Belgium at Eurovision 2022

Hanan rating: 3/10

Rudi rating: 4/10

Dancing on the Ice starts off promisingly enough with a strong beat that hints of building to … something.

But, while the lyrics are pretty sensational, ultimately Dancing on the Ice left me … well … a little cold (sorry).

Dancing on the Ice has a funk vibe to it and kinda promises to be a classic banger but doesn't quite deliver enough, it's a little underwhelming on a stage where too big is never big enough.

And I suspect it's not going to be as popular as some of the other contenders.

LYRICS (translated):

I keep dancing on the ice

Where everything dies

Frozen to the bone

I keep dancing on the ice

Cause I feel alive

I'm satisfied

Keep dancing on the ice

Keep dancing on the ice

3. Israel

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By Rudi Maxwell

Artist: Noam Bettan

Song title: Michelle

Fun fact: Noam's journey to Eurovision began when he competed in the 12th season of Israel's popular televised talent show HaKokhav HaBa, which he won in January

Hanan rating: 4/10

Rudi rating: 4/10

With protests in Vienna and five countries boycotting because of Israel's participation in Eurovision, there's a lot of pressure on Noam Bettan.

Singing in Hebrew, French and English for Michelle, Bettan delivers a heart-felt long song.

And using 'ma belle' to rhyme with 'Michelle' invites an obvious comparison with The Beatles classic — and I don't think the Fab Four have too much to worry about.

Michelle doesn't seem to deliver the intense emotion needed for a peak Eurovision love song, it's a little disappointing.

LYRICS (translated):

Michelle it's a toxic love

I'm in the darkness

You left me in the shadow

A star with no glory

Crazy girl

I get up and I fall

Protests against Israel and rebel outdoor concert in Vienna

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By Rudi Maxwell

Hundreds of people have marched near the contest arena before Saturday's final, some holding placards saying "Block Eurovision".

Pro-Palestinian groups also staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner "No stage for genocide".

"Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness," Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organisers, said.

The five-nation boycott is a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year. This year's field of 35 contestants is the smallest since 2003.

Reporting with AP

How many languages will we hear sung this year?

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By Hanan Dervisevic

After last year saw more songs than ever performed in national languages, Eurovision 2026 is keeping the celebration of linguistic diversity alive.

Since 1990, when Eurovision lifted the requirement for artists to sing in their native languages, the contest heavily leaned toward English. The language became the safest bet — a universal key to success and instant comprehension.

But in 2026, a total of 24 different languages will be sung, bucking a trend that has dominated the competition for over two decades.

*Note: We have identified ALL languages that will be represented on stage, even if the song only contains a small snippet of that language.

2. Germany

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By Rudi Maxwell

Artist: Sarah Engels

Song title: Fire

Fun fact: Sarah Engels is a perennial favourite of German reality TV, having appeared on The Masked Singer, Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar (the German Idol franchise) and Dancing on Ice

Hanan rating: 5.5/10

Rudi rating: 6/10

Fire is classic Europop, a catchy song with a dance break.

It's pretty fast-paced but lacks the drama and emotion of some of the other entries — and has none of the campy humour.

Fire is not a bad song and Sarah Engels is a pro performer with masses of stage presence … but I don't see Germany setting the audience on fire.

LYRICS:

I'm on fire, fire

You're a liar, liar

Stop denying, ′nying, no lying, lying no more

Like a vampire, you hide and come out the night

Stop denying, ′nying, no lying, lying no more

What makes the perfect Eurovision song?

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By Hanan Dervisevic

A perfect Eurovision song typically combines a high-energy Euro banger format (up-tempo/danceable) or a dramatic power ballad with a catchy, repetitive chorus.

The song will usually feature universal themes like love or unity, a minor key and a memorable, earworm melody — think Bara Bada Batsu from last year (yes, I'm still in love with that song and devastated Sweden didn't win).

Solo artists are also more likely to score points over a duet or group.

But, even taking all these factors into consideration, a song can still come through the field and win without ticking any of these boxes.

If you remember the 2021 Eurovision grand final, Italian group Måneskin won with a rock-style song.

But alas, these are just trends rather than rules — and Eurovision is nothing if not unpredictable.

1. Denmark

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By Hanan Dervisevic

Artist: Søren Torpegaard Lund

Song title: Før Vi Går Hjem

Fun fact: By 17, Søren had applied for The Danish National School of Performing Arts, making history as the youngest person ever to be accepted

Hanan rating: 8/10

Rudi rating: 8/10

I am a big fan of this entry!

Very modern, relatable, cool and addictive with an irresistible beat.

The song, which translates to Before We Go Home, is an ultra-sleek pop banger about staying at the club longer than he should, in case he finds his lover in the crowd.

Denmark's choice to sing in their own language makes the entry even better.

Søren can sing, dance, and perform — all the qualities needed to win the whole thing.

LYRICS (translated):

We let the night go up in flames and forget ourselves

Hold on to each other till we burn to death

Forget that we'll wake up and regret it again

Before we go, before we go

Before we go, before we go home