Eurovision 2026 Final Thread 3

[RedToothBrush]

Go.

Kate Price couldn't/can't sing. Dara is a bona fide popstar in Bulgaria. I've watched some of her videos on YouTube this morning. I would not be surprised if she said Rihanna was her inspo. For such a high energy performance the singing was great.

Ah that’s interesting then about Australia. I would assume Israel would possibly offer to fund it as well then if they won.

Maybe anyone who can't host it must have a pre-agreement with an alternate host (Germany is keen, I hear), but with first refusal offered to second place (which can't then pass it on to their alternate).

I think having the contest in the next country the following year puts pressure on a lot of countries - it's harder to whip together the infrastructure in a year, I guess.

I know when Ireland won it 3 times in a row there were serious concerns about the affordability of winning a 4th. They need not have worried they haven't won it since 😂

Ironically one of the biggest things to come out of Eurovision was an interval filler, Riverdance

I’ve just been having a little look at the breakdown of the scoring in the semis.

Switzerland were really unlucky - they scored 108 points and still didn’t qualify. That score would’ve put them 8th in SF1 (they got more points than Lithuania, Sweden, and Belgium), and generally anything with 100+ points qualifies.

On the other hand, Sweden were really lucky. If we’d had televote-only semis again this year, then they wouldn’t have qualified. In fact it would’ve been Estonia and Montenegro instead of Sweden and Belgium in SF1. (In SF2 Switzerland would’ve qualified instead of Czechia - see, I told you they were unlucky)!

Yes the UK song was bad. As if trying to do the Eurovision formula but at the same time taking the piss - eine zwei drei. Deserved eine point.

Happy with Bulgaria win!

Why would you be genuinely confused? It's straight forward isn't it?
Variations of the theme 'Israel eurovision adverts for votes' would do it.

Your point is that we bombed last night so we should go back to a selection process that also made us bomb. Intelligent point.

Also agree that voting should be kept to competing countries.

I really liked Alice, and Paloma Rumba (another song about escaping the office which would have outperformed us if given a direct chance to compete). Mother Nature offered something a bit different too.

I knew Bella would stand out a bit - if it were an Italian entry, it would have done better IMO.

Jalla, My System didn't deserve the final IMO.

One thing I think I've missed pointing out about Dara is that the whole act is very reminiscent of Little Big. I wonder if they'd come back to compete - maybe for Ukraine?! They left Russia for America due to their risk from the regime, I think.

Rest of the World voting is surely a bit of a red herring? They only allocate 58 points in total. The same as any one of the competing countries. This year they went for Bulgaria (12), Moldova (10), Ukraine (8), Romania (7), Israel (6), Albania (5), Greece (4), Finland (3), Australia (2), Poland (1). Which doesn’t feel out of step with the rest of the televote.

If it wasn't against the rules in 2025 to run advertising budgets in this way then it wasn't against the rules. You can say it's against the "spirit of the competition" but so are other things like performers being booed because people have an issue with their government's actions in an overseas war.

The rules were changed for 2026 - organisers banned contestants and broadcasters from taking part in promotional campaigns by third parties including governments.

Israel actually did better this year, coming 2nd place compared to 4th.

You have a point that Rest of the World voting is maybe a red herring in that they only allocate 58 points in total. But overall, I still feel it would be more meaningful if votes were kept to competing countries.

IIRC San Marino doesn’t actually have a “real” televote. So perhaps we could just use RoW as a proxy for that (rather than it being a fabrication calculated by an EBU algorithm) and move on?

You are familiar with Eurovision? Cos at least half that list is just Eurovision standard.

There is ONE rest of the world category which scores exactly the same as the participants with one country getting 12 points etc etc. So it's worth all of a maximum of 12 points.

That's an interesting idea - they would probably love it since they seem to invite singers from around the globe to represent them.

I don’t want to take away from the Bulgarian win, I’m pleased for her. But for me, it was a weak year overall. On a different year, I’m not sure it would have won. As it stood, it probably was the best for a lot of people and therefore a worthy winner. I am of the camp, at least Israel didn’t win.

I am somewhat outraged that Romania’s song was allowed to stand as is. Heaven forbid we are subjected to Kant because of what it sounds like, but oh glorifying a dangerous practice against women is fine! I’m aware the singer claimed it wasn’t about that but come on. Wasn’t happy about that one and very glad that didn’t win!

I liked France but after 2 years of operatic winners in a row, I didn’t see it winning. I liked Finland but it did seem to be missing that certain something that would have made it a winner. My favourite was Croatia, but again I didn’t see it winning. None of them were standouts to me and most years I have at least one.

The UK, well I can’t say much that hasn’t already been said. For me personally, it was no better or worse than many of our entries. I agree with some comments upthread that we should send a Welsh (or Scottish) entry. Something we can be proud of at least. That would be nice.

Agree with this.

Olly Alexander's vocals were shit. The dance routine too aware from them and he clearly wasn't fit enough to sing and do it (which is one of the very notable things about Bulgaria which the jury will recognise).
Mae Muller was pitchy.
James I can't even remember his name. Oh year Newman wasn't great.

The vocals have been a source of underperforming for a while.

Remember Monday actually had good vocals and did a great performance. But the song was just dreadful.

Sam Ryder put up a song which was good, had good vocals but actually if anything the staging was shit but he didn't need that because the song and performance were good.

Despite the cultural voting which makes it more difficult for us, a good song and good performance will always float to the top.

Ooo I have had chance to look at this yet. This is really interesting. The voting changes have really had a massive impact then.

Agree - I can't bear to watch all the flashing lights - does something to my eyes!

I quite liked our song when I first heard it. On the night, the vocals sounded so weak and the staging was pretty shit. We need another Sam, someone who who has an incredible voice.

We all loved Bulgaria in this house and scored it high. Very happy to see them win.

Christ not the ‘Europe hates us’ malarkey again. As if Bulgaria or Austria or Switzerland or any of the other winners is particularly and especially/specifically beloved in Europe?!?! There’s some stupid voting happening (Greece and Cyprus I’m looking at you) but by and large a good song wins every year.

Sam Ryder was amazing and he would have won, where was the hate there?! If the UK stopped sending fucking utter shite songs they’d do better, honestly simple as that and Sam Ryder proved it. Crikey

100% this

This year’s song was bizarre not in a good way, totally not catchy, and the singer was struggling.

Remember Monday amazing voices but the song itself was all over the place and frankly needed simplified down to 1-2 genres and it would have done better.

Olly Alexander I just have no words.

My theory is the UK deliberately sends shit songs so they have absolutely no risk of winning and hosting. The more years pass, honestly the more convinced I become.

9

Back to a bit of light heartedness - I used to go to these West End shows / Eurovision mash-ups which raised thousands for HIV and AIDS. Shows running in London would grab a Eurovision hit and - - - link is to the show Once doing All Kinds of Everything.