The final of the got underway Saturday with tight security and rainy weather failing to dent the enthusiasm of the fans 鈥� or that of the critics who think to the party.
After a week鈥檚 buildup, acts from 25 countries took the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent鈥檚 pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world will cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision鈥檚 70th anniversary event.
The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants 鈥� the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia 鈥� .
Here is the latest:
Protesters call for Israel鈥檚 exit from Eurovision ahead of the show
Protesters called for Israel to be excluded from Eurovision demonstrated near the contest arena ahead of the final. Several hundred marched, with chants of 鈥渁ll of Vienna hates the ESC,鈥� a reference to the Eurovision Song Contest.
They were kept well away from the venue which lies behind a police security cordon.
Demonstrator Echo Vinasha Lex said it was 鈥渋mportant to protest against that idea that the song contest is not political. The song contest is a very political event.鈥�
A tribute to the host as the Eurovision final kicks off
At the start, a filmed opening montage showcased Austria鈥檚 majestic scenery as a paper boat made its way to Vienna 鈥� a reference to 2025 Eurovision winner JJ鈥檚 storm-tossed performance of 鈥淲asted Love.鈥�
The show opened with a performance by last year鈥檚 winner, the operatically trained Austrian singer JJ, and an Olympics-style flag parade of the 25 finalists. Then it was on to performances by the musicians, who have just 3 minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, pick the winner.
The hosts for the extravaganza on Saturday are Michael Ostrowski, an Austrian actor best known for German-language comedy films, and Victoria Swarovski, a model, singer, TV presenter and heir to the Swarovski crystal and luxury goods business.
Eurovision director hails 鈥榖rilliant鈥� show amid protests
The head of the Eurovision Song Contest has urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the 鈥渂rilliant, wonderful, heartfelt show鈥� that is the competition鈥檚 grand final.
As the contest turns 70 with calls for Israel to be kicked out over the conduct of its war in Gaza and a five-country boycott, Eurovision director Martin Green said the contest is a chance for a few hours to 鈥渃lose the curtains to the outside world and dream that something else is possible.鈥�
He told a news conference that for 70 years Eurovision has given 鈥渧oice to the voiceless鈥� and celebrated marginalized communities.
鈥淗ere鈥檚 to the next 70 years,鈥� he said.
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