The 70th Eurovision Song Contest reaches its climax on Saturday evening at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, where 25 countries will battle for the trophy in one of the most politically charged editions in recent memory. Croatia’s representatives, the group Lelek, secured their place in the grand final after delivering a visually striking performance of “Andromeda” during Tuesday’s first semi final, winning enough public and jury support to advance among the top ten from that heat. They will join ten qualifiers from Thursday’s second semi final, alongside the so called “Big Four” automatic finalists, Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, and host nation Austria, completing a diverse lineup that spans established pop markets and returning participants.
This year’s contest, hosted by Austrian television personalities Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, marks the third time Vienna has staged the competition and the smallest field since 2003, with 35 broadcasters taking part. The reduced participation stems from an unprecedented boycott by Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland, all of which withdrew in protest at the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to compete amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Despite the controversy, the show will proceed with its full spectacle, including a 70th anniversary interval program featuring past winners such as Ukraine’s Ruslana, Finland’s Lordi, and Norway’s Alexander Rybak, while reigning champion JJ opens the final with an orchestral number titled “The Queen of the Night.” Among the finalists, the United Kingdom is represented by electronic musician Look Mum No Computer with “Eins, Zwei, Drei,” Australia sends pop star Delta Goodrem with “Eclipse,” and Austria’s own entry, Cosmó’s “Tanzschein,” closes the running order in position 25.
For Croatia, Lelek’s qualification offers a chance to improve on recent results and keep the country’s streak of final appearances alive. Their semi final slot, performing third on Tuesday night, was widely seen as challenging, yet the group’s dramatic staging and atmospheric sound earned them a comfortable passage. The final vote will again combine national jury scores with televoting, plus a new aggregated “Rest of the World” online vote open to viewers in non participating countries. Whether Lelek can convert their semi final momentum into a top tier finish depends on how their avantgarde style resonates with both professional jurors and the millions of viewers expected to tune in across Europe and beyond.
As Vienna’s Stadthalle fills for the Saturday showdown, the 2026 contest is already assured of a place in Eurovision history, not merely for its anniversary milestone, but for the sharp geopolitical fault lines running beneath the glitter and pyrotechnics. For the Croatian delegation, the night represents both an artistic showcase and a test of whether a bold, theatrical entry can capture the continent’s imagination at a moment when the contest itself has become a stage for much larger debates about solidarity, protest, and the boundaries of European culture.
