Welcome to Vienna — Eurovision Ireland’s Grand Final Jury Live blog!

Good evening and welcome to the Wiener Stadthalle, where Eurovision Ireland is on duty for what promises to be an absolutely spectacular night. It’s the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, it’s Grand Final night, and we are ready.

Tonight’s final takes place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, kicking off at 21:00 CET — that’s 20:00 BST for those of you watching from home in Ireland and the UK. Twenty-five acts will take to the stage tonight, all of them chasing the glass microphone that JJ lifted in Basel last year and brought back to Austria.

Your hosts for the evening are Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, with Emily Busvine keeping things lively in the green room.

As for the interval acts, this is where the 70th anniversary celebrations really come into their own. The show opens with JJ performing “The Queen of the Night” alongside the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, dancers and acrobats to introduce the flag parade. The main celebration interval act brings together Alexander Rybak, Erika Vikman, Kristian Kostov, Lordi, Max Mutzke, Miriana Conte, Ruslana and Verka Serduchka for an electrifying journey through seven decades of Eurovision magic. Austrian electro-swing icon Parov Stelar will also perform, and JJ will premiere his new single. Seventy years of this wonderful, chaotic, joyful contest, all wrapped up in one night. We wouldn’t be anywhere else.

To follow all the action as it happens, just keep refreshing this page — we’ll be updating throughout the evening with reactions, commentary and all the drama as it unfolds. Let’s go!

LIVE BLOG STARTS HERE!

Good Evening Europe, good morning Australia, Hello world!

We are live and bringing you the action as it happens on the Eurovision stage.

The opening is based on JJ’s boat and now the arena and we see JJ performing while the stage illuminates and applause are heard throughout the arena. Dressed in golden, JJ is presenting us his song.

Time now for the flag parade. Boy, do we love seeing this sea of flags!

So far, the public is reacting wild to Greece and Australia. The parade is paused while JJ sings his winning song from last year, Wasted Love. Those vocals are amazing! Must be a great feeling to perform in your country and being cheered with enthusiasm.

The parade resumes with Czechia all the way to Austria. JJ finishes his performance lifted up on a platform. What a great start. Welcome to Vienna. This is the Jury Grand Final of Eurovision 2026!

The hosts of the show welcome us dressed in green, respectively blue shiny outfits. We are announced that about 10,000 people are in the arena tonight. In the green room, Emily will take the temperature as the contest unveils.

We are remined that voting will be open as soon as the first perfromance starts during the live final tomorrow (do nt try to vote today!).

The hosts are playing a game. Each time they mention a winning song, they get a point.

Now, let the jury final of the Eurovision begin!

Denmark Før vi går hjem

Denmark opens the final in a very deliberate way. The stage is washed in that cool green neon tone we saw in the semi, with Søren giving an intimate but stylised performance, with quick close ups and a constant sense of motion. He stays vocally controlled, and even if it is not the loudest opener, it sets a clear artistic tone straight away. The vocals sound strong though not the strongest we have heard. The audience slowly but steadily joins in.

Germany Fire

Germany keeps things clean and focused. Sarah is mostly centre stage, framed by sleek lighting bars and controlled camera angles that never overcomplicate things. The performance seems aimed more to appeal to the juries. A true fan can’t help but to compare this to Fuego, which it’s far from. Yes, we have choreography and fire but it needs a bit more oumph.

Israel Michelle

Israel comes in with a performance that feels direct and emotionally driven. The staging keeps the focus tight on Noam, with lighting shifts building around the vocal progression rather than distracting from it. After the tense semi, the performance now feels more contained and intentional, with strong eye contact into the camera and a clear narrative arc. The vocals are strong and more controlled tonight. Overall, this is a charismatic performance.

Belgium Dancing on the Ice

Belgium looks bigger tonight. The staging leans into that icy concept with sharp lighting and precise choreography, and ESSYLA moves confidently through it. There is a sense of flow that was already there in the semi but now feels more assured. It reads as a complete package on screen. It’s the first song that gets an instant clapping moment the soon as it starts. Of course, the beat definitely helps with that. Unfortunately, the audience support it is not sustained throughout the whole performance.

Albania Nân

Albania keeps it grounded and authentic. Alis stands firmly in the centre of a darker, more restrained staging setup, letting the vocal and tone carry the performance. The visuals support rather than dominate, and the whole thing feels focused and confident without trying to compete for spectacle. To add subtitles was a clever decision to make this song universally understood. Great way to transmit the emotion many mothers arould the world are faced with.

We have a very short break to hear the opinions of a fan from the Green room.

Greece Ferto

Greece shifts the energy immediately. The stage fills with movement and rhythm, and Akylas drives it forward with real urgency. The lighting and camera cuts are fast and punchy, matching the song’s tempo. It feels like a proper arena moment, and you can feel the crowd engagement building. One can not stay still during this performance and Akylas has done a great job tonight.

Ukraine Ridnym

Ukraine slows everything down with a theatrical approach. The staging leans into atmosphere and cultural detail, with carefully composed visuals and deliberate movement. It is not about spectacle but about identity, and the performance stands out because of that clarity. Leleka’s vocals are steady and strong, exactly what we expected.

Another short break while the stage is being prepared for Australia. We are reminded that the Eurovision song with most physical record sales is Volare and the most streamed song is Arcade.

Australia Eclipse

Australia delivers one of the most visually striking moments of the night. The stage builds from a grounded opening into a full celestial concept, and then comes the moment everyone remembers from the semi as Delta rises above the stage on top of the piano, lifting the performance into something more dramatic. The lighting shifts around her as the vocal opens up, creating a proper climax. I must admit, I’ve been cheering for Delta to represent Australia since its debut in Eurovision. The world can finally see why. If my ears heard correctly, there was slight moment of vocal hesitation but overall a great performance.

Serbia Kraj mene

Serbia leans hard into raw energy. The staging is darker and more aggressive, with distorted lighting and sharp cuts that match the intensity of the song. It feels slightly chaotic in places, but that works in its favour. The audience reaction seems a bit more tamed than in the semi finals. There will always be a place for rock music in Eurovision.

The hosts are telling us that later on, we will have some special guests to celebrate this jubilee edition.

Malta Bella

Malta comes in focused. The staging is compact built around quick camera movement and direct camera engagement. AIDAN charms like he did in the semi finals. Could this be part of a Bond movie? Why not! For some, Bella was a surprise qualification. Not for us. It was nice to see AIDAN relaxed, smiling and laughing at the end. Probably happy that the song came out as he expected.

Czechia CROSSROADS

Czechia brings one of the most vocally impressive performances. The staging is clean and simple, with subtle lighting changes and restrained visuals that allow Daniel to hold the moment. It feels calm but emotionally loaded, and it really connects on camera. The juries will not be able to ignore this.

Bulgaria Bangaranga

Bulgaria goes all in on choreography. The stage is bright, structured, and packed with movement, and DARA controls both the vocals and the performance. The camera tracks the choreography tightly, making it feel fast and precise rather than overwhelming. What a show! Welcome back Bulgaria, there is no doubt you’ll do very well. So far, this one gets the greatest audience reaction.

Croatia Andromeda

Croatia brings that mystical element back to the stage. The visuals are bold and slightly chaotic in a way that suits the song, and the performers lean into that energy. The vocals are on point and the chants are captivating the audience. Are we spellbound? The answer is most probably, yes.

United Kingdom Eins, Zwei, Drei

The UK fully commits to chaos. The staging is packed with props, movement, and unpredictable camera cuts that make the whole thing feel slightly out of control. It is loud, messy, and in your face. Whether it divides opinion or not, it definitely lands as a moment.

France Regarde !

France resets everything with simplicity and elegance. Monroe stands in a refined, almost minimalist setting with soft lighting and controlled camera work. It feels deliberate and classy, and the vocal sits right at the centre of it all. The juries will not be able to ignore this and it should do great getting points on that side.

We have now another view from the Green room with more Eurovision winner songs being mentioned like Satellite and Believe. The hosts remind us that France won Junior Eurovision Song Contest last year and that this year, it will take part in Malta. Also, we are told about the new Eurovision Song Contest Asia in Bangkok.

Moldova Viva, Moldova!

Moldova flips the atmosphere instantly. The stage fills with colour, movement, and personality, and the crowd clearly responds. It feels spontaneous and celebratory, pulling the audience back into the show. You can always count on Moldova to entertain the crowd. Tonight was no exception.

Finland Liekinheitin

Finland arrives and looks every bit a contender. The staging is sharp and powerful, with strong lighting hits and confident camera direction. The performance feels precise and controlled, with Pete’s vocal sitting solidly throughout while Linda’s violin captivating the audience. Finland is aiming high.

The hosts remind us that this year we have songs in 24 languages.

Poland Pray

Poland goes for emotional connection. The staging builds gradually with soft lighting and a focus on Alicja’s vocal. It grows across the performance and lands with sincerity. The performance should attract points from the juries. Unfortunately for Alicja, I’m not sure if coming straight after Finland might hurt Poland’s chances for a better connection with the viewers at home.

Lithuania Sólo Quiero Más

Lithuania keeps things warm and grounded. The visuals are soft and supportive, creating space for the vocal and the mood. It is understated but consistent. Lion’s vocals are strong and the whole performance seems very sincere despite the theatrical aspect.

Sweden My System

Sweden delivers a textbook performance. The staging is clean, symmetrical, and visually expensive, with every camera shot planned. FELICIA moves through it with ease, and everything feels controlled and polished. This was quite engaging but I am still concerned that the viewers at home not knowing FELICIA’s story, might be confused why she is wearing a mask while performing live.

Cyprus JALLA

Cyprus continues the dance mood in the arena. The staging is bright and energetic with strong movement and quick camera cuts. Antigoni keeps it engaging, even if there are a few moments where the vocal feels pushed. The song itself has all the ingredients to be an earworm and a potential summer hit.

Italy Per sempre sì

Italy strips it back again. Sal stands in a warm, classic setup with soft lighting and a few dancers. It is all about romatism and it feels timeless in contrast to everything around it. In these times it’s quite heartwarming to celebrate love and commitment.

Time now for another short break to present different cultural aspects from all around Vienna and the celebration of Eurovision, including clips from the turquoise carpet.

Norway YA YA YA

Norway lifts the mood again. The staging is playful and upbeat, with strong crowd interaction and a sense of fun that carries through the screen. It feels easy and immediate. Jonas is a born entertainer and knows exatly how to flirt with the camera. His vocals are on point but to my ears some parts were better controlled in the semi finals.

Romania Choke Me

Romania brings one of the most visually distinctive stagings. It almost feels like a part of a sci-fi movie. The neon tubes connected to the guitarists create a striking frame around Alexandra, giving the stage a sharp, electric look. Combined with the intensity of the performance and that big vocal moment, it leaves a strong impression. What a great comeback for Romania!

Back now in the Green room with another certified Eurovision fan.

Austria Tanzschein

Austria closes the show properly. The staging builds in scale, with lighting and movement gradually expanding until the final moments feel huge. COSMÓ controls the stage confidently, and the performance peaks at exactly the right time to end the night on impact. I must admit, I found myself tapping my feet while typing this.

Now, we heard all 25 competing songs. It feels like the time flew by so quickly. More Eurovision winning songs were mentioned before a recap of all the performances. Remember you can vote online tomorrow night at eurovision.vote.

Emily just appeared on the stage to announce the guest performers tonight while we wait for the ‘fake’ voting.

“Celebration!” (Eurovision Allstars): A massive throwback medley celebrating the contest’s 70-year history. The legendary lineup of returning artists includes:

• Lordi (Finland 2006)
• Verka Serduchka (Ukraine 2007)
• Alexander Rybak (Norway 2009 & 2018)
• Ruslana (Ukraine 2004)
• Il Volo (Italy 2015)
• Kristian Kostov (Bulgaria 2017)
• Erika Vikman (Finland)
• Max Mutzke (Germany 2004)
• Miriana Conta (Malta 2025)

We are delighted with songs from All Kinds Of Everything, to Cha Cha Cha and Ne partez pas sains moi.

Lordi is singing Save Your Kisses For Me! That really took me by surprise :) Alexander Ryback is singing the famous Congratulations from Cliff Richard and Verka is singing Volare. I am singing along and so is the audience.

We were just told that in total 1789 songs have been performed until now on the Eurovision stage.

Time now for anothe recap of all the songs performed tonight.

Back now in the Green room and we are encouraged to buy a mini Eurovision trophy from the Eurovision shop as well as the official cd.

On the stage now is Parov Stelar: the world-renowned Austrian pioneer of electro-swing delivering a brand new song specially composed for this evening. It is a high-energy performance complete with his signature avant-garde visuals to get the arena dancing.

Professor Eurovision explains now the voting procedure. The Professional Juries (49.3% weight total): Every participating country has a national jury made up of seven music experts (increased from five in previous years) representing diverse backgrounds like music critics, teachers, choreographers, and industry figures. The Public Televote (50.7% weight total): Viewers at home vote via the official Eurovision app, SMS, or telephone. Viewers are now limited to a maximum of 10 votes per payment method (down from the historical 20). The rule was explicitly changed to encourage casual viewers to distribute their votes across multiple favorite acts.

Time now for another recap.

The fake voting time is now over.

Right now, the arena has gone completely still as Austrian Eurovision veteran César Sampson takes the stage. He’s delivering an incredibly soulful, moving live cover of Billy Joel’s classic hit “Vienna.”

And that is a wrap on our live coverage of the Jury Final! The arena in Vienna may be clearing out, but the excitement is just getting started. A massive, heartfelt thank you to all of you: from every corner of Europe to our dedicated, sleep-deprived legends tuning in live down under in Australia for hanging out, refreshing the page.

Live blogging Eurovision is absolutely nothing without this global community, and you all brought the ultimate “United by Music” energy to the chat. Get some sleep, and enjoy tomorrow night the main event—the Grand Final live broadcast. Until then, goodnight Europe, and good morning Australia!

Source: Eurovisionmediacentre.com, Eurovision Ireland