It’s almost that time of year again – the time of year when we grab our biggest feather boas and our most outrageous sequins and celebrate some of the wildest musical acts Europe has to offer. I am talking, of course, about Eurovision, which is coming this weekend!
This year marks the 70th year of the iconic song contest – and, in February, we finally learned who will be representing the UK. It’s official: YouTuber and experimental singer-songwriter Look Mum No Computer is set to take on musical acts from across Europe in Vienna this May.
“I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey. I have always been a massive Eurovision fan, and I love the magical joy it brings to millions of people every year, so getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour that I am taking very seriously,” he said. “I’ve been working a long time creating, writing and producing my own visions from scratch, and documenting my process. I will be bringing every ounce of my creativity to my performances, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear and see what we’ve created. I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised.”
Can’t wait to hear what he has in store? You’re in luck. Battle has already released his entry song, “Eins, Zwei, Drei”, a smorgasbord of electro-pop with lyrics that rail against the monotonous grind of nine-to-five jobs.
And Eurovision presenter Graham Norton is a fan. “I think Look Mum No Computer is a really great choice for the UK. The song is different to anything else we’ve ever entered and I can really imagine the whole arena getting behind it,” he said, adding, “If he connects with the crowd, there will be no stopping him.”
Norton also teased, “As always, expect the unexpected but keep an eye on Finland, France and Australia who I think are all going to do really well this year.”
Here’s what you need to know about this year’s Eurovision.
When is Eurovision 2026?
The Eurovision 2026 Final is set to take place this weekend on Saturday, 16 May. Semi-finals will be held on 12 and 14 May.
Which country is hosting the next Song Contest?
This year’s Eurovision host is Austria, with the final taking place in its capital city, Vienna. Home of Mozart and Beethoven, it seems a fitting location for a competition of Europe’s campiest musicians, am I right?
BBC/Michael Leckie