{"id":45012,"date":"2026-05-17T06:48:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T06:48:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/45012\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T06:48:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T06:48:23","slug":"the-10-best-performances-at-the-2026-eurovision-song-contest-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/45012\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Best Performances at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest<\/a> final brought acts from 25 countries to the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna on Saturday night in a spirited battle for the continent\u2019s pop crown. There was no shortage of talent, but not all songs are created equal. <\/p>\n

If you’re a dedicated follower of Eurovision or simply curious to learn more about the contest’s best bangers, we’ve got you covered.<\/p>\n

Here’s a list of the 10 best songs from the final, presented in no particular order.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever wondered what a Lady Gaga<\/a> nu-metal pop song would sound like, look no further than Romania\u2019s Eurovision entry, \u201cChoke Me,\u201d by Alexandra C\u0103pit\u0103nescu. And it\u2019s not just in her spoken-word interludes or that her delivery of \u201cAll I need is your love\u201d is eerily reminiscent of Gaga\u2019s \u201cI Want Your Love.\u201d But the track\u2019s heaviness transforms it \u2014 and its performance is undeniable.<\/p>\n

It began with piano and built from there: To unexpectedly groovy production, with the classist vocalist Sal Da Vinci singing his heart out to a new love. \u201cPer Sempre S\u00ec,\u201d Italy\u2019s entry, is a fun vintage romp for those who miss the Eurovision of yore. It works. And onstage Saturday, Da Vinci brought an effortless Italian charm.<\/p>\n

If Cyprus\u2019 Antigoni looks familiar to you, it\u2019s likely because she was previously a bombshell on \u201cLove Island UK.\u201d She might\u2019ve come and went on the super popular dating show,<\/a> but her joyous \u201cJalla\u201d is here to stay in 2026. It\u2019s a summery pop song that weaves in traditional Cypriot instrumentation, including \u00e7ifteli and lute, making it the perfect soundtrack to the beach vacation in your brain.<\/p>\n

Finland\u2019s entry electrified, as they were expected to do: They\u2019ve been an early favorite in the competition. Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen\u2019s \u201cLiekinheitin,\u201d or \u201cFlamethrower,\u201d is an animated mashup of pop singer Parkkonen\u2019s anguished vocals and violinist Lampenius\u2019 fiery fiddling. He\u2019s an \u201cIdol\u201d finalist; she\u2019s a globally recognized classical musicians. It\u2019s a winning combination.<\/p>\n

What is there to say about Moldova\u2019s Eurovision entry? Rapper Satoshi performs the cheekily patriotic \u201cViva, Moldova!\u201d with his full heart, in several languages, in a chorus so addictive it almost recalls the anthemic work of anthemic Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap<\/a>. Atop relentless flute, breakbeats, electronic production that doesn\u2019t quit, it\u2019s impossible not to root for them. Or, at the very least, to leave without \u201cWelcome to Moldova!\u201d stuck in your head.<\/p>\n

In another universe, she\u2019s Zara Larsson.<\/a> Bulgaria\u2019s Dara is a veteran pop performer at this stage \u2014 whose credits include \u201cThe Voice,\u201d \u201cThe X Factor\u201d and \u201cDancing with the Stars\u201d \u2014 but global super fame has so far passed her by. Here\u2019s hoping that changes soon, because her up-tempo pop banger \u201cBangaranga,\u201d with its Nicki Minaj-inflections,<\/a> is easily one of the most animated tracks of the bunch this year. And on stage, it was a mood elevator.<\/p>\n

No Eurovision Song Contest is complete without a pop metal entry \u2014 it\u2019s not etched into law, but it might as well be. Serbia delivered just that at the final Saturday night with the easy-listening, spooky \u201cKraj Mene\u201d by Lavina. Heavy guitars are made airy with gospel harmonies. Screaming is limited and so is the breakdown. But they brought a welcomed intensity, and that\u2019s worth celebrating.<\/p>\n

One of the most internationally recognizable performers of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is Australia\u2019s Delta Goodrem<\/a>. She was a judge on Australia\u2019s hit TV talent show \u201cThe Voice,\u201d a former star of Australian soap \u201cNeighbours,\u201d and an artist mentored by Olivia Newton-John<\/a> who once wrote a track called \u201cEyes on Me\u201d for Celine Dion.<\/a> (Dion, some might recall, won Eurovision representing Switzerland in 1988.) Goodrem\u2019s full-throated singing style reaches new heights on her power ballad \u201cEclipse.\u201d With stacked harmonies, virtuosic piano riffing and strong synth-y coda with a note that doesn\u2019t quit, it\u2019s a classic \u201cEurovision\u201d-type tune. A wise choice from the woman from Down Under — and one that certainly resonated on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

It opens with a cinematic chant, a churchlike choir amplifying the theatrics. Dramatic, to say the least! Then, Alis, the vocalist behind \u201cN\u00e2n,\u201d takes over. It plays out like the soundtrack to an emotive transitional scene in a blockbuster \u2014 and on stage at the final, it continued to hold weight: He wore what appeared to be sequined chain mail in front of a screen as a woman, depicting a mother, circled him.<\/p>\n

What is there to say about Belgium\u2019s Essyla? Her song \u201cDancing on the Ice\u201d is a cool ride: with its chilly vocal performance and Billie Eilish-informed<\/a> production, the track is a decent pop tune in and outside of Eurovision. (Think of her as in the tradition of Ava Max.)<\/a> It almost makes it seem unfair that she was a runner-up on \u201cThe Voice Belgique\u201d instead of its winner. At any rate, it seemed like she wanted to use her performance at the final as a call for justice, or at least, recognition.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 The\u00a0Associated Press<\/a>. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n

Photos You Should See \u2013 April 2026<\/p>\n

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