There’s a Eurovision buzz building as the 70th edition of the annual Song Contest is set to take place once again, but there are fewer countries than usual set to compete.

The highly anticipated Grand Final is almost here, with 25 acts set to take to the stage on Saturday night (May 16) in a bid to become the champion of the world’s biggest music competition.

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Vienna, Austria, and will be broadcast live from Wiener Stadthalle after JJ claimed victory at last year’s contest. He scored 436 points following their performance with the track, Wasted Love,

Austrian stars Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski will be presenting the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.. They will present the Grand Final, while they have also been seen hosting this week’s Semi-Finals.

The UK will be represented in the competition by Look Mum No Computer(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

While last year’s winner, JJ, will also be back on stage this year, as it is Eurovision Song Contest tradition for the reigning champion to perform, there will be 25 other acts ready to compete for this year’s title, including the United Kingdom’s entry, Look Mum No Computer, aka Sam Battle, an English musician, YouTuber and electronics enthusiast.

But a number of countries have chosen not to take part in the huge event this year. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain are all boycotting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of Israel’s participation in the competition.

They and other countries had called for a vote on whether Israel should be excluded from the competition over the war in Gaza, as well as claims of unfair voting. While the vote didn’t take place, the countries named decided to withdraw from the competition.

Announcing the boycott, Irish national broadcaster RTE described Israel’s participation as “unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza”.

A statement said: “RTE remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory.”

Dutch broadcaster Avrotros also announced that it would not broadcast the competition, saying it would be “incompatible with the public values that are essential to us”.

Taco Zimmerman, chief executive, said: “Universal values like humanity and a free press have been seriously violated and are non-negotiable for us…

“We choose the core values of Avrotros and, as a public broadcaster, have the responsibility to remain true to these values, even when that is complicated or vulnerable.”

Stefan Eiriksson, director-general of broadcasting at Iceland’s RUV said: “There is no peace or joy connected to this contest as things stand now.

“On that basis, first and foremost, we are stepping back while the situation is as it is.”

In response to the decision to allow Israel to compete at next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, the country’s president Isaac Herzog wrote on X: “Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed.

“I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations and cross-border cultural understanding.

“Thank you to all our friends who stood up for Israel’s right to continue to contribute and compete at Eurovision. This decision demonstrates solidarity, fellowship and co-operation, and reinforces the spirit of affinity between nations through culture and music.”

Also in response to the countries boycotting, Eurovision director Martin Green said: “We respect the decision of all broadcasters who have chosen not to participate in [the] Eurovision Song Contest and hope to welcome them back soon.”

The Eurovision grand final airs live on BBC One and iPlayer from 8pm on Saturday, May 16