The BBC’s search for Eurovision 2026 is underway, as the United Kingdom searches for its participant for the 70th edition of the contest.

According to The Euro Trip, Andrew Cartmell and David May are leading the BBC’s search for the United Kingdom’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. David May was formerly the manager of Sam Ryder, who represented the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2022, and was Project Director for the BBC in Eurovision in 2025. Andrew Cartmell remains as the Head of Delegation; this will be his eighth Eurovision Song Contest since first holding the role in 2012.

In 2025, Andrew and David worked with UK record labels, publishers, songwriters, BBC Music and BBC Introducing to find the United Kingdom’s representative in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The United Kingdom has used internal selections to select their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2020, following a four contest run of holding a national selection, which had mixed results. The United Kingdom’s results since its return to an internal selection are:

  • 2020 – James Newman – “My Last Breath” – Contest cancelled due to COVID-19
  • 2021 – James Newman – “Embers” – 26th – 0 points
  • 2022 – Sam Ryder – “Space Man” – 2nd – 466 points
  • 2023 – Mae Muller – “I Wrote a Song” – 25th – 24 points
  • 2024 – Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” – 18th – 46 points
  • 2025 – Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?” – 19th – 88 points

Remember Monday represented the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2025 in Basel with their song, “What The Hell Just Happened?”. They finished in 19th place with 88 points. For the second year in a row, the United Kingdom did not receive any points from the public vote.

Image Source: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU | Source: The Euro Trip

The United Kingdom debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957 and holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in the contest. To date, the UK has won the contest a total of five times, with their first victory coming in 1967 and their latest in 1997. The UK holds the record for the most second-place finishes in the contest, having been runner-up a total of 16 times. Since 2000 the UK has finished within the top 10 only three times, this being in 2002 with Jessica Garlick, 2009 with Jade Ewen and 2022 with Sam Ryder who finished 2nd in Turin.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Posted by:Anthony Granger

Since launching Eurovoix in April 2011, it has been a pleasure to find out more about this amazing continent through the Eurovision Family of Events. From starting out as a small site, it’s been brilliant to see the site grow and flourish and continue to bring our readers everything from the world of Eurovision.