Bbc eurovision 2026 coverage

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will celebrate its 70th edition on Saturday, May 16, in Vienna, Austria, featuring a star-studded lineup and innovative accessibility features.

The Grand Final will showcase 25 countries competing for the win. The Semi-Finals are scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 14. Notably, the UK act LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER will perform.

This year’s contest marks a significant milestone as it celebrates 70 years of the Eurovision Song Contest. The UK is among the pre-qualified ‘Big Four’ countries for the Grand Final, ensuring its participation without needing to qualify through the Semi-Finals.

Key details:

• The Grand Final starts at 8 PM.
• Voting in the UK will be online only, with each vote costing 15 pence.
• Live Audio Description and British Sign Language interpretation will enhance accessibility during broadcasts.

The BBC’s coverage of Eurovision is produced by BBC Studios. Graham Norton will host the Grand Final, while Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon will take charge of the Semi-Finals.

Last year, around 1.2 million viewers aged 16–34 tuned into the Grand Final. The average audience for the event in 2025 was approximately 7.1 million, highlighting the contest’s popularity.

Kalpna Patel-Knight from BBC stated that “the BBC continues to be the home of Eurovision in the UK… offering a treasure trove of brilliant content for audiences to enjoy as we celebrate this milestone across our platforms.”