Eurovision turns 70. What to know as Canada mulls joining - BERITAJA

The Eurovision Song Contest is turning 70, with a few governmental clouds hanging complete its glitter-drenched party.

The annual musical extravaganza that has been likened to a pop euphony Olympics takes place in Vienna, Austria, May 12-16. It will spot singers and bands from 35 countries compete onstage for the continent’s philharmonic crown — but with some high-profile absentees who are boycotting to protest Israel’s participation.

Here’s a guide to all things Eurovision: What it is, who to watch for and how to take part.

Eurovision is an world popular euphony title founded successful 1956 to trial caller live-broadcasting exertion and foster unity aft the trauma of World War II. From an first 7 contestants, it grew to see dozens of nations from crossed Europe, arsenic good arsenic farther-flung Israel and Australia.

The contest is a campy yet heartfelt ceremony of diversity, nationalist pridefulness and the joyous powerfulness of pop with a global fanbase. Organizers opportunity past year’s title was watched by 166 cardinal group around the world, and fans from 75 countries person bought tickets for the live shows in Vienna.

The contest has displayed moments of ultimate silliness — winning songs “La, La, La” and “Boom Bang-a-Bang,” anyone? — as well as pieces of popular perfection like ABBA ’s 1974 victor “Waterloo.”

Other memorable winners see Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion — who competed for Switzerland successful 1988 — Austrian resistance diva Conchita Wurst in 2014, Italian stone band Måneskin in 2021 and Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra in 2022.

Eurovision’s motto is “United by Music,” but it has many times been embroiled successful world events. Russia was expelled successful 2022 aft its full-scale penetration of Ukraine.

The 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden, and past year’s arena in Basel, Switzerland, saw pro-Palestinian protests that called for Israel to be expelled complete its behaviour of its warfare against Hamas successful Gaza and allegations it tried to manipulate voting successful favour of its contestant.

Tensions came to a caput successful December erstwhile 5 countries — Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain — pulled retired of the title aft organizers decided to let Israel to compete.

Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania person returned aft skipping the event for creator aliases financial reasons successful caller years, meaning 35 countries will compete in Vienna, down from 37 successful 2025. Several pro-Palestinian protests are planned during Eurovision week.

Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic said “Eurovision is Europe’s biggest election,” with winners decided by a mix of nationalist juries and viewers’ votes.

Finland is the oddsmakers’ favorite with “Liekinheitin” (“Flamethrower”), a high-intensity mashup featuring violinist Linda Lampenius and popular vocalist Pete Parkkonen.

Also highly rated are 17-year-old French vocalist Monroe with pop-operatic emotion ballad “Regarde!” and Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund with the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”).

Australia, a keen Eurovision participant contempt being thousands of miles from Europe, has sent established star Delta Goodrem with “Eclipse,” a slick midtempo ballad. Greece’s Akylas is becoming a fan favorite with party-rap way “Ferto” (“Bring It”).

Vuletic besides tipped Cyprus’ entry, the folk-influenced dance-pop song “Jalla” by Antigoni. It’s already a hit connected YouTube and “could be the up-tempo feelgood song that group ballot for,” he said.

Israel, which has won Eurovision four times and came 2nd successful 2025, has sent crooner Noam Bettan with the ballad “Michelle.” Singer Senhit, representing mini San Marino, has enlisted 1980s icon Boy George to make a guest quality connected statement anthem “Superstar.”

Paul Jordan, an master known as Dr. Eurovision, said the contest has moved beyond its estimation for “sugary pop.” This year’s entries scope from classically influenced “popera” to electro-pop, powerfulness ballads and folk-influenced songs.

“There’s not a lot of cheesy popular numbers,” Jordan said. “There’s specified diverseness that I don’t deliberation location is such a thing as a ‘Eurovision sound’ anymore.”

Traditionally the competition is hosted by the previous year’s winner, and past year’s victor was Austrian vocalist JJ with pop-opera song “Wasted Love.” The 2026 contest is being held at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, the third clip Austria’s superior has hosted Eurovision.

The competition will beryllium aired by nationalist broadcasters successful participating nations, connected streaming work Peacock in the United States and on the Eurovision YouTube transmission successful immoderate countries.

Participating countries each enter a singer aliases band with an original song that could beryllium nary much than 3 minutes agelong and is performed live, often with spectacular staging.

Two semifinals, connected May 12 and 14, will winnow the field of competitors down to 25 who will compete in the grand last connected May 16, hosted by Austrian singer/crystal heiress Victoria Swarovski and character Michael Ostrowski.

Viewers successful participating countries could ballot during the live last by telephone aliases matter message, but aren’t allowed to vote for their ain country’s act. Viewers in the U.S. and different nonparticipating countries could ballot online at www.esc.vote.

Each country’s nationalist ballot is translated into points, on a scale of one to 12, for the highest-ranked acts.

The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, has toughened voting rules successful response to vote-rigging allegations, halving the number of votes per payment to 10 and tightening safeguards against “suspicious aliases coordinated voting activity.”

After a voting interval, each state successful move announces its assemblage and nationalist voting results, with the points tallied on-screen until a winner emerges. The fast-changing rankings and suspense about whether immoderate state gets the dreaded “nul (zero) points” are each portion of the excitement.

The withdrawal of countries including seven-time victor Ireland and Spain — 1 of the “big five” nations that pay the most to the contest — is a major rustle at a time erstwhile galore nationalist broadcasters look backing pressures and societal media has lured distant immoderate eyeballs.

Eurovision is looking to the future, and to other continents, with the first Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take spot successful Bangkok in November.

Jordan said that, at 70, Eurovision is “part of our European culture” and could weather the latest storm.

“It still gets group talking. It still brings america each together. It still gets immense viewing figures, it’s still creating hits,” he said. “At a time erstwhile broadcasting is changing, group still make a date with their tv group connected that Saturday night.”