Eurovision final kicks off in Vienna amid Israel participation row

Twenty-five acts will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest final in Vienna on Saturday, with political tensions over Israel's participation overshadowing the 70th edition of the world's biggest live music event, reported dpa.

Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen will represent Finland in the contest.

Five countries, including Spain, are boycotting this year's contest in protest against Israel's military campaign in Gaza and Israel's inclusion in the competition.

Bookmakers have installed Finland, Greece and Australia among the leading favourites to win the contest, which is expected to draw millions of television viewers across Europe and beyond.

Australia has competed in Eurovision for years as a non-European guest nation.

The winner is expected to be announced shortly after 1 am (2300 GMT) following Eurovision's traditionally lengthy voting process.

Austria secured hosting rights after countertenor JJ won last year's contest in Basel. As host nation, Austria automatically qualified for the final alongside the so-called "Big Five" contributors France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Germany.

Countries eliminated during this year's semi-finals included Portugal, Luxembourg, Switzerland and San Marino.

Nemo Mettler, who won the Eurovision 2024 for Switzerland, in December 20245 decided to return his trophy protesting against Israeli participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmö, Sweden with the song 'The Code’.

Meanwhile, several European public broadcasters have announced they will withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided not to exclude Israel from the competition.

A majority of the musicians and performers competing in Festival da Cancao 2026 (Song Festival 2026) announced that they will refuse to represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if they win the national competition, in protest against Israel's participation.