How to watch Eurovision 2026 on TV and radio: All of the BBC’s coverage

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Eurovision 2026 has finally arrived, with the first semi-final kicking off the competition tonight!

Moldova will kick off the Eurovision Song Contest, returning to the stage after a one-year absence. They last performed in 2024 and took 2025 off.

UK viewers have plenty to look forward to on the BBC this week, with special programs scheduled for TV, radio, and online.

Excited about Eurovision? Here’s where you can watch the competition this year! Save this page so you can easily find it again later.

Semi-final 1

Airing: Tuesday 12 May at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer

You can watch the semi-finals live on BBC One and iPlayer, with Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon providing commentary from the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna.

The first semi-final show will include performances by artists from Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia, Finland, Montenegro, Estonia, Israel, Belgium, Lithuania, San Marino, Poland, and Serbia.

Italy and Germany, already guaranteed a spot in the final, will perform and vote in the first semi-final.

Semi-final 2

Airing: Thursday 14 May at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer

Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxembourg, Czechia, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta, and Norway will all compete in the second semi-final, hoping to earn a place in Saturday’s grand final.

France and the United Kingdom, along with host country Austria, will automatically perform and vote in the second semi-final.

Grand final

Airing: Saturday 16 May at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer

Twenty-five countries, including the UK’s Look Mum No Computer, have earned a place in the grand final and will compete for the win!

Graham Norton will host the evening, offering his signature humor and lively observations.

BBC Radio 2

Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 May

  • Eurovision semi-finals with Sara Cox

Sara Cox will be live from Vienna, providing commentary for both semi-finals starting at 8pm.

Wednesday 13 May

  • Sara Cox’s teatime show – live from Vienna

Join Sara Cox from 4 to 7pm as she broadcasts live from Austria, keeping you company during teatime! She’ll be playing great music, sharing Eurovision news and gossip, and bringing plenty of laughs as we get closer to the grand final.

Friday 15 May

  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Eurovision Kitchen Disco

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is hosting another fantastic Eurovision party! Get ready for a night filled with non-stop Europop hits, including classic winners and fan favorites that almost took the crown.

This will air from 9pm to 11pm.

Saturday 16 May

  • Dermot O’Leary

This Saturday, Dermot O’Leary is combining Eurovision with his popular ‘World Cup of TV Themes’ show on BBC Radio 2. Tune in from 8 to 10 am to hear classic sporting themes alongside Eurovision hits!

  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor with ‘Your Ultimate Eurovision Superstar!’

As a huge Eurovision fan, I’m really excited for what Sophie’s doing this afternoon! From 1 to 3, she’s counting down the Top 40 in a special called ‘Your Ultimate Eurovision Superstar,’ and honestly, the competition is fierce. We’re talking legends like Celine Dion, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny Logan, Loreen, and even ABBA all vying for the top spot. It’s going to be a fun few hours!

  • Richie Anderson

After Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Richie continues the Eurovision fun on Saturday afternoon.

  • ‘All Request Eurovision’ with Ellie Taylor

Starting at 6pm, the nation will be getting ready to support the UK’s Eurovision contestant. In the two hours leading up to the grand finale, Ellie Taylor will build the excitement by checking in on how the UK is preparing for the contest and playing all your favorite party anthems.

Text 88-2-91 to send in your song requests.

Live from Vienna, Sara Cox and Rylan bring listeners to Eurovision 2026 grand final on BBC Radio 2!

  • The Eurovision After Party with OJ Borg

With the Eurovision show over for another year, OJ is continuing the celebration for anyone who wants to keep the party going a little longer!

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The Eurovision Song Contest has received a lot of criticism for letting Israel compete this year, given the current war happening in Gaza.

Several countries are choosing not to participate in the contest this year because the organization in charge, the European Broadcasting Union, decided against banning Israel from competing.

In December 2025, the EBU held a meeting where members voted to establish rules preventing governments or outside groups from unfairly pushing certain songs to sway voting results. However, they did not vote on whether Israel would be allowed to participate.

The European Broadcasting Union announced that most of its members decided another vote on whether to participate wasn’t necessary. They confirmed that the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will go ahead as scheduled, with extra safety measures added.

It’s been a bit of a shock to learn that Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland have all decided to sit out Eurovision this year. As a big fan, it’s definitely disappointing to not see them compete, and I’m curious to hear more about their reasons for pulling out.

As a big fan of Eurovision, I was really saddened to hear RTÉ’s statement. They’ve decided it just doesn’t feel right for Ireland to participate this year, given everything happening in Gaza – the terrible loss of life and the ongoing humanitarian crisis that’s putting so many innocent civilians in danger. They feel participating would be inappropriate under the circumstances.

The BBC, the UK broadcaster of the competition, backs the EBU’s decision. In a statement, they explained that it’s about following the competition’s rules and ensuring everyone feels welcome.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.

You can find a complete list of Eurovision winners, as well as information on how many times the UK has been victorious in the competition.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is a Senior Entertainment Writer at TopMob, where she covers a wide range of programs, from popular reality TV to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, reporting on reality television and celebrity news. Katelyn has a degree in Journalism.

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2026-05-11 14:06