This year is a special one for the Eurovision Song Contest – it’s the 70th anniversary! To mark the occasion, organizers are going all out to make it a memorable event.
The semi-final show began with a touching tribute to Eurovision’s 70-year history. A film told the story of a couple whose lives unfolded alongside the iconic music competition, showcasing its evolution over the decades.
Before Italy took the stage, the show featured heartfelt messages from past Eurovision participants and fans, sharing what the competition meant to them.
A well-known face, Will Ferrell, unexpectedly appeared in the video submissions, both as a fan and a participant of sorts.
In a brief video, Will Ferrell described Eurovision with one word: “Joy!”
Will Ferrell actually has a fun connection to Eurovision – he starred in and helped write the musical comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
I recently watched this really fun movie on Netflix! It’s about two Icelandic singers, Lars and Sigrit – played by Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams – who get the incredible opportunity to compete for their country in the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s a charming story about their journey to the big stage.
Ferrell enjoys the song contest and even went to the events in 2018 and 2019 to get inspiration for characters and a story he was developing.
In recent news, it was confirmed that the comedy would be turning into a musical on Broadway.
Ferrell expressed great enthusiasm about bringing Eurovision to Broadway, explaining that a stage musical is the ideal way to continue celebrating everything people love about the competition and its unifying spirit.
Director Alex Timbers shared, “Will Ferrell and Harper Steele are incredibly funny, and their movie ‘Eurovision’ really lifted my spirits during the pandemic. I’m thrilled to bring that same blend of warmth, grand visuals, playful humor, and wonder to audiences worldwide with this stage version.”
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 this year’s contest 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 create rules preventing governments or outside groups from unfairly boosting 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 hold the contest wasn’t necessary. They confirmed that the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will go ahead as scheduled, with extra safety measures added.
Okay, so things got a little crazy with Eurovision this year. I was surprised to hear that Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland all decided to sit it out. It’s a bummer – I always look forward to seeing what those countries bring to the competition!
Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, has stated that it believes it’s not right for Ireland to participate in the upcoming event, considering the tragic loss of life and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which continues to endanger civilians.
The BBC, the UK broadcaster for the competition, backs the EBU’s decision. In a statement, they explained it’s about following the rules and ensuring the event is welcoming to everyone.
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 see how many times the United Kingdom has been victorious in the competition.
Authors
Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to impactful documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a degree in Journalism.
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2026-05-12 23:34