Look Mum No Computer performs in Eurovision final as Israel gets mixed reception
Look Mum No Computer, whose real name is Sam Battle, performed his song Eins, Zwei, Drei at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria. Source link
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Crowds protest in Vienna ahead of Eurovision grand finale – POLITICO
Norbert Kettner, chief executive of Vienna’s tourism board, told POLITICO that security measures around the city are “much more intense” than the last time Eurovision was hosted here in 2015. “Yes, the security measures are extremely high. No big event in the free world can be made anymore without high security levels,” Kettner said, adding that the city is working to “protect people who want to celebrate peacefully, but also protect people who want demonstrate peacefully.” He added that across the week, the energy among fans from different countries has been “peaceful and moderate.” Eurovision’s organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), has repeatedly underlined that the song contest is apolitical, and that any broadcaster can take part as long as they follow EBU rules. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday evening, the director general of Austria’s public broadcaster (ORF), Ingrid Thurnher, addressed the protest. She said everybody has the right to their opinion, and “that’s the nature of democracy,” but as the final is tonight the focus should be on the stage. “We would really like for a couple of hours to have music, have the …
Eurovision 2026: Who is Greece singer Akylas and what is his song Ferto about?
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Self-taught musician Akylas is already popular in his native Greece thanks to his hit single “Atelié”, but he’s hoping that Eurovision will bring him to a much bigger audience. Competing at this year’s song contest with his zany but pertinent track “Ferto”, Akylas sings about themes of greed, corruption and the juxtaposition between materialist consumption and our emotional needs. The buzzy track incorporates traditional Greek influences, along with video game effects and the “kerching” sound of cash registers opening. Akylas is also grabbing some early attention from fans thanks to his eye-catching stage presence – see for yourself when he competes in the first semi-final on Tuesday 12 May. Akylas walking the turquoise carpet in Vienna at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 (Reuters) Read our Q&A with him below. Hi Akylas, what should our readers know about you? Hey! First of …
How the far right got its name | The Far Right
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni listens during a session at the Italian Senate in Rome, Italy, on March 11, 2026 [Matteo Minnella/Reuters] What does it mean to be far-right? The term dates back to the origins of the left-right political divide in the late 18th century, when one of Europe’s most powerful kingdoms underwent a period of profound political upheaval. During the French Revolution, a literal divide emerged in the National Assembly, the country’s parliament. Defenders of the monarchy and the old order sat to the right, while revolutionary advocates of republicanism, secularism and equality occupied seats to the left. From that seating plan grew the political language we still use today. By the late 19th century, the left-right divide born in revolutionary France had become part of Europe’s political vocabulary. German Reichstag records from the period already referred to deputies on the left (links) and right (rechts), while Italian newspapers used sinistra and destra as routine political labels. The term extreme droite, in turn, came to be used as a label for the ultra-royalists, …
Eurovision 2026: The 25 countries competing in the grand final
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The line-up for this year’s 2026 Eurovision final has been confirmed after the first semi-final on Tuesday and the second on Thursday. Acts representing Israel, Finland and Greece were among the first 10 voted through after performing live in Vienna, Austria, earlier in the week. The second heat then saw the likes of Cyprus, Australia and Denmark qualify. The line-up is completed by the hosts Austria, who go through automatically alongside the ‘Big Four’, aka the nations whose broadcasters make the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision. These are the UK, Italy, Germany and France. Spain is usually the fifth country on this list, but its broadcaster is among those boycotting the 2026 song contest due to Israel’s continued participation. Greek contestant Akylas made it through the final (Getty) The 10 countries voted through from the first semi-final are as follows: 1. …
Eurovision 2026: All the countries through to the song contest’s grand final
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The line-up for this year’s 2026 Eurovision final has been confirmed after the first semi-final on Tuesday and the second on Thursday. Acts representing Israel, Finland and Greece were among the first 10 voted through after performing live in Vienna, Austria, earlier in the week. The second heat then saw the likes of Cyprus, Australia and Denmark qualify. The line-up is completed by the hosts Austria, who go through automatically alongside the ‘Big Four’, aka the nations whose broadcasters make the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision. These are the UK, Italy, Germany and France. Spain is usually the fifth country on this list, but its broadcaster is among those boycotting the 2026 song contest due to Israel’s continued participation. Greek contestant Akylas made it through the final (Getty) The 10 countries voted through from the first semi-final are as follows: 1. …
Boy George speaks out after his Eurovision performance with San Marino fails to make the final
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Boy George might not have made it through to the Eurovision final with San Marino, but still had a “fabulous” time making his somewhat surreal appearance on one of the world’s biggest stages. The Culture Club star joined the country’s 2026 entry SENHIT onstage in Vienna, Austria, during the first semi-final, where they performed her song “Superstar” together. Fans might have been surprised to see the “Karma Chameleon” singer onstage at Eurovision on Tuesday night (12 May), however, he was confirmed as part of San Marino’s entry months earlier. Technically, he was not representing the country, but as the Eurovision rules state, artists are not required to be a national of the country they perform on behalf of. Boy George with San Marino contestant SENHIT (AP) Unfortunately, San Marino failed to make it to the final, as just 10 countries were …
Israel qualifies for Eurovision final – POLITICO
The top 10 acts from each semifinal will compete on Saturday alongside last year’s winner Austria, and “Big Four” countries France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, which automatically qualify for the final round. Five countries chose not to participate in this year’s Eurovision contest if Israel competed, saying their decision was based on Israel’s war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis it triggered. Russia was kicked out of the contest in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people in Israel, a large majority of whom were civilians, and taking 251 hostages. The attack prompted a major Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of them civilians and children, displaced 90 percent of Gaza’s population and destroyed buildings in wide areas. Despite a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2025, Israel continues to strike Gaza, and settler violence in the occupied West Bank continues. The unprecedented boycott of Eurovision by five countries has been described …
Eurovision 2026: The 15 countries through to the final so far
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Ten countries have sailed through to the 2026 Eurovision final after competing in the first semi-final on Tuesday. Acts representing Israel, Finland and Greece were among those to be voted through after performing live in Vienna, Austria. Despite not being eligible for voting, Italy’s crooner Sal Da Vinci and Germany’s Sarah Engel’s also got to perform their songs during the semi-final. Italy and Germany – along with France and the UK who will perform in the second semi-final on Thursday 14 May – automatically gain a place in the final as members of the “Big Four”, who make the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision each year. Spain traditionally completes what was formerly known as the “Big Five”, but withdrew from this year’s contest in protest over Israel’s participation. Austria is also guaranteed a spot in the final as this year’s host. …
Thousands of fans arrive in Vienna as 70th edition of Eurovision kicks off
Eurovision kicked off in Vienna on Sunday, with thousands of fans flocking to the city for events and music ahead of the song contest’s grand final next weekend, with renewed calls for a boycott over Israel’s participation. The Austrian capital is pulling out all the stops to host the 70th edition of the world’s most-watched song contest, with many side events scheduled in the run-up to the final on May 16. On Sunday afternoon, it was due to roll out the carpet – which at Eurovision is not red but turquoise – to welcome a parade of the 35 delegations from participating countries, as part of a colourful opening ceremony. On the agenda: the best – and worst – from seven decades of the music competition on a giant screen in front of the neo-Gothic city hall, in a square turned into a secured area reserved for fans. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. …