Eurovision 2026: Finland Favorites but Moldova Deserves the Win

Eurovision 2026 is shaping up to be a two-horse race, but one underdog truly deserves to take the trophy. Last year, Austrian act JJ won the contest, but tonight a new country will emerge victorious. Despite the competition being plagued by controversy after five countries boycotted over Israel's participation, 35 nations still signed up to compete.

Frontrunners and Surprises

Even before the singing began, frontrunners had emerged. Finland's Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen are the favorites to win, a position they still hold. However, the odds for other acts have shifted since the semi-finals, with Australia, Greece, and Israel now close contenders.

Ahead of the Grand Final tonight, I attended a dress rehearsal in Vienna on Friday afternoon alongside other journalists. While I had my favorites going into this year's competition, after watching the full performances, a few surprised me, some let me down, and several left me torn about who I actually want to win. It was an incredibly difficult task, but these are the top acts I'd love to see come out victorious.

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Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova!

After a one-year absence, Moldova has returned with a bang. Rapper and singer Satoshi's song Viva, Moldova! features lyrics in Romanian, Italian, Latin, English, Spanish, French, and Hawaiian. It is a celebration of national identity and culture, lively, infectious, and incredibly catchy. The staging is deceptively simple: he performs with a band and backing singers, while animated images and lyrics appear on the screen, encouraging the audience to sing along. This is a genius move for a song with so many languages. The musician's passion for his country is clear, and his energetic performance has made this one of my standout songs. Currently sitting 13th in the odds, I would love to see Moldova soar up the leaderboard and pull off a surprise.

Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse

When Delta Goodrem was announced as Australia's act, the country went wild. Over the past 23 years, she has become a national treasure, known for her role on Neighbours and her debut album Innocent Eyes, the second-best-selling Australian album of all time. Her song Eclipse is a power ballad that Eurovision juries and viewers love. After her flawless first live performance on Thursday night, she left many stunned and is now the second favorite to win. I was moved to tears watching her on stage, and as an Australian, I would love to see us take our first-ever win.

Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin

I only listened to Liekinheitin two weeks ago, and while I knew Finnish violinist Linda Lampenius and singer-songwriter Pete Parkkonen were favorites, I only understood the hype when I saw them live. The song is epic and dramatic, and the staging is attention-grabbing, with fire going off around Linda as she plays. She was given special permission to play live, which is usually not allowed. Finland has sent memorable acts in recent years, and 2026 looks likely for their first victory in 20 years since Lordi won in 2006.

Albania: Alis – Nân

I was sleeping on Albania until hearing their song live, and I have been playing it on repeat. Last year, I was obsessed with Zjerm by Shkodra Elektronike, which placed eighth. Although Albania may not win this year, they deserve another Top 10 finish. Nân is a ballad for awaiting mothers, children who leave, and eternal love. The staging sees Alis performing solo, then circled by a woman playing a maternal figure, leaving many viewers in tears. The orchestral ballad is bold, powerful, and heartfelt. Sharing a translation of the lyrics on screen helps connect with the song. He is currently predicted to finish 16th.

Italy: Sal Da Vinci – Per Sempre Sì

Last year, Lucio Corsi left me in tears, and Italy continues to prove its worth. Sal Da Vinci is huge in Italy, and his song Per sempre sì is a hymn to universal love. The staging tells a story of a young couple preparing for their wedding, ending with a massive Italian flag unfurled. The song and staging are elegant, nostalgic, and fresh. It is currently 8th in the odds.