After years of watching the Eurovision Song Contest from home, I finally secured what felt like a Golden Ticket this year: attending the Grand Final live in Vienna. As an Australian introduced to Eurovision in my early 20s, I became utterly obsessed. A university friend first showed me the contest, and years later, his brother Go-Jo represented Australia. Last year, I watched Austria's JJ win in Basel. This year, I was in the room when Dara secured Bulgaria's first-ever victory. The atmosphere was electric, with fans singing and dancing, strangers holding hands in anticipation.
Over four hours, I realized how different the show is inside the stadium versus on screen. One moment with the UK act, Look Mum No Computer, broke my heart. Despite finishing last with only one point from Ukraine, Sam Ryder (the act's name) was the best sport. He stood and cheered for competitors as they received points, showing genuine sportsmanship that moved the crowd. I was sitting near the Green Room, thanks to EasyJet, and saw his heartfelt response—he even joked about making 'Look Mum No Points' T-shirts if he got nul points.
Behind-the-Scenes Chaos
The crew's work was incredible. With only 45 seconds to move sets on and off stage, they handled props like a large glass box for Denmark, a geometric flower for Israel, a piano with an internal lift for Australia, and 12 desks with a synthesiser for the UK. At one point, they had four seconds to spare. Seasoned journalists praised the crew's efficiency. During Dara's performance, four camera operators and several crew members moved around her seamlessly, though a camera malfunction occurred during Czechia's performance. A massive camera blocked Moldova's view for some sections.
Non-Stop Party Atmosphere
After performances, acts relaxed in the Green Room with champagne. Sam hugged France's Monroe post-performance. The crowd was full of super fans from EasyJet, with one woman sharing fun facts about every song. Hospitality tickets included free-flowing drinks and a dessert table with small cakes and strawberry dumplings with rhubarb compote. Acts danced and sang along to others' performances—Greece's Akylas never sat down, and Delta Goodrem headbanged to Moldova's song.
Controversy and Unity
Despite unity, boos erupted when Israel soared in the leaderboard, reflecting controversy over its participation amid the Gaza war. The crowd cheered Bulgaria's win. Eurovision director Martin Green defended Israel's inclusion, urging viewers to 'close the curtains to the outside world.' The contest remains a safe space for many, but political tensions persist.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is available on BBC iPlayer.
