Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, EPA

Danish singer Sissal has been the mama bear of Eurovision 2025, setting up a group chat for all the participants and ensuring everyone is taken care of backstage.

On stage, her presence is just as big. During rehearsals this week, she cajoled the audience into singing the chorus of her EDM club banger, so she could keep her voice rested for the final.

Staging-wise, she keeps it traditional – performing on a big podium while a wind machine sweeps her hair into the sky.

But there’s a great moment with dancers in gravity-defying moon boots (think Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal and you’ll get the idea) and Sissal ends the performance wearing a diaphanous blue train that’s somehow even longer than Princess Kate’s wedding dress.

Bonus trivia: Sissal lives in Copenhagen, but originally hails from the Faroe Islands, where she played Rizzo in her school production of Grease. She’s the second Faroese contestant to represent Denmark, after Reiley in 2023.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, Getty Images

Two people were prevented from breaking on to the stage during Israel's performance at the Eurovision Song Contest, Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR has confirmed.

"One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit," said Edi Estermann, head of communications for Eurovision 2025 in a statement to the BBC.

"The crew member is fine and nobody was injured.

"The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police."

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, EPA

Portuguese rock band Napa are here with a mournful ballad about homesickness.

My initial assessment of Deslocado was: “This is what Coldplay would sound like if they were as boring as everyone says they are” - but it’s breezy harmonies and melodic guitar solo have grown on me over time.

The lyrics talk about the band’s decision to emigrate to the Portuguese mainland from their homes on the island of Madeira.

“It’s left a huge mark,” says singer Guilherme Gomes. “Even though we’ve been here for a few years we always have that desire to go back, and that anguish of saying goodbye to family.”

It’s a story that’ll resonate with economic migrants across the continent.

Rylan Clark
Presenter, BBC Radio 2

Image source, Reuters

There was a lot of fire during that performance.

I'm wondering if he's still got eyebrows.

I think I lost a couple of lashes. And I'm quite high up here.

You can listen to Rylan Clark and Scott Mill's coverage on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, EPA

Malta’s song instantly went viral when it was released in January.

Why? Because it was originally called “Serving Kant” – a reference to a phrase from drag/ballroom culture, only with an English swear word replaced by the Maltese phrase for “singing”.

Singer Miriana Conte protested it was all innocent. “[That] Maltese word that holds a lot of meaning to us and we never intended to offend anyone,” she told BBC Newsnight.

“To me, it means I’m serving singing. Nothing more, nothing less.”

It was an exquisite moment of trolling. But international broadcasters, allegedly including the BBC, complained the lyrics would contravene rules on profanity and the EBU made Conte cancel her kanting.

The new version simply replaces that word with a loud sigh and, honestly, the song isn’t diminished at all. Camp as Christmas, she gives one of the night’s most OTT performances that ends with her bouncing suggestively on a medicine ball.

Justice will be served.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, EPA

Malta’s entry found itself in hot water with its song, which played on the phonetic similarity between "kant", the Maltese word for singing, and a notorious swear word.

However, the EBU ruled that singer Miriana Conte must change the title and the lyrics to avoid causing offence.

Conte wrote in a Facebook post: “While I’m shocked and disappointed, especially since we have less than a week to submit the song, I promise you this: the show will go on – Diva NOT down.”

The song Kant is now called Serving and broadcasters around the globe can breathe a sigh of relief…

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Switzerland has had three memorable winners.

All you Eurovision fans out there will already know that none other than French Canadian star Céline Dion won Eurovision for Switzerland, back in 1988.

And if you watched Tuesday's semi-final, you'll also know she made an appearance via a pre-recorded video link, saying: "Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's the country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary."

Last year was, of course, won by Nemo, who became the first non-binary artist to win Eurovision. They memorably sang in an operatic falsetto while balancing on a spinning turntable.

And completing Switzerland's trio of winners, we have Lys Assia, who won in 1956 - the first person to win the contest. Her association with Eurovision was long-lasting and in 2005 she performed in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

She died in 2018, and you can read more about her here.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, EPA

Defending champions Switzerland have submitted a pretty, understated love song courtesy of Zoë Më – a 24-year-old singer who was born right here in Basel.

She says representing Switzerland in her home town is “a huge honour and a surreal experience… just like something out of a fairy tale”.

Her melody has the gossamer texture of a fairy’s wings, but dig deeper and the lyrics tell a story of neglect: “One day you'll understand that flowers are more beautiful when you water them,” she tells her lover.

The dramatic coda is the moment she takes back control – as the orchestra plays sharp stabs of staccato notes, and the lyrics change from “I’ll go on a journey with you” to “go on a journey with me”.

Unusually for Eurovision, her performance is shot as one continuous take, without cutaways or pyrotechnics.

But it’s unlikely to win: No country has earned back-to-back Eurovisions since Ireland’s record-breaking triple in 1992, ‘93 and ‘94.

Jessica Sherwood
BBC News, reporting from Basel

Finland - act number 13 - seem to have had the biggest reaction so far here in the Eurovision Village.

In a bar on the street chants of “Ich kommen” erupted, mostly from a group of Brits dressed to the nines, in red white and blue, draped in Union Jack flags.

Erika Vikman has had a massive response on socials this year, alongside KAJ from Sweden, with many Gen Z audiences hoping the final next year might be held in Helsinki.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, EPA

Armenian singer Parg – aka Pargev Vardanian – is considered a trailblazer in Armenian music, where he mixes traditional culture with elements of American rock and R&B.

His staging finds him topless and running on a treadmill in improbable trousers, as flames erupt all around him.

It’s not clear what he’s running from – but he tells us he’s “a survivor” and he’ll “stay alive-r”, presumably not because of his grasp of English grammar.

One of the night’s most energetic and, dare I say, heterosexual performances, it also proves that no matter what happens, Imagine Dragons will always have an audience in Armenia.

Andree Massiah
Live reporter

Gemma and Darren Smith's daughter Emily is a young Eurovision fan.

"We’ve all been really looking forward to tonight’s Eurovision. We're massive fans," says Gemma from the Isle of Lewis.

"We have a mini party here and Emily’s been catching up on all things Eurovision, and singing along to her favourites - Bara Bada Bastu, Espresso Macchiato and What the Hell Just Happened?

"Wishing Remember Monday all the best whatever the outcome! Happy Eurovision Day!!"

Image source, Gemma Smith

Image source, EPA

Asteromáta translates to English as “starry-eyed one”, and it’s a beautiful ballad with little electronic flourishes and ethnic Greek elements.

There have been allegations the lyrics refer to the Pontic genocide – the systematic killing of Christian Greeks in the Pontic region of Turkey during World War One – but Klavdia has said the song is more generally about refugees, and the indelible bond they have to their homeland.

This always gets a huge reception in the media centre, where people are suckers for a miserable woman singing on a fake rock.

Those songs tend to perform well in the voting too, so mark this down as one to watch.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

One thing you won’t see at home is the swarm of stagehands who have just 35 seconds to get the stage ready for the next act.

"We call it the Formula 1 tyre change," says Richard van Rouwendaal, who’s the stage manager for this year’s show.

"Each person in the crew can only do one thing. You run on stage with one light bulb or one prop. You always walk on the same line. If you go off course, you will hit somebody.

"It's a bit like ice skating."

Here’s a look at one of those changeovers from the 2023 contest in Liverpool.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

If the live show isn't enough for you, there's plenty more content on BBC Sounds. So if you fancy a bit of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Eurovision Kitchen Disco or Your Ultimate Abba Song (and plenty more besides) you know where to look!

• BBC Sounds Eurovision collection

There’s some fun quizzes as well so you can test yourself to see how much of a super-fan you really are, here’s one to get you started:

• Radio 2 Eurovision icons quiz

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, EPA

A month ago, Abor & Tynna had a problem. Twenty-four year old Attila Bornemisza (aka Abor) lost her voice. The duo had to cancel shows all around Europe and their Eurovision performance was cast into doubt.

Luckily, she’s recovered now – although her voice has a new-found rasp that adds a touch of friction to the band’s hard-hitting techno song.

A top 20 hit in Germany, it’s a break-up song with an instantly-catchy “Ba-la-la-la-la” hook.

But the staging – which sees Abor disappear behind a giant prop ghetto blaster for half the running time – saps the energy inside the arena.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

It's a tradition at Eurovision that the press throws aside any pretence of neutrality and dances around to their favourite songs.

So far, tonight has been pretty quiet - until Erika Vikman's OTT performance got everyone out of their seats. Including me, who stood on a chair to film it.

Poland is getting a similar reception right now... Flags in the air, pagan chants and the whole shebang.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent, reporting from the Eurovision final

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Justyna Steczkowska first appeared at the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Sama.

Thirty years later, she’s back – setting a new record for the longest gap between two appearances at the contest (the previous record-holder was Anna Vissi with a gap of 24 years between her entries for Cyprus in 1982 and Greece in 2006).

Her song, Gaja, is all about the connection between humanity and nature, named after the goddess of mother earth. There’s a lot of pagan imagery and mystical chanting going on.

After watching the rehearsals, I made notes that said “satanic aerobics class” and “imagine Shakira was possessed by Slenderman”. Someone else said it was very Middle Earth-coded.

Whatever your take, it’s pure Eurovision.

Rylan Clark
Presenter, BBC Radio 2

Image source, EPA

Wow!

She is a popstar, that girl.

That was great.

You can listen to Rylan Clark and Scott Mill's coverage on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.