Nick Johnson
Reporting from Tel Aviv

The vibe at this watch party at a bar in central Tel Aviv feels like Israel trying to let its hair down.

The bar has opened its doors and a crowd of well over 100 has spilled out onto the road enjoying the show being broadcast on large screens.

Some are wrapped in the national flag, glued to every act.

Tal Bendersky cheered the loudest when Israel's act Eden Golan took to the stage and when she finished.

He describes her performance as fantastic: "She made us so proud."

When asked about the negativity surrounding Israel's act, Tal says: "People are forgetting to choose love over hate - we’re here for only one reason and it’s music”.

Jacob Tucker, a British Israeli, also here enjoying the show, says while he empathises with some of the protests, Eurovision "isn't the place".

“We all want the war to end, Israelis and Palestinians”, he says, adding Golan is “incredibly resilient”.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

There should be more songs dedicated to the emergency services, shouldn’t there?

Nutsa Buzaladze has probably chosen the best one, though. Paramedic would be hard to scan.

The singer is a hugely confident performer, having graduated from last year’s American Idol, where she performed Padam Padam with Kylie Minogue.

Her staging tonight is full of limber choreography and foot-stomping rhythms.

But I remain unimpressed by her firefighting qualifications: There are pyrotechnics everywhere.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

Baby Lasagna is the brainchild of Croatian singer Marko Purišić, who only formed his band last year.

He wasn’t even supposed to be part of Eurovision. The country’s broadcaster asked him to enter the national selection contest at the last moment, when another contestant dropped out. His song Rim Tim Tagi Dim went on to win by a landslide.

It’s also emerged as the favourite to win tonight’s contest, thanks to its exuberantly bouncy chorus and a performance that neatly balances rock excess with Eurovision silliness.

Keep an eye out for the stuffed, one-eyed cat on stage. It’s a replica of Marko’s own moggy, Stipe, who stars in the music video.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Get

OK, we’re getting into the home stretch now.

Slovenian singer is up next with a prototypical Eurovision ballad, full of galloping drums and operatic wailing that never quite settles on a melody.

The song is based on the story of Veronika of Desenice, a "lesser-born" woman who married into the royal family of 15th Century Slovenia.

Appalled that his son would choose to marry a commoner, Count Herman II of Celje accused Veronika of casting a spell and ordered a witch trial. Although found innocent, she was drowned anyway.

According to legend, her screams of agony can still be heard today.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent in Malmo

Image source, Getty Images

While some European countries take a commercial break, we’re treated to a little tribute to Chrissy Wickham.

The British choreographer and dancer created the role of Ashley in Starlight Express and later joined Arlene Phillips’ dance troupe Hot Gossip.

But she’s being honoured tonight for her contributions to Eurovision. That chiefly means one thing: The iconic moment in 1981 when Bucks Fizz ripped off their skirts to reveal… even shorter skirts.

James Kelly
UGC Hub

Image source, David Tolan

Back over to Scotland for a moment, where David Tolan, his wife Kathryn and daughter Colette are supporting Ireland's Bambie Thug from their home in Greenock.

David tells the BBC that the family watches Eurovision every year.

“We enjoy the whole campness and spirt of fun," he says.

"Bambie Thug is a bit odd but it’s the sort of thing you can imagine doing really well.”

Ten-year-old Colette has been watching the Eurovision entries on YouTube for the last few weeks, at least according to her dad.

"I like how it doesn’t matter where you are, you can watch the show; all the acts are entertaining and you don’t get bored," she tells the BBC.

Whatever you’re doing to celebrate the final, send us your photos and videos, as well as reviews of your favourite and least favourite acts, in one of the following ways:

• Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external
• WhatsApp: +447756 165803
• Upload your pictures and video
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay, external

Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Scottish tennis star Andy Murray is keeping his eye on the ball, having just seen Windows95man perform for Finland...

Here's his post on X, external:

Image source, Andy Murray

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

Proving that opera training goes a long way, Swiss singer Nemo shows off an astonishing falsetto while spinning around on a giant silver turntable.

Their song, The Code, is a blend of pop, rap and Mozart’s The Magic Flute and it details the star’s journey to accepting their non-binary identity.

To illustrate that message of freedom and self-identity, they planned tonight’s performance like a film script.

“Writing [a song] and imagining how it could look on stage is not something I’ve ever done before,” they told us earlier this week.

“I even started thinking about the camera angles, and the shots zooming in on me. It was a really interesting approach.”

Keeping the TV audience in mind from the start is a canny move. And it’s paid off, too: Nemo is one of the favourites to win tonight.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

Australia’s act Electric Fields were eliminated in the semi-finals, but the country gets a second chance thanks to Cyprus - who are represented by the Sydney-born singer Silia Kapsis.

It’s the second time Cyprus has gone hunting Down Under. Last year’s contestant, Andrew Lambrou, was also an Aussie.

Silia’s song is a slightly generic but fun pop banger called Liar - the sort of thing that keeps the contest from lagging, but seems unlikely to set the voting lines on fire.

Fun fact: When Silia is about to perform, she relaxes her vocal chords by blowing bubbles into a glass through a straw.

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham, one of the fabulous hosts from last year's contest in Liverpool, is sending her best wishes straight to this year's UK entrant Olly Alexander.

She posted an image on X, formerly known as Twitter, of her sending him a love heart of support and encouragement.

Not too long now before we see how Olly fares on the all-important leader board.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

I know I’m supposed to be impartial, but this infectiously upbeat folk song is my highlight of the show.

It features the first fully Armenian lyrics at Eurovision since Qami in 2018, and the lyrics are all about the free-spirited nature of lead singer Jacklin Baghdasaryan.

“They tell me,‘ Jako, behave yourself’ / Don’t talk too much / Don’t sit too quietly',” she sings.

“But I’m a free girl / I will dance, and you will watch.”

OK, then. If you insist.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, EPA

Phew, we were slightly worried there might be a wardrobe malfunction.

"Is there something wrong with the way I look?" sang Finland's Windows95man - well....

If you're really interested, we think there was a beige thong involved. TMI?

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

Portuguese entrant Iolanda Costa hails from the historic city of Pombal, and studied composition at the University of Sussex.

She’s set to reintroduce Fado to the Eurovision stage with the song Grito, which she’s described as “a scream of self-defence”.

But there’s a slow, simmering build to that scream - which comes in a flood of white light at the end of her performance.

Meanwhile, I’m totally distracted by her backing dancers, who are all different heights and line up behind her like Russian nestling dolls. I have yet to determine whether that is relevant to the song.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

Forget the Eurovision Song Contest, we’re about to witness the Eurovision Thong Contest.

Honouring his vow to live a life without rules, Windows95Man (aka performance artist Teemu Keisteri) dances around the stage wearing a t-shirt, a baseball cap and absolutely nothing else.

A series of conveniently placed props hide his modesty, Austin Powers-style, as Eurovision officials plead with him to cover up.

Eventually, a pair of denim jorts descend from heaven, and he finishes the song by wielding a skipping rope of pyrotechnics.

I wish I was making this up, but I’m not.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

Serbian singer Teya Dora is a former pupil at the prestigious Berkelee College of Music in Boston, where one of her classmates was Charlie Puth.

When she graduated in 2014, she was presented with her diploma by Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page.

The star, whose real name is Teodora Pavlovska, wrote her Eurovision entry in reference to the Lilac Ramonda flower - which symbolises Serbia’s resilience during World War I, when it had the highest per-capita casualty rate of any combatant nation.

An image of the flower is projected onto the video screens at the end of this understated and sombre ballad.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

A complete change of pace now, as Italy’s Angelina Mango serves up a sunny slice of tropical pop.

La Noia - which translates as “the boredom” - is anything but, mixing Mediterranean rhythms with playful melodies and what I think might be the sampled sound of a Turkish Zurna.

Explaining the song, Mango said: “Boredom is seen as a negative thing, but actually it is time that you dedicate to yourself. Between a life of highs and lows and one of boredom, I will always choose one of highs and lows, but I will always leave myself time for boredom [as well]."

Sadly, Italy’s production budget means that Mango’s dancers have not been able to afford two legs for their bodysuits.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Getty Images

Gåte were nearly disqualified from this year’s contest after their song, which is based on an old Norwegian folk story, was found to have broken rules requiring that entrants write original lyrics.

But with a few tweaks, they’re back in the running, with this macabre tale of a girl who is exiled to the woods and turned into a wolf by her evil stepmother.

By the end of the song, she’s gone feral - tearing out her stepmother’s heart and drinking her brothers’ blood.

The music matches the mood, with traditional folk instruments battling for space next to grinding metal guitars.

Think Little Red Riding Hood meets Evanescence and you’ll get the idea.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent in Malmö

Image source, EBU

Now that we’re at the halfway point, there’s a brief pause so the stagehands can catch their breath.

The hosts throw to a pre-taped sketch by Eurovision legend Lynda Woodruff - England’s “official spokesperson for the European Broadcasting Union”.

Played by Swedish comedian Sarah Dawn Finer, she has written an extra song for tonight’s show, dedicated to the suave and dashing executive in charge of Eurovision, Martin Österdahl.

"He’s a heterosexual man in a homosexual world,” purrs Woodruff in an elaborately-staged music video.

Douze points.

James Kelly
UGC Hub

Image source, Miriam Amato-Gauci

We love the photos you're sending us - here's Eurovision mega-fan Miriam Amato-Gauci, aged 12, from Peterborough.

She's spent the day preparing her costume – a tribute to Windows95Man, Finland’s entry this year – 17th in the running order, with No Rules!

Miriam will be watching the show at home with mum, Charlotte, big sister Ava, 14, and her dad, Philip.

Explaining why she had dressed up as Windows95Man, Miriam said: “I really like the song and Finland in Eurovision is usually one of my favourite countries.”

And why does she like Eurovision so much?

“It’s just the amount of insanity there is and it’s just so fun to watch.”

If you fancy sending us your Eurovision photos, here's how to do it:

• Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external
• WhatsApp: +447756 165803
• Upload your pictures and video
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay, external

Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent, in Malmö

Image source, Reuters

Right at the end of their performance, Bambie stared down the barrel of the camera and screamed "love will always triumph hate".

Given their earlier statements over the Israel-Gaza war, their intention seemed clear.

If the EBU decide the message contravened their rule on political messages, they could be sanctioned.

But for now, I think it was vague enough to escape censure.