Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Betting Preview, Odds & Picks

Abba, Celine Dion, and Maneskin are just three of the legendary musical artists who have made their breakthrough at the Eurovision Song Contest, and this year, a new star could be born.

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is held in Vienna, Austria, following the nation’s win 12 months ago. A global audience is set to tune in, with a staggering 166 million watching JJ win the event in 2025, ranking higher than the number that watched the Super Bowl.

But, who are the leading contenders at the 70th edition of the musical extravaganza that attempts to unite the world through music? Find the odds, our picks, and a full betting preview breakdown for Eurovision 2026 here.

Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Odds

Nation	Odds
Finland	+125
Greece	+550
Denmark	+700
Australia	+700
Israel	+1400
France	+2000
Romania	+3300
Croatia	+3300
Italy	+3500
Malta	+4500
Ukraine	+6000
Other Nations	+10000 & Bigger

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How to Watch Eurovision in USA

Stat	Information
When	Saturday, May 16, 2026. 3:00 PM ET
Where	Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
How to Watch	Peacock/YouTube

How Does Eurovision Work?

The format for the Eurovision Song Contest can be pretty overwhelming for a newcomer to the event. Saturday’s Grand Final is made up of the Big 4 and the hosts, with the remaining 20 spots being determined in semi-finals held on Tuesday and Thursday.

The Grand Final winner is determined by combining the points awarded by the national juries with the viewer votes. Each national jury is made up of seven musical professionals, and they will award a maximum of 12 points to the act that they believe should win the Contest.

Why Is This Year’s Event So Controversial?

Controversy has been a common trend throughout Eurovision history, but no event has been as heavily criticized as this year’s. The controversy centers around Israel’s continued participation, which has led to the biggest boycott in contest history.

Among the nations not involved this year are Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. Voting patterns will also be under the microscope, as Israeli government involvement led to a surge in votes last year.

After they were mathematically out of the race to win, BBC commentator echoed the thoughts of many, stating that the organizers would be ‘breathing the largest sigh of relief that they weren’t facing a Tel Aviv final next year’.

Who Are The Main Eurovision Contenders in 2026?

This year’s Song Contest has something for everyone, which is typically the case when it comes to the biggest party on the European calendar. Finland has been unlucky losers in recent history, but there is a sense that Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen are the ones to beat with their catchy and theatrical ‘Liekinheitin’. The entry has been the red-hot favorite since betting opened, but it has drifted slightly since Tuesday’s semi-final.

Pop-heavy songs feature prominently throughout this year’s line-up, with Germany’s Sarah Engels, Sweden’s Felicia, and Cyprus’ Antigoni all likely to perform well with the public. Greece’s Akylas has a very interesting chance with ‘Ferto’, which will get stuck in the heads of those watching for weeks on end. However, while he is likely to be popular with the public, it is unlikely that he will score highly with the juries.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Monroe, representing France, sings ‘Regarde’, which is a solid entry. However, she is likely to come up short in her race to win the Jury Vote, as Australia’s powerful ‘Eclipse’, sung by the world-renowned Delta Goodrem, is very much the sleeper pick.

Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Picks

Finland’s chances are obvious, and their case is made only stronger after seeing their performance on Tuesday. However, Denmark’s Soren Torpegaard Lund’s ‘For Vi Gar Hjem’ is the value play. The nation have endured a poor run of form at the contest, including when 23^rd last year.

However, this powerful song, laced with innuendo, has the lyrics to catch the public attention, while Soren’s vocal ability will ensure a likely better result than Finland with the juries. Norway’s up-tempo ‘Ya Ya Ya’ for Jonas Lovv could be an interesting dark horse to achieve a top ten finish.

• Denmark to Win Eurovision Song Contest @ +700