Eurovision 2026 final. Alexandra Căpitănescu has climbed strongly in the list of favourites

A Finnish duo and an Australian diva are the favorites of the Eurovision final on Saturday night, in which 25 countries will try to win the trophy of the 70th edition, while the representative of Romania entered the top 5, writes AFP.

The main favourites, representatives of Finland, intend to light up, literally and figuratively, the huge circular stage of the Stadthalle in Vienna, where the final of the biggest music competition in the world starts at 22:00, Romanian time, in front of around 11,200 spectators.

Alexandra Căpitănescu will enter the contest with the song “Choke Me” from the 24th position in the contest. The show will be broadcast live by TVR and on the Eurovision YouTube channel.

“It will be played between Finland and Australia,” predicts Fabien Randanne, a journalist at the French publication 20 Minutes and a specialist in the contest.

Linda Lampenius, the 56-year-old blonde violinist who has appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine and in an episode of “Baywatch,” will perform for her partner Pete Parkkonen, 36, who sings “Liekinheitin,” “flame thrower” in Finnish.

“I will never be a mere extra,” Linda Lampenius, who won the right to use her 1781 Galliano violin live, told Austria's APA agency, while regulations usually require the sound of instruments presented on stage to be pre-recorded.

Eurovision final 2026. Australia, among the favourites

After a strong performance in Thursday's semi-final, Australia's nine-million-album-selling star Delta Goodrem, 41, moved into second place as the bookies' favorite with 'Eclipse', a ballad about the magical bond of love that showcases her powerful voice.

A reason for hope for this 2015 guest country hoping for a first win.

“The European public always has a more or less conscious reluctance to vote for Australia, wondering what the country is looking for in the contest, but maybe the star aura of Delta Goodrem will make the public mobilize for her”, Fabien Randanne appreciates.

Her progress in the predictions came at the expense of singers from Greece, Israel and Denmark, who now occupy third, fourth and sixth places.

Eurovision 2026 final. What chances does Alexandra Căpitănescu have

Romanian Alexandra Capitanescu, aged 22, managed to enter the top 5, thanks to an electrifying stage presence on the very rock song “Choke me”, notes AFP.

Before getting the ticket for the grand final on Saturday evening, the artist from Galati was ranked 8th in the list of favourites.

France, while remaining in the top 10, saw a slight dip in the forecast despite 17-year-old Monroe's much-lauded performance Thursday night of “Regarde!”, a love song that blends folk and opera.

Sébastien Dias-das-Almas, a French journalist reporting from Eurovision 2011, does not dare to make a prediction, but believes that the Italian representative “can create a surprise”, with his song “Per semper si”, which also celebrates love.

Sal Da Vinci, 56, a major figure on the Italian stage, “can appeal to the traditional audience, who only watch the contest on TV, on the evening of the event”, in his opinion.

The audience at the Stadthalle will enjoy the show, with more or less daring scenographies and songs between pop, heavy rock and electro, performed in languages ​​as varied as Maltese, Greek or Albanian.

“We don't have anything like it in America, Eurovision is phenomenal because it brings everyone together,” enthused Tory Huflar, an American spectator, after Thursday night's second semi-final.

“We were expecting something more lavish”

Sébastien Dias-Das-Almas, however, regrets the “very minimalistic” setting chosen by Austrian broadcaster ORF this year, saying it reflects “the budget-conscious public television services”.

“It's technically and visually very well done, but for the 70th anniversary we were expecting something more lavish,” he said.

The rains of the last few days did not spoil the joy of fans from 75 countries, who were able to take part in musical cruises on the Danube or try karaoke in the huge fan area set up in front of the Vienna City Hall or on board the trams that cross the city.

Last year, around 166 million viewers watched the contest, organized by Switzerland. Austria hopes to do just as well despite a boycott by five countries, including Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands, and a call by a thousand artists not to watch the Eurovision because of the presence of Israel, which they blame for the way they waged the war in the Gaza Strip.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he believed his country was on the “good side of history” as pro-Palestinian activists staged an alternative concert in central Vienna that has been under increased security throughout the week.

“I'm Jewish, I support Palestine and I don't want Israel to be given a podium at Eurovision,” Dalia Sarig, 57, wearing a keffieh around her neck, told AFP.