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Interval act time! Erika Vikman singing a happy hardcore version of Dana\u2019s All Kinds Of Everything was not on my Eurovision<\/a> bingo card, but I do now urgently need it on Spotify. She\u2019s joined by Lordi and then the ceremonial annual appearance of Alexander Rybak\u2019s violin.<\/p>\n By the time Verka Serduchka arrives to perform Puppet On A String this feels like the sort of thing you hallucinate after twelve consecutive hours of Eurovision. But then Lordi start singing Save Your Kisses For Me and the entire concept of reality finally collapses in on itself.<\/p>\n Also, Ruslana is there, and I would just like to add that I once shared a taxi with her in Madrid. She is very lovely and fun.<\/p>\n Do I love this hot mess? Yes, obviously. This is what Eurovision was invented for. Lordi Schlager Hits album immediately please.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.40 EDT<\/p>\n As we head into the interval and prepare for approximately nine hours of scoring, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski for their efforts tonight, and also respectfully ask that Eurovision<\/a> never makes me watch them host anything ever again.<\/p>\n Between the painfully strained banter, the hostage-grade autocue delivery and the overwhelming sense that they\u2019d been introduced to each other roughly four minutes before going live, it\u2019s been quite the experience. Petra Mede, if you can hear us, please blink twice.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And that\u2019s it! The songs have all been sung, which means we now enter Eurovision\u2019s most sacred tradition: sitting through seventeen recaps, pretending to enjoy the interval act, and slowly losing all sense of time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>25. \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf9 Austria: COSM\u00d3 \u2013 Tanzschein<\/p>\n We\u2019re wrapping up this year\u2019s show with the host nation Austria, and COSM\u00d3 (caps lock drink, if you\u2019re still standing) singing Tanzschein, which means \u2018dance license\u2019. My Austrian husband LOVES this, but then he can understand the lyrics and appreciate that they\u2019re actually quite deep and thoughtful.<\/p>\n For those of us who are only on Duolingo German level 9, however, it feels a bit dated musically and the dancers in silver animal masks make little sense. But essentially the club is a uber-masc jungle of animals, and COSM\u00d3 wants to introduce a license that only admits people who live for the dance. So Euroclub, basically. Got it, and here for Austria bringing the happy finish.<\/p>\n Austria at Eurovision 2026 Photograph: Alma Bengtson\/EBUShare<\/a>24. \ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddf4 Romania: Alexandra C\u0103pit\u0103nescu – Choke Me<\/p>\n Only two songs left! Time for a rock anthem from Romania, and apparently the whole choking theme is metaphorical, although lyrics like \u201cborn for you to control\u201d and \u201clove me, make my lungs explode\u201d do make you question how firmly she\u2019s digging in.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a shame, because Alexandra has a fantastic voice and incredible stage presence, and lyrics aside, it\u2019s a really strong performance. But it also makes me feel a bit uneasy, and I\u2019m afraid can\u2019t quite switch that part of my brain off. Regardless, I fully expect this to do extremely well this evening.<\/p>\n Romania at Eurovision 2026 Photograph: Sarah Louise Bennett\/EBUShare<\/a>23. \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf4 Norway: JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA<\/p>\n Time for Norway, with JONAS LOVV (DRINK) singing YA YA YA, which is essentially Benson Boone doing Seven Nation Army via the medium of M\u00e5neskin.<\/p>\n Glam rock isn\u2019t usually my thing, but this is actually great – JONAS has bags of stage presence and fully commits to the strut. I suspect his carnival fishing waders may be the closest we get to lederhosen tonight, so savour the moment.<\/p>\n That said, we do need to talk about the lyric \u201cI got no self control \/ left it right all over you and your pretty clothes.\u201d Eww, JONAS. This is cashmere. Have some respect.<\/p>\n Norway at Eurovision 2026 Photograph: Hannibal Hanschke\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019ve just been told that Linda Lampenius appeared in series 9 of Baywatch. She played a European violinist who gets stranded on a yacht, and there\u2019s some kind of smuggling plot involving her violin case. I feel like I definitely need to watch this.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>22. \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9 Italy: Sal Da Vinci – Per Sempre S\u00ec<\/p>\n OK, time for Italy\u2019s Sal Da Vinci with Per Sempre Si. Please stop whatever you\u2019re doing and watch, because rarely has a Sanremo winner split the Italian public quite like this one. For some, it\u2019s a joyfully old-school Italian love song that makes you want to dance round your kitchen singing into a giant pepper grinder. For others, it\u2019s painfully naff 1970s disco with no business being anywhere near Eurovision<\/a> in 2026.<\/p>\n I\u2019m very much in the LOVE camp. Yes, the only thing that would make this Italian wedding any cheesier is parmesan raining from the rafters, but I don\u2019t care, because it radiates pure joy and I cannot stop smiling. Don\u2019t miss the splendidly camp Buck\u2019s Fizz-style skirt rip towards the end. Douze points, no notes, more prosecco.<\/p>\n Italy at Eurovision 2026 Photograph: Ian West\/PAShare<\/a>21. \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddfe Cyprus: Antigoni \u2013 JALLA<\/p>\n Love Island veteran Antigoni from Cyprus (via North London) had a bit of a vocal nightmare on Thursday, and it was by no means guaranteed that JALLA (caps lock DRINK) would make it through. But she did, so let\u2019s see if tonight\u2019s an improvement.<\/p>\n JALLA means \u201cmore\u201d in Greek, so we can now add that to the \u201cbring it\u201d courtesy of Greece earlier. Between the two of them, we\u2019re now ready to order in any taverna. It\u2019s a high-energy, OPA-heavy girl bop in the traditional Cypriot Shakira style, featuring an outfit assembled from what appears to be strategic fabric remnants. Vocally, this is a LOT better than Thursday, but\u2026still not great.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want more?\u201d asks Antigoni. I mean, in principle yes \u2013 JALLA is a proper banger. In practice\u2026let\u2019s take a moment.<\/p>\n Cyprus at Eurovision 2026 Photograph: Sarah Louise Bennett\/EBUShare<\/a>20.\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea Sweden: FELICIA – My System<\/p>\n Time for Sweden to do their immaculately polished, mildly intimidating Sweden thing, this year courtesy of FELICIA (caps lock DRINK) with a full-throttle techno banger. We\u2019ve got pounding bass, an industrial quantity of lasers, and what appears to be sparkly PPE. Because safety first, even when we rave.<\/p>\n On paper, this is extremely my sort of nonsense, but to my ears it\u2019s giving strong \u201clost Cascada B-side circa 2006\u201d vibes, and while that is a very specific pleasure, Sweden can usually be relied on to aim a bit higher than the Eurodance bargain bin. I want more, Sweden. JALLA. Oh no wait, that\u2019s coming up next.<\/p>\n