Eurovision is an annual international song competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It is the world’s longest-running televised music competition, held nearly every year.
History of Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest was founded in the 1950s, inspired by Italy's Sanremo Music Festival, to unite a post-war Europe through music and test the technological limits of live international broadcasting.
The first show was on 24 May 1956, in Lugano, Switzerland. Only 7 countries participated, and the host country, Switzerland, won with Lys Assia’s “Refrain”. In 1969, tie-breaker rules were created, and the iconic 12-point voting system was introduced in 1975.
The EBU created the Big Four in 1999, comprising France, Germany, Spain, and the UK, who qualify automatically for the final as the largest financial contributors. Italy joined them in 2011, making it the Big Five.
Eurovision Format
Each participating country submits one original song of 3 minutes or less. The artists perform live during 3 televised shows, 2 semi-finals and a Grand Final.
The winner is determined by professional juries and public televoting from participating countries. Points are awarded to favourite acts, and countries cannot vote for their own entry. The winning country hosts the next year's contest.
Favourites to Win Eurovision this Year
Finland, backed by strong support for its national entries, and Israel, with its high historical televote support, are the joint favourites to win in 2026. Other top contenders are Ukraine, with a high home vote, Sweden, seeking a record-breaking 8th win, Denmark, Belgium, and Italy.
Important Dates for Eurovision 2026
The key dates to place Eurovision bets in 2026 are:
- 12 May: Semi-Final 1
- 14 May: Semi-Final 2
- 16 May: Grand Final
How to Bet on Eurovision
Betting on the Eurovision at Betsson is primarily through our sportsbook under the Music Odds category. For the 2026 contest in Vienna, betting markets are already open, so you can keep up to date with Eurovision betting odds. Popular options include:
- Outright Winner: Bet on which country wins the Grand Final.
- Top 5/Top 10 Finish: Predict if a country finishes in the top 5 or 10 positions.
- To Qualify: Bet on whether a specific country gets to the Semi-Final or the Grand Final.
- Head-to-Head: Like match betting, predict which of 2 specific countries will rank higher in the final standings.
- Jury vs. Televote Winner: Bet on who wins the professional jury vote or the public televote.
- Last Place: Predict which country finishes at the bottom of the scoreboard.
- Each-Way: A two-part bet where half your stake is on a win and half is on a place.
Eurovision Betting Tips
Eurovision betting requires a few tips to improve your chances of winning. Some include:
- Account for the Jury Return in Semi-Finals: For the first time since 2022, professional juries return to the semi-finals this year, reinstating a 50/50 jury/televote split, which makes it harder for pure "televote bait" to qualify.
- Use the Top 3 Rule: Since 2015, a noteworthy pattern has been that the eventual winner is always in the top 3 of bookmaker odds and the top 2 of fan polls just before the final.
- Monitor the New 10-Vote Cap: The 2026 contest introduces a new rule reducing the maximum votes per person from 20 to 10, to prevent concentrated voting for a single favourite. It may lead to more even distribution of points among the top 10. Watch for Running Order Shifts: Statistical data shows that songs in the last quarter of the show typically receive a 2.4-place boost in the rankings compared to early positions.Rehearsals are Critical: Professional bettors often wait for live rehearsals in early May, as staging and live vocal quality can cause dramatic shifts in odds Eurovision.
Interesting Facts About Eurovision
Fun facts about this song contest include:
- It holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running annual televised music competition.
- ABBA and Céline Dion are the most famous alumni.
- Ireland and Sweden are tied for the most wins with 7 each.
- ”Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu” is the most covered Eurovision song in history.
- The 2020 contest was cancelled for the first time due to COVID-19.
Other quirky rules include a strict song time limit of 3 minutes or less and no more than 6 people or live animals on stage.
Why Bet on Eurovision at Betsson
Betsson delivers a thrilling Eurovision betting experience with multiple markets and competitive Eurovision odds, and bettors can keep up to date by following our live odds.
We have a user-friendly sportsbook and state-of-the-art safety protocols, including the latest SSL encryption technology to secure all data and transactions. We value our user experience; a 24/7 customer service desk is available for prompt assistance.
