Eurovision 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Songs, From Boy George to Anti-Work Anthems

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is here, with 35 participating countries—the most compact competition since 2003, due to a partial boycott. The contest features a mix of spectacle, including a man in silver paint, a fake gorilla, Boy George, and a record-breaking high note. This guide sorts the 35 songs into musical categories. Two previous Eurovision winners deployed operatic vocal runs. France's Monroe, at 17, is the youngest entrant, blending strings, drum beats, and vocals. Montenegro's Tamara Živković takes a maximalist approach with a Greek Chorus on a techno beat. Latvian singer Liene Atvara's ballad addresses the impact of growing up with an alcoholic parent. Romania's entry, Choke Me, has faced criticism for its lyrics. Swiss star Veronica Fusaro's waltz-time ballad, Alice, portrays abuse. Bulgaria's entry, Bangaranga, is full of sass. Germany's Sarah Engels tries a similar trick with less success. Belgium's Essyla sings on Dancing On the Ice. Cypriot entrant Antigoni's song, Jalla, references Tsifteteli. Finland's Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen's song Liekinheitin transforms from ballad to electro-pop. Greece sends Akylas, combining traditional Greek instruments with Super Mario-style sound effects. Poland's Alicja's song, Pray, opens with gospel before transitioning to rap. Lithuania's Lion Ceccah performs in silver paint. Armenia's Simón Hovhannisyan's song, Paloma Rumba, is a rock track about burnout. The UK's Look Mum No Computer has similar complaints. Australia's