This year’s Eurovision contestants seem to be searching for the same thing: release. It’s true for Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund, who leaves his heart on the dance floor on the pulsating entry “Før Vi Går Hjem,” and for Cyprus’ Antigoni, a former Love Island UK reality star who just wants to lose herself in the rhythm of the music on “Jalla.” Even Italy is looking to get lost in love with Sal Da Vinci’s relentlessly romantic “Per Sempre Sì.”
On Saturday afternoon, these acts will appear in the Eurovision final alongside other potential winners including Lithuania’s Lion Ceccah and Belgium’s Essyla. It’s been a while since any of these competing countries have scored a win, or have at least come close. Denmark last won in 2013, while Cyprus and Lithuania have never been crowned winners of the song contest. This year, 25 countries are competing in the final, which will be hosted at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria. Here are five of the top contestants who have a shot at winning.
Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund, “Før Vi Går Hjem”
After five years of Denmark’s Eurovision contestants performing in English, Søren Torpegaard Lund brought Danish back to the stage with the lovelorn and hedonistic single “Før Vi Går Hjem.” The song recreates the atmosphere of a sweaty nightclub dance floor with an intense, heartbeat-like bass line. On the chorus, his message is clear: “We let the night stand in flames and forgetting ourselves/Holding onto each other until we burn to death/Forgetting that we wake up and regret it again.” It’s all or nothing. Denmark has tasted Eurovision victory three times before: in 1963, 2000, and 2013. With “Før Vi Går Hjem,” a win feels within reach once again.
Lithuania: Lion Ceccah, “Sólo Quiero Más”
Lion Ceccah’s performance on “Sólo Quiero Más” is a striking standout among this year’s Eurovision entries. The artist takes an ambitious approach, performing an ode to unity in a mix of languages. “Sólo Quiero Más” opens with a verse in Lithuanian, followed by a chorus delivered in English and Spanish. “Even if we’re living in a mad world/Even if we’re standing as the sky falls,” Ceccah sings. “Sólo quiero/Sólo quiero más,” or “I only want more.” During the final chorus, he reaches for an even wider audience with lyrics in German, Italian, and French. Lithuania has never won Eurovision. Its highest placement was back in 2006 when the country came in sixth place. Two decades later, Lithuania has a chance to bring it home with a song about leaning on community and confidence.
Italy: Sal Da Vinci, “Per Sempre Sì”
Italy opted for classic romance for its Eurovision entry this year. Sal Da Vinci performs the swooning “Per Sempre Si” in Italian and Neapolitan, marking the first time the romance language has appeared in an entry from the country since Peppino di Capri’s “Comme è Ddoce ‘o Mare” in 1991. Sal Da Vinci is optimistic in love as he sings about wanting to spend the rest of his life with someone, regardless of the challenges that may arise along the way. A line in the first verse translates to, “Because a love is not love for life/If it has not faced the steepest climb.” This could lead Italy to victory for the first time since Måneskin won in 2021.
Belgium: Essyla, “Dancing on the Ice”
It’s been 40 years since Belgium last secured an Eurovision win with Sandra Kim’s “J’aime La Vie” in 1986. Now, the country has another shot at victory with Essyla’s pulsating song “Dancing on the Ice.” The record builds up to a flashy dance break that feels perfectly tailored to the spectacle-level performances Eurovision is known for. During the first semi-final round, Essyla took the stage with a flurry of faux snow falling around her. Flanked by four dancers, she turned up the heat with an impressive vocal performance. “Dancing on the Ice” marks the first time Belgium has qualified for the Eurovision finals since 2023.
Cyprus: Antigoni, “Jalla”
Antigoni’s dance floor hit “Jalla” could lead Cyprus to its first Eurovision win. The upbeat track is performed in English and Greek with nods to the island’s belly dancing rhythm. “Hear the beat of the drum, got you feeling alive/Melody of the song got you hypnotized,” Antigoni sings against thudding percussion. “Getting lost in the rhythm, but it’s never enough/Might just have you falling in love.” Cyprus came close to winning Eurovision nearly a decade ago, when Eleni Foureira’s “Fuego” placed second during in 2018. No other country has competed as many times without winning the contest. Antigoni, who spent a week in the Love Island UK villa during the show’s eighth season, applied in previous years to represent Greece, but the win would mean so much more for Cyprus.
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