The Eurovision Song Contest is heading toward a fiery finale this Saturday in Malmö, Sweden, with Finland’s fiery violinist-singer act Käärijä and Australia’s electric duo Electric Fields leading the betting odds to take the crown. But the competition is overshadowed by an unprecedented boycott from six countries, including Iceland and the Netherlands, over Israel’s continued participation amid its war in Gaza. Fans in Germany made their protest clear during rehearsals on Thursday, waving an Israeli flag in the arena to signal their opposition to the boycott. The final will air live to a global audience, following record ratings of 153 million viewers for the two semifinals last week.\n\nKäärijä, the stage name of Finnish rapper and musician Jere Pöyhönen, stormed into the competition with his high-energy performance of “Cha Cha Cha,” a song that blends electronic beats with violin melodies. The track has become a viral sensation, racking up over 100 million streams on Spotify and topping charts across Europe. Betting markets have him as the clear favorite, with odds of 2.75-to-1, according to data from Eurovision betting aggregator Oddspedia. His performance is a stark contrast to the contest’s usual glamour, with Käärijä dressed in a simple black shirt and jeans, yet his energy has captivated fans and judges alike.\n\nAustralian act Electric Fields, made up of Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross, is the only other non-European act still in the running after Australia qualified as a special participant. Their song “One Milk Bottle Down” is a hauntingly beautiful track that blends Indigenous Australian sounds with modern pop. The duo is the second favorite to win, with odds of 4.5-to-1, and they’ve already won over audiences with their raw, emotional performance. Many are calling them the dark horses of the competition.\n\n## Why the boycott matters for Eurovision\nThe boycott is the largest in Eurovision’s 68-year history, with six countries refusing to participate or show support for the event this year. Iceland’s broadcaster RÚV announced its withdrawal in March, citing Israel’s involvement as incompatible with its values. The Netherlands, Ireland, and Lithuania followed suit, while Luxembourg and Austria withdrew their acts without public explanation. The boycotts have sparked debates about Eurovision’s political neutrality, a core principle the contest has maintained since its inception.\n\nEurovision’s organizers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), have defended Israel’s inclusion, stating that the contest is a celebration of music and culture, not politics. But critics argue that allowing Israel to compete while its military actions in Gaza continue sends the wrong message. Protests have erupted outside the Malmö Arena, with activists calling for Israel’s disqualification. The EBU has not indicated any changes to the lineup, despite the growing pressure.\n\n## The final lineup: who’s still in the running\nThe grand final features 26 acts, including last year’s winner Sweden’s Loreen with her new song “Tattoo,” and Italy’s Angelina Mango with “La Noia.” Ukraine, represented by Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil with “Teresa & Maria,” is also a strong contender, given the country’s ongoing war with Russia. The final will be hosted by Swedish presenters Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman, who are returning for their third time after hosting in 2013 and 2016.\n\nBut the spotlight is firmly on Käärijä and Electric Fields, who have become the faces of this year’s contest. Käärijä’s “Cha Cha Cha” has dominated playlists and TikTok trends, while Electric Fields’ performance has been praised for its authenticity and emotional depth. Both acts represent a shift in Eurovision’s sound, moving away from the traditional ballads and pop anthems that have dominated in the past.\n\n## What happens next: the stakes and the fallout\nThe winner of Eurovision 2024 will automatically qualify for next year’s contest, a rule that has drawn criticism from some who argue it gives an unfair advantage to the winning country. This year’s host, Sweden, is already guaranteed a spot in 2025, as the EBU rotates hosting duties among the “Big Five” countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) and the previous year’s winner.\n\nThe boycott is likely to have long-term consequences for Eurovision, which has prided itself on being a politically neutral event. The EBU may need to rethink its policies on participation, especially if more countries start pulling out over geopolitical issues. For now, the focus is on Saturday’s final, where the world will watch as Käärijä and Electric Fields battle it out for the crown. The show must go on, but the stakes have never been higher.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: RFI
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 07:50 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #rfi · #france · #world-news · #eurovision · #finns · #finnish

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A Eurovisão 2024 entrou para a história não apenas pela música, mas pela polêmica envolvendo um boicote parcial à final do festival, em protesto contra a participação de Israel. Nas casas de apostas, a Finlândia, com o hit eletrizante de Käärijä, e a Austrália, representada pela banda Electric Fields, despontam como favoritas para levar o troféu, enquanto a tensão política ofusca parte do brilho do evento.

A controvérsia ganhou força após grupos de fãs alemães anunciarem que boicotariam a final, carregando bandeiras em apoio à Palestina e criticando a decisão da União Europeia de Radiodifusão (UER) de manter Israel na competição, apesar da guerra em Gaza. Para o Brasil, onde a Eurovisão ganha cada vez mais adeptos — especialmente após a participação do país em 2024 —, o debate sobre a interferência política em eventos culturais internacionais ganha relevância, questionando até que ponto a arte deve se submeter a pressões geopolíticas. Muitos telespectadores brasileiros, acostumados ao entretenimento como fuga da realidade, agora se veem diante de um dilema: celebrar a música ou se posicionar diante de uma guerra distante, mas que ressoa globalmente.

O desfecho da final, marcado para este sábado, deve revelar não apenas os vencedores, mas também o peso das escolhas políticas sobre o maior palco musical da Europa — e as repercussões que isso terá para futuras edições.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El festival de Eurovisión 2024 vive una edición marcada por la polémica, donde la final se celebra bajo el peso de un boicot sin precedentes por la participación de Israel, mientras las apuestas sitúan a los finlandeses Käärijä y a los australianos Electric Fields como claros favoritos. La tensión en el certamen se ha intensificado tras incidentes como el ondeo de una bandera israelí entre el público alemán durante las semifinales, avivando el debate sobre la neutralidad política en el evento cultural más visto del continente.

La relevancia del boicot trasciende lo musical: refleja el malestar social por el conflicto en Gaza y plantea preguntas incómodas sobre el papel de Eurovisión como espacio de unidad. Para el público hispanohablante, el dilema es doble: por un lado, el atractivo de una competición que ha lanzado al estrellato a artistas como Måneskin o Chanel; por otro, la disyuntiva ética de apoyar un evento que, pese a su espíritu festivo, se ve arrastrado por tensiones geopolíticas. La decisión de algunos países de no emitir la final en directo añade leña al fuego, redefiniendo el festival no solo como un escaparate artístico, sino también como un termómetro de las contradicciones europeas.