With the conclusion of national finals across Europe and now a complete list of entries for Vienna is known, the contest in recent weeks has been shaped rather significantly. This has given us some more of the answers to the questions we asked in Super Early Eurovision Predictions, which saw over 300 of our readers predict certain scenarios for the upcoming contest last summer.
Although we won’t be revealing specific scores and scoreboards until after the contest has finished, as news breaks out throughout the season, we will compare the news with the responses we received.
Name A Person You Think Could Present The Show?
Back in January, Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski were announced as the double act that will front the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
Victoria was an early rumoured name for the role and thus collected six predictions, Michael however did not collect any predictions. Despite having complete free reign on which person they could answer, a staggering 70.49% incorrectly guessed that the 2014 winner of the contest and part of the hosting team in 2015, Conchita Wurst would be one of the hosts this edition. While seeming a likely case at the time, since predictions were cast, Conchita announced in February a withdrawal from a Eurovision contest, therefore making a hosting role impossible.
There were a total of twenty varied answers to this question, with the top 10 dominated by Austrian personalities who have previous connection to the contest. This includes commentator Andi Knoll who was the second most popular answer. Reigning champion JJ and ongoing Austrian spokesperson Philipp Hansa were joint third most popular. Of the quartet that made up the 2015 hosting group, only Alice Tumler was unable to collect any predictions of returning to the role. Though ironically as one half of the hosting team for Austria’s selection, made her eligible for players to collect some points if predicted.
Two of our responses had to be removed, the first because we were not able to identify a specific person as their prediction, and a second due to the voter predicting a person they also predicted to be a returning artist which is impossible at the same time.
Though only a prediction of Victoria or Michael grants people the full five points if predicted, we are still able to award points of smaller value once we know who is hosting other events such as the Opening Ceremony. Likewise scores will adjusted in the unlikely case of Victoria or Michael not hosting.
Name A Eurovision Artist You Think Could Return?
A total of four artists will be making a return to the contest as a main artist this year. Vanilla Ninja for Estonia who previously represented Switzerland in 2005. Senhit for San Marino who previously represented the nation in 2011 and 2021, while also scheduled to represent them in 2020 before the contest was cancelled. Bzikebi for Georgia become the fourth Junior Eurovision winners to graduate to the adult contest, having won for Georgia in 2008. Finally Alicja becomes the first of the artists from the cancelled contest of 2020 to return that weren’t automatically granted return in 2021. Additionally Aliona Moon will be providing backing vocals for Moldova, having previously represented them as a solo artist in 2013.
Following heavy early rumours that Loรฏc Nottet was to return for Belgium in the same city where he claimed fourth place in 2015, it is no surprise he was the most popular choice of this question. Of the correct answers Senhit was correctly predicted by three voters, Alicja by one voter, Vanilla Ninja and Bzikebi were not guessed by any of our voters. All correct answers gives the respective voters a full five points, Aliona Moon collected eight votes in the prediction, however as she is not the main artist only four points will be awarded.
Image Source: RTVE.ES
The national final season saw several Eurovision acts trying again, with three points awarded to any that tried but not able to win. Further smaller points are given in other circumstances, for example some artists returned to national finals as songwriters and others returned as solo artists, having previously been at Eurovision as a group. Five of the predictions received for this question were removed, three being for selecting artists that have never been on the Eurovision stage, a further one for an artist that is unidentifiable and a final one removed due to the voter predicting Conchita as both a returning artist and presenter which is impossible at the same time.
In the unlikely scenario at this stage that any of the returning artists were to withdraw, this question will be remarked accordingly.
Will There Be an Anniversary Show For The 70th Edition?
The EBU previously announced a 10 date tour across 10 cities of western Europe to celebrate the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. We had previously marked this question as the announcement of the tour confirmed at the time that the correct answer to the question was “Yes”.
Since marking this question, the EBU have sadly announced the cancellation of the tour. As announced at the time, the eventuality of the tour being cancelled means the marking of the question would be adjusted. As this is indeed now the case, we are temporarily removing these marks until it is confirmed whether or not an alternative to the tour celebrating 70 years will be provided by the EBU.
The Story So Far
We have the answers now to 8 of the 20 questions set last summer.
- Will there be any changes to the voting system? was successfully predicted to be Yes by 65.90% of the readers.
- What will be the date of the Grand Final? was successfully predicted to be the 16th of May 2026 by 81.31% of the readers.
- What will be the host city? was successfully predicted to be Vienna by 76.07% of the readers.
- What will be the venue? was successfully predicted to be Wiener Stadthalle by 76.07% of the readers.
- How many countries will compete? was successfully predicted to be 35 countries by 2.30% of the readers.
- Will Moldova come back? was successfully predicted to be Yes by 76.07% of the readers.
- Name a person you think could present the show? was successfully predicted to be Victoria Swarovski or Michael Ostrowski by 1.97% of the readers.
- Name a Eurovision artist you think could return? was successfully predicted to be either Senhit, Alicja, Bzikebi or Vanilla Ninja by 1.31% of the readers.
