Eurovision Excess

15th May 2026

By the time you read this it may well be all over however…

Through these weekly messages I guess I tend to talk about subjects that I am more likely to be personally interested in. I thought therefore, just to widen my brief somewhat, I might make mention of this weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Honestly, it really isn’t my cup of tea. In fact, I can never remember when it ever was… However, I recognize that for many people it has become something of an annual high-water mark in televisual, cultural, and social events.

We all are acutely aware of the politics wrapped up in the Eurovision Song Contest of the past 20 years or more. I know that the Eurovision committee is looking to try to remove some of that politics from the event, but let’s be honest—it’s not the politics that makes it exciting and interesting. It is an incredible example of how we all should just embrace what is and what is different.

Every single act will bring something different to the occasion; there is no model to follow or a well-trodden path. It really is an “anything goes” event. Incredibly, in these more conservative times, Eurovision seems to push at the boundaries of what is acceptable and what cultural norms might be.

Whether I would watch or enjoy the event is one thing, but for sure, I would celebrate the fact that this event pricks the pomposity of some of our cultural gurus, whilst laughing at itself and celebrating difference—in all its ridiculous and garish colours.

I understand that the Australians are likely to win this year’s Eurovision Grand Final. Isn’t that just another example of how Eurovision just does things differently? The last time I looked (and I’ve not been a geography teacher for some time), Australia is not in Europe. However, the Eurovision committee feel able to invite our Antipodean friends and family into our party. Absolutely brilliant!

Whoever wins or whatever the outcome, I hope that it’s a roaring success. If it’s your cup of tea, or glass of Prosecco, or well-balanced margarita, and you are going to watch it tomorrow evening, no doubt you will have a Eurovision party planned. Depending upon your personal preferences, that may be as outlandish and ridiculous as the song contest itself.

If it’s for you, enjoy! I’ll be giving it a miss, but I wouldn’t want to deny anybody else the opportunity to do their thing and enjoy the event.

‘I used to think anyone doing anything weird was weird. Now I know that it is the people who call other people weird that are weird.’  Paul McCartney