The EBU confirms a 70th anniversary ‘Celebration!’ interval act for the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final in Vienna featuring iconic past winners.
A massive celebration is underway: an unprecedented interval act titled “Celebration!” is set to take place during the Grand Final of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. The performance will unite a string of former stars and Eurovision winners on one stage as part of the contest’s 70th-anniversary festivities, according to an official statement released today. The announcement reveals a diverse and extensive list of artists, including winners, finalists, and iconic figures, in what is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the Grand Final on May 16th.
Who Will Perform at the Grand Final?
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that the Grand Final will feature an interval act titled “Celebration!” which will host Eurovision legends from across the decades to mark the 70th anniversary of the contest. The lineup includes:
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Alexander Rybak – Norway’s representative in 2009 and 2018, and Norway’s first winner with the hit “Fairytale”.
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Erika Vikman – Finland’s representative in 2025, who placed 11th with her song “Ich Komme”.
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Kristian Kostov – Bulgaria’s representative in 2017, who placed second with his song “Beautiful Mess”.
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Lordi – The 2006 Eurovision winners for Finland with their song “Hard Rock Hallelujah”.
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Max Mutzke – Germany’s representative in 2004, who placed eighth with his song “Can’t Wait Until Tonight”.
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Miriana Conte – Malta’s representative in 2025, who placed 17th with her song “Serving”. -
Ruslana – The first Ukrainian winner, who took the trophy in 2004 with her song “Wild Dances”.
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Verka Serduchka – Ukraine’s representative for 2007, who placed second with the hit “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”.
The performance will take the audience on an “electrifying journey” through the long history of the contest and celebrate 70 years of music.
Legends from the Past
It was also revealed that the first semi-final will be opened by a spectacular performance from Eurovision winner Vicky Leandros, with her immortal song “L’amour Est Bleu”. She represented Luxembourg with this track at the contest in Vienna in 1967, when she was just 15 years old. The song reached fourth place and became an international hit after the contest. Leandros later returned to the competition and won in 1972 with the song “Après Toi”, which also became a massive hit across the continent.
Additional Guest Performances
The publication further revealed that the Austrian electronic artist and DJ Parov Stelar will also take part in the show, though it has not yet been disclosed which evening he will perform. Additionally, in keeping with tradition, the winner of last year’s contest, JJ, will appear in the Grand Final to debut a new song on the Eurovision stage.
The production of the Eurovision Song Contest emphasizes that the central performance in the Grand Final has been built as a pinnacle event to mark 70 years of the competition, with an emphasis on uniting generations and musical styles. The combination of past winners, current stars, and international guests positions Eurovision 2026 as one of the most prominent events in the history of the contest.
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Adi is a reporter and content creator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. A devoted fan since 2019, she possesses extensive knowledge of the competition’s history and evolution.
She holds a B.A. in Sociology and Political Science, loves music from all over the world, and is constantly praying for Hungary’s return to the contest.
