2026年5月16日 美国东部时间下午4:47 / 美联社
来源：哥伦比亚广播公司新闻
欧洲歌唱大赛周六迎来了满是亮片装饰的总决赛，严密的安保和阴雨天气都未能浇灭粉丝的热情，也没能阻止批评人士的反对——他们认为以色列不应受邀参赛。
经过一周的预热，来自25个国家的参赛选手将登上维也纳维也纳城市大厅的舞台，争夺欧洲流行乐坛的桂冠。在这场大赛70周年的庆典上，全球数百万观众将为一位激情四射的芬兰小提琴手、一位摩尔多瓦民谣说唱歌手、一支塞尔维亚金属乐队以及其他众多表演者打分。
这场充满浮夸风格与缤纷色彩的赛事常被比作用歌曲代替足球的世界杯。与全球体育赛事一样，它也时常陷入政治纠葛。今年已是该赛事连续第三年因呼吁排除以色列参赛而蒙上阴影，原因是以色列在加沙及其他地区的冲突，已有五个长期参赛国——西班牙、荷兰、爱尔兰、冰岛和斯洛文尼亚宣布抵制以示抗议。
比赛开幕式由去年的冠军、受过歌剧训练的奥地利歌手JJ带来，随后是25位决赛选手的奥林匹克式国旗入场仪式。紧接着是歌手们的表演，每位选手仅有3分钟时间打动数百万观众，而观众将与各国专业音乐评审团共同选出冠军。
以歌曲《米歇尔》代表以色列参赛的诺阿姆·贝坦在总决赛舞台上表演。克里斯蒂安·布鲁纳 / 盖蒂图片社
多元表演者阵容
首位登场的是丹麦选手索伦·托佩加德·伦德，他的深情单曲《在我们回家前》（Før Vi Går Hjem）是本届大赛的热门候选之一。随后登场的是德国歌手莎拉·恩格斯，她带来了强力抒情歌《火焰》，这无疑是多首大量使用火焰喷射特效的表演中的第一支。
以色列选手诺阿姆·贝坦在演唱希伯来语、法语和英语结合的摇滚抒情曲《米歇尔》时获得了观众的欢呼。本周早些时候，有四人因试图扰乱他的半决赛表演而被驱逐出场。接下来是比利时选手埃西拉带来的 techno 抒情曲《冰上起舞》（Dancing on the Ice）。
乌克兰歌手莱莱卡献上了空灵优美的《故乡》（Ridnym），澳大利亚明星黛尔塔·古德莱姆则以流畅的中速抒情歌《日食》（Eclipse）展现了顶级天后的风范——她在闪亮钢琴上方的升降舞台完成了一段精彩表演。如果她夺冠，澳大利亚将有望在次年获得欧洲歌唱大赛的主办权。
塞尔维亚金属乐队拉维纳带来了情绪压抑的《在我身边》（Kraj Mene），为赛事节奏带来了戏剧性的转变。
想要了解欧洲歌唱大赛的多元特质以及它在流行音乐与政治之间的互动，不妨关注两位在半决赛周中脱颖而出的观众热门选手。
德国选手莎拉·恩格斯携歌曲《火焰》在总决赛舞台上表演。克里斯蒂安·布鲁纳 / 盖蒂图片社
说唱歌手佐藤充满活力的《万岁，摩尔多瓦》是一首轻快的亲欧盟歌曲，这个在莫斯科影响力下度过数十年的国家正朝着欧盟迈进。希腊艺术家阿基拉斯的歌曲《 Fertő》（意为“来吧”）则以戏谑的方式探讨了炫耀性消费，而该国仍在2008年金融危机留下的经济创伤中挣扎。
两首歌曲都有望获得观众的高分，但通常更青睐专业技术水准的各国评审团可能不会太买账。冠军由两者的投票混合选出，通过一套连欧洲歌唱大赛粉丝都觉得复杂的计分系统换算成分数。得分最高的选手获胜，其所在国家将获得次年赛事的主办权。
芬兰是博彩赔率中的夺冠热门，他们的参赛曲目《火焰喷射器》（Liekinheitin）是流行歌手皮特·帕科宁与古典小提琴手琳达·兰皮纽斯合作的激情二重唱。
欧洲歌唱大赛总能带来惊喜
“欧洲歌唱大赛从来都不是大牌明星的赛场，它更多是为弱者准备的舞台，”欧洲歌唱大赛历史学家迪恩·武莱蒂奇说道，“人们喜欢看到弱者登上舞台，喜欢看到崭露头角的艺术家，或是来自更小、更贫穷国家的艺术家站上舞台。”
反对以色列因对哈马斯发动战争而参赛的街头抗议活动在维也纳规模小于2024年瑞典马尔默大赛和去年瑞士巴塞尔赛事。
周六决赛前，数百人在大赛场馆附近游行，部分人举着写有“抵制欧洲歌唱大赛”的标语牌。支持巴勒斯坦的团体还于周五举办了一场户外音乐会，主题为“种族灭绝不配拥有舞台”。
“将以色列邀请到欧洲歌唱大赛如此美好的舞台上，是对所有信奉人性、信奉爱与团结的人们的冒犯，”活动组织者之一、刚果裔奥地利艺术家帕特里克·邦戈拉说道。
五个国家的抵制给这项赛事带来了收视和收入损失，主办方称去年赛事全球收视人数达1.66亿。今年的参赛选手共35位，是自2003年以来最少的一届。
尽管如此，欧洲歌唱大赛仍在寻求扩张，衍生赛事“欧洲歌唱大赛亚洲版”将于11月在曼谷举办。
丹麦选手索伦·托佩加德·伦德携歌曲《在我们回家前》在总决赛舞台上表演。克里斯蒂安·布鲁纳 / 盖蒂图片社
欧洲歌唱大赛总监马丁·格林呼吁观众抛开政治，享受这场“精彩、美妙、真挚的总决赛表演”。
武莱蒂奇表示，政治争议并非新鲜事。讽刺的是，首次抵制欧洲歌唱大赛的国家正是奥地利，该国在1969年拒绝向西班牙独裁者弗朗西斯科·佛朗哥治下的西班牙派遣代表团。
“我们在近年见证了多届高度政治化的赛事，”武莱蒂奇说道，包括2009年俄罗斯举办的赛事、2012年阿塞拜疆的赛事，以及2024年瑞典赛事——后者因抗议活动和一名选手在后台冲突后被驱逐而蒙上阴影。
“所有这些赛事都深陷政治争议，但欧洲歌唱大赛依然存续，”他说。
本届赛事将在参赛国的国家电视台播出，美国地区可通过Peacock平台观看，众多地区可通过欧洲歌唱大赛YouTube频道收看。
参赛国观众可在赛事播出期间及结束后短时间内，通过电话或短信最多投票10次，但不得为本国选手投票。美国及其他非参赛国观众可通过www.esc.vote在线投票。
Eurovision reaches its grand final in Austria clouded by politics and protests
May 16, 2026 4:47 PM EDT / AP
Source: CBS News
The Eurovision Song Contest reached its sequin-drenched final on Saturday, with tight security and rainy weather failing to dent the enthusiasm of fans, or the opposition of critics who think Israel shouldn’t be invited to the party.
After a week’s buildup, acts from 25 countries are taking to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent’s pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world will cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision’s 70th anniversary event.
The campy, colorful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs instead of soccer. And like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics. The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants – Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia – boycotting in protest.
The show opened with a performance by last year’s winner, the operatically trained Austrian singer JJ, and an Olympics-style flag parade of the 25 finalists. Then it was on to performances by the musicians, who have just 3 minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, pick the winner.
Noam Bettan, representing Israel with the song ‘Michelle’ performs on stage during the Grand Final. Christian Bruna / Getty Images
A variety of performers
First up was Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund, among the contest favorites for the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”), followed by Germany’s Sarah Engels with the power ballad “Fire,” the first of doubtless several performances to make liberal use of jets of flame.
Israeli competitor Noam Bettan was cheered as he performed “Michelle,” a rock ballad in Hebrew, French and English. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his semifinal performance. Then came “Dancing on the Ice,” a techno-ballad by Belgium’s Essyla.
Ukrainian singer Leléka offered the ethereal, beautiful “Ridnym,” and Australian star Delta Goodrem showed what a diva should be like with her slick midtempo ballad “Eclipse” – and a bravura performance that sees her raised into the air above a glittery piano. A European country would likely host for Australia next year if she wins.
Serbian metal band Lavina provided a dramatic change of pace with the angsty “Kraj Mene.”
Newcomers looking to grasp the eclectic essence of Eurovision and its interplay of pop and politics should look no further than two of the fan favorites to emerge during a week that saw two semifinals ahead of the grand finale.
Sarah Engels representing Germany with the song ‘Fire’ performs on stage during the Grand Final. Christian Bruna / Getty Images
Rapper Satoshi’s ebullient “Viva, Moldova” is a bouncy, pro-European song from a country moving toward the European Union after decades in Moscow’s orbit. Greek artist Akylas’ song “Ferto,” or “Bring It,” provides a playful take on conspicuous consumption in a country still scarred by the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.
Both are likely to score highly with viewers, though national juries, which tend to be more impressed by technical excellence, may be less impressed. Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans. The act with the most points wins, and their country gets to host the competition next year.
Finland is the favorite in betting odds with “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower,” a fiery duet between the singing of pop star Pete Parkkonen and the fiddling of classical violinist Linda Lampenius.
Eurovision can produce surprises
“Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It’s largely been a contest for underdogs,” said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic. “People like to see the underdog on stage. They like to the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer country on stage.”
Street protests opposing Israel’s inclusion over the conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza have been smaller in Vienna than at the 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden, and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland.
Hundreds marched near the contest arena before Saturday’s final, some holding placards saying “Block Eurovision.” Pro-Palestinian groups also staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner “No stage for genocide.”
“Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,” said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers.
The five-nation boycott is a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year. This year’s field of 35 contestants is the smallest since 2003.
Still, Eurovision is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.
Søren Torpegaard Lund representing Denmark with the song ‘Før Vi Går Hjem’ performs on stage during the Grand Final. Christian Bruna / Getty Images
Eurovision director Martin Green urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the “brilliant, wonderful, heartfelt show” that is the competition’s grand final.
Vuletic says political controversy is nothing new. The first Eurovision boycott was in 1969, ironically, by Austria, which refused to send a delegation to Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.
“We’ve seen very politicized editions of the contest in the recent past,” Vuletic said, including the 2009 contest in Russia, Azerbaijan’s turn as host in 2012, and the 2024 competition in Sweden, marred by protests and the expulsion of a competitor after a backstage altercation.
“All of them were very much mired in political controversy, yet Eurovision continues,” he said.
Eurovision is airing on national broadcasters in participating countries, on Peacock in the United States and on the Eurovision YouTube channel in many territories.
Viewers in participating countries can vote up to 10 times by phone or text message during and for a short time after the show, but aren’t allowed to vote for their own country’s act. Viewers in the U.S. and other nonparticipating countries can vote online at www.esc.vote.