The United Kingdom's Eurovision entry, Look Mum No Computer, has taken to the stage at the grand final of the song contest in Vienna, while Israel's entrant Noam Bettan received a mixed reception from the audience.
Look Mum No Computer's Performance
Sam Battle, known professionally as Look Mum No Computer, performed his song Eins, Zwei, Drei at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday night. Dressed in a pink boiler suit, he danced energetically with performers dressed as computers in a mock workshop setting. Battle played a synthesizer and at one point ended up inside a cardboard box. He attempted to engage the crowd, chanting: "When I say eins, you say zwei."
Speaking to the Press Association before the competition, Battle revealed that he had crafted many of his own stage props. He is widely known for his YouTube career, which began in 2013, where he creates quirky musical instruments, including an organ made from Furby toys and a triple oscillator synthesizer built from Nintendo Game Boy consoles.
Israel's Noam Bettan
Israeli entrant Noam Bettan, 28, performed his song Michelle in English, Hebrew, and French. During his performance, some chants and booing could be heard from the crowd, though many Israel flags and banners were also visible. The reception was mixed, with no major incidents reported.
Technical Issues for Czech Republic
Czech Republic's act, Daniel Zizka, encountered technical difficulties during his performance of Crossroads. He performed inside an elaborate hall of mirrors, but at one point the picture became distorted and seemed to freeze. UK commentator Graham Norton noted: "A great performance vocally but quite a few technical problems there. That did not happen at any of the rehearsals, the distorted picture. I think the camera inside the mirrors, I think he fell, I'm not quite sure. Czechia won't be happy about that but the show goes on."
Delta Goodrem and Akylas
Australian pop star Delta Goodrem, 41, performed her song Eclipse at the grand final. Accompanied by a harpist, she later mimed playing a gold sparkly piano. As her performance climaxed, she was elevated into the air from the top of the piano with fireworks around her. She waved to the crowd and said, "Thank you so much."
Greece's Akylas attracted attention on social media with his video game-inspired performance of Ferto. The 27-year-old wore a tiger print outfit, mounted a scooter, and pushed it down the runway as fireworks erupted. He moved through various sets, including a living room, an Ancient Greece-inspired area, a golden vault, and a tiger print room, dancing with an array of characters. The Greek delegation handed out replicas of his hat to fans and media throughout the week, making him one of the best-supported acts in Vienna.
Protests and Controversy
The final comes after Bettan was booed during Tuesday's semi-final, with mixed reception and some audience members shouting during quiet moments. Several protests occurred in Vienna this week over Israel's inclusion in the contest amid its actions in Gaza. Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia boycotted the event. The largest protest, "No Stage For Genocide," organized by Palestine Solidarity Austria, took place at Venediger Au, a playpark on the outskirts of Vienna, attended by hundreds. On Saturday, a march from the city's western train station to the Wiener Stadthalle area was redirected by police away from the venue.
Earlier this week, Amnesty International criticized the European Broadcasting Union for failing to suspend Israel from the contest, as it did with Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, calling it an act of "cowardice" and a "blatant double standard." Israel's 2025 entrant Yuval Raphael finished runner-up after receiving the largest public vote last May. Two protesters unsuccessfully attempted to storm the stage and throw paint during her performance last year.
