Quiz of the Day
Eurovision Grand Final
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Eurovision 2026 Vienna — song contest records, famous performances, European culture
1. What is the highest score ever achieved in a Eurovision Grand Final?
- 529 points
- 387 points
- 758 points
- 534 points
Salvador Sobral won for Portugal in 2017 with 'Amar Pelos Dois' scoring 758 points. Portugal had competed 49 times before its first win — the longest wait of any country. Sobral performed while awaiting a heart transplant.
2. Which band won Eurovision 2021 and reignited global interest in rock music?
- Lordi
- Blind Channel
- The Rasmus
- Måneskin
Italy's Måneskin won with 'Zitti e buoni'. Their victory sparked a worldwide rock revival — their streams topped 7 billion. Lead singer Damiano David became a fashion icon, and the band headlined festivals globally within months.
3. What happens if two countries tie for first place at Eurovision?
- A revote is held
- They share the win
- The host country decides
- The country with more 12-point votes wins
Ties have happened multiple times. In 1969, four countries tied for first (France, Spain, Netherlands, and UK) and all were declared joint winners. The rules were changed afterwards to prevent this happening again.
4. Which city has hosted Eurovision the most times?
- Dublin
- Stockholm
- Luxembourg City
- London
London has hosted Eurovision four times (1960, 1963, 1968, 1977). Luxembourg City has also hosted four times. The 2023 contest was held in Liverpool on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine, due to the ongoing war.
5. What language has the most Eurovision-winning songs been performed in?
- Italian
- English
- French
- Swedish
English dominates Eurovision wins, especially since the free language rule in 1999. French was dominant in the early years. However, non-English winners regularly prove that a great song transcends language barriers.
6. Which country has finished last the most times?
- Finland
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Norway
Norway holds the record for most last-place finishes (11 times) and also the most nul points (4 times). Yet they also produced Alexander Rybak's 'Fairytale' (2009), which set a scoring record that stood for 8 years.
7. How old was the youngest Eurovision winner?
- 20
- 13
- 18
- 16
Sandra Kim won for Belgium in 1986 with 'J'aime la vie' at age 13 — though she claimed to be 15 on entry. Since 2004, all participants must be at least 16 by the date of the contest.
8. What unique staging element did Loreen use in her 2012 Eurovision-winning performance?
- Fire effects
- Acrobatic dancers
- A wind machine and dramatic spotlight
- A rotating stage
Loreen's 'Euphoria' (2012) became one of Eurovision's most iconic performances. She won again in 2023, becoming only the second person to win Eurovision twice (after Johnny Logan). 'Euphoria' remains one of Spotify's most-streamed Eurovision songs.
9. What is the 'interval act' at Eurovision?
- A commercial break
- A performance during the vote counting
- The voting break
- The opening ceremony
Interval acts have launched careers and cultural phenomena. The most famous is Riverdance (Dublin 1994), which began as a 7-minute interval performance and became a global touring show grossing over $1 billion.
10. Which singer represented Switzerland at Eurovision 1988 before becoming one of the world's best-selling artists?
- Shakira
- Lara Fabian
- Céline Dion
- Nana Mouskouri
Dion won by just one point with 'Ne partez pas sans moi'. She sang for Switzerland because Canada doesn't participate in Eurovision. Her win launched an international career spanning 200+ million album sales.
11. What is the 'Big Five' in Eurovision?
- Five countries that auto-qualify for the Grand Final
- The five oldest competing countries
- Five permanent jury members
- The five highest-scoring countries
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK automatically qualify because they're the biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union. Despite this advantage, Big Five countries frequently finish near the bottom.
12. How many people typically watch the Eurovision Grand Final worldwide?
- About 100 million
- About 50 million
- About 160 million
- About 300 million
Eurovision regularly attracts 160-180 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched non-sporting events globally. In some smaller countries, over 90% of the population watches — it's essentially a national event.
13. What did Verka Serduchka's 2007 performance for Ukraine become famous for?
- Starting a political controversy
- A stage invasion
- A wardrobe malfunction
- An outrageous disco-pop performance with a mirrored star headpiece
Verka Serduchka (Andriy Danylko in drag) performed 'Dancing Lasha Tumbai' in a silver star outfit. The performance became a Eurovision legend and the song still fills dance floors. Russia accused the lyrics of containing hidden political messages.
14. What record did Alexander Rybak set when winning Eurovision 2009 for Norway?
- Youngest male winner
- Most costume changes
- Highest score at the time (387 points)
- Longest performance
Rybak's 'Fairytale' won by 169 points — the largest margin of victory ever. He performed while playing the violin. Born in Belarus and raised in Norway, he was just 22 years old and the song had over 80 million YouTube views.
15. In Eurovision voting, what is 'televoting'?
- Voting by television broadcasters
- Automated TV-based voting
- Voting while watching TV
- Public voting by phone, SMS, or app
Televoting was introduced in 1997, giving the public a direct voice. Since 2016, jury and televote results are announced separately, creating dramatic splits. In 2022, Ukraine won the televote by a landslide with 439 public points.