Eurovision Bookmakers 2026: Eurovision Odds

I’ve been betting on Eurovision for ten years. Ten years of joy, of head-in-hands moments, of screaming at the TV — and of learning, often the hard way, how the most fascinating betting market in entertainment really works, and how to read Eurovision Odds like a pro. I’m not a cold data analyst: I’m someone who gets goosebumps with every song, who dissects every rehearsal to the last detail, and who keeps an obsessive spreadsheet where I log every odds move since January.

My name is Jessica Rodríguez, I was an amateur singer for years and that world led me to Eurovision. First as a fan, then as a punter. Today I want to share everything I know with you — no fluff, no generic filler — with the passion and experience of someone who puts her own money on the line every May.

This is my most complete guide to date. We’ll talk about Eurovision Betting Odds, the best Eurovision Bookmakers I’ve personally tried, what happened in Basel 2025 and how it changed our perspective, the 35 participants for Vienna 2026, current odds, the new voting rules, and the strategies I use to try (and sometimes manage) to squeeze value out of Europe’s most singular festival.

What Basel 2025 taught us about betting on Eurovision

If you only read one paragraph of this article, make it this: the odds-on favourite doesn’t always win. And Basel was the ultimate proof.

Sweden went into the 17 May final as the overwhelming favourite. KAJ, with «Bara Bada Bastu», was trading around 4/5 (an implied probability of 56%). Everyone was talking about them. Social media was flooded with memes and the song was a total party. The result? Fourth with 321 points. A result nobody expected.

And who won? JJ, an Austrian–Filipino countertenor who sings at the Vienna State Opera, with «Wasted Love». He scored 436 points: 258 from the jury and 178 from the televote. He was second favourite at odds of 9/4. It wasn’t a miracle: it was exactly what many experienced bettors saw coming.

But the biggest shock of the night was Belgium’s elimination in semi-final 1. Red Sebastian was 1/9 to qualify (an implied probability of 91%) and still missed out. Those of us who backed him to qualify lost our bet. A stark reminder that nothing is guaranteed in Eurovision.

Israel finished second with 357 points. Here’s the kicker: they won the televote with 297 points but took just 60 from the jury. Tommy Cash (Estonia) was a single point behind Israel on 356. And Switzerland, the host nation, received zero televote points. Zero. Eurovision can be ruthless.

Eurovision 2026 in Vienna: the full picture

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria. Key dates are 12 May (first semi-final), 14 May (second semi-final) and 16 May (the Grand Final). The hosts will be Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski.

The headline of this edition: five countries are boycotting the contest over Israel’s inclusion. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain have withdrawn. Spain was part of the «Big Five», which now becomes a «Big Four» (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) with direct access to the final.

This has direct consequences for betting. There are 35 participating countries — the lowest figure since 2003. Spain’s absence removes a historic televote source for Romania. Without the Netherlands and Ireland the contest feels smaller.

The 35 participants and updated odds

Here’s the full ranking according to the bookmakers as of today. These odds are a composite from major European books (Betsson, Bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Unibet, Betfair Exchange, bwin and more). You can see the full up-to-date table in the odds section at the start of this page.

Composite odds collected from Eurovisionworld, Oddschecker and Betsson. These odds change daily and will move sharply during rehearsal week in May.

Eurovision Odds: how to read and understand the odds

If you searched «Eurovision Odds» on Google, you’re probably seeing numbers like 2.70, 6.00 or 15.00 next to each country and wondering what they mean. Odds are simply how bookmakers express the probability that something will happen, and how much money you’ll win if you’re right.

Decimal odds (European) — The most common format in Europe. If Finland is 2.70, for every €1 you stake you’ll receive €2.70 if they win. To calculate the implied probability: 1/2.70 = 37%. But books include their margin (overround), so the true probability is slightly lower.

Fractional odds (British) — Widely used in the UK. Decimal 2.70 equates to 17/10. For every £10 staked you win £17 plus your stake returned.

American odds (moneyline) — Finland at 2.70 decimal would be +170 in American format (you win $170 for every $100 staked).

How do the Eurovision Odds move across the year?

Phase 1 (Sep–January): Only «outright winner» markets. Odds based on history and reputation. Sweden always starts short because of their recent dominance.

Phase 2 (Feb–March): When countries pick artists and reveal songs, prices swing hard. The biggest 2026 move was France, jumping five spots in a single day after revealing Monroe.

Phase 3 (April): A period of relative calm. It’s my favourite window to bet because prices have not yet reacted to the «live performance» factor.

Phase 4 (May, rehearsal week): THE KEY MOMENT. Odds move more in these 5–6 days than in the previous 4 months combined. A spectacular rehearsal can halve a country’s price.

Phase 5 (post-semis and final): The last 48 hours. Here I use Betfair Exchange to trade — locking in profit or reducing losses.

My 5 favourite bets for Vienna (personal opinion)

Note: this is my personal opinion, not financial advice. Always bet responsibly and only money you can afford to lose.

1. Finland (odds ~2.70) — «Liekinheitin» is a song that gets into your head and won’t let go. Linda Lampenius has stage presence to spare and singing in Finnish gives it an authenticity factor that historically works. She’s the clear favourite, but 2.70 still offers value.

2. France (odds ~6.00) — Monroe burst in with «Regarde !» and climbed five places in a day. France traditionally scores well with juries and has direct access to the final. If the staging lands, she’s my podium pick.

3. Denmark (odds ~7.50) — «Før vi går hjem» is an atmospheric Danish ballad with huge jury upside. Denmark hasn’t won since 2013 and there’s hunger for victory. At 7.50 it’s my value play.

4. Greece (odds ~10.00) — Akylas with «Ferto» connects with both televote and jury. Greece historically benefits from Cypriot support and the diaspora.

5. Italy, Sal Da Vinci (odds ~36.00) — My long shot. «Per sempre sì» has gone viral on TikTok. At 36s, even a small stake can return handsomely.

«The bookmakers’ favourite only wins Eurovision about half the time. The other half is pure adrenaline.»

Your country at Eurovision 2026

🇬🇧United Kingdom at Eurovision 2026

United Kingdom sends Look Mum No Computer with «Eins, Zwei, Drei» to Eurovision 2026.

Look Mum No Computer was selected directly by the country’s public broadcaster to represent it at Eurovision 2026.

The current odds place United Kingdom at position #20 in the ranking, with an average odds of 153.60 and an implied probability of 1%.

This is how «Eins, Zwei, Drei» sounds:

The 10 Eurovision Bookmakers I’ve analysed in depth

Over the years I’ve tested dozens of bookmakers for Eurovision. Here’s my detailed analysis of the ten I use most, including three I consider essential: 22bet, Ivibet and BetLabel.

One important note: these sites operate under Curaçao or Malta licences and are aimed at the international market. Always check the legality in your country before signing up.

Ultimate comparison: the 10 bookmakers head-to-head

I’ve distilled the most important features of the ten books into a quick comparison table. This is what I look at when deciding where to place each bet:

Which do I choose for my profile?

If you’re a beginner and want to start small: 22bet. With just a €1 minimum deposit and 5x rollover, it’s the most accessible entry point. Plus, its Eurovision market coverage is the widest.

If you prioritise regulatory safety: BetRebels. It’s the only one on my list with a Malta Gaming Authority licence.

If you want the best cash bonus: Vegasino with 100% up to €200, or Nitrobet if you bet in crypto (equivalent to ~€600).

If you want the lowest rollover: Wazamba at 3x is unbeatable. It means with a €100 deposit and €100 bonus, you only need to wager €600 in total.

If you bet with cryptocurrencies: 22bet (25+ coins) or Nitrobet (crypto-focused with fast withdrawals).

Is betting on Eurovision legal in the UK?

Yes, betting on Eurovision is completely legal in the United Kingdom, as long as you do so via bookmakers licensed by the Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC is the regulator that oversees all online gambling activity in Great Britain.

UKGC-licensed bookmakers that typically cover Eurovision include names like bet365, Betfair, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Unibet, Coral, Paddy Power, Betway, 888sport and Sky Bet, among others.

And what about international bookmakers without a UKGC licence?

The ten bookmakers I’ve analysed in this article operate with international licences, mostly from Curaçao eGaming, with the exception of BetRebels which holds a Malta (MGA) licence. These sites do not hold a UKGC licence and are not authorised to target or serve residents of the UK.

Types of bets available on Eurovision

Many people think betting on Eurovision is limited to «who wins?». Nothing could be further from the truth. Eurovision markets are surprisingly rich:

Outright winner — The flagship market. It opens months before the contest and prices move constantly. This is where I place most of my bankroll.

Top 3, Top 5, Top 10 — Lower risk than the outright. If you think Finland will podium but aren’t sure they’ll win, backing them for a top 3 significantly reduces risk.

Semi-final qualification — Books get 75–80% of qualifiers right, but there are always 1–2 surprises (remember Belgium in 2025).

Head-to-head — Who will finish higher, Finland or France? These markets remove the need to pick the overall winner.

Last place / Nul Points — Betting on who will be the wooden spoon. Often very volatile but fun.

Jury winner vs televote winner — Separate markets for each component. In 2025, JJ won the jury and Israel won the televote.

Top Big Four, top Nordic, top Balkan — Regional bets that offer value when you have specific knowledge of a region.

How to bet on Eurovision step by step

If you’ve never bet on Eurovision and want to start with Vienna 2026, here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Choose your bookmaker. Compare at least 2–3 before you decide. Check the ten books I analysed above.

Step 2: Register and verify your account. You’ll need your ID/passport, an email address and a payment method.

Step 3: Deposit funds. My advice: start with a moderate amount. You don’t need €500 for Eurovision; with €20–50 you have enough to diversify across 3–5 bets.

Step 4: Find the Eurovision markets. Look under «Specials», «Entertainment», or type «Eurovision» in the site’s search bar.

Step 5: Place your bet. Select the country, enter the stake, review the betslip and confirm.

Step 6: Follow the contest and manage your position. During rehearsal week decide whether to hold your bet, use cash out to lock partial profit, or add new bets.

New 2026 voting rules: how they affect your bets

What does this mean for your bets? In my view, the changes favour «balanced» favourites, those who appeal to both jury and public. Finland and France fit this profile.

My real strategies for betting on Eurovision

After ten years and many euros invested, these are the strategies that genuinely work for me:

How accurate are the bookmakers? The truth in numbers

The #1 favourite wins only about half the time in the modern semi-final era (since 2004). However, 67% of winners come from the top 5 in the odds, and it’s extremely rare for a country outside the top 10 to win.

The most accurate year was 2019: the five pre-contest favourites all finished in the actual top 5. The least accurate was 2011: France went in as favourite and finished 15th.

For the semi-finals, accuracy is higher: books typically get between 7 and 9 of the 10 qualifiers in each semi. But there are always 1–2 shocks.

Odds are a very reliable tool to identify the leading pack (top 5–8), but inside that group, picking the exact winner is more about nuance than pure price analysis.

Bloc voting, the Big Four and the boycott factor

Bloc voting exists, but it’s more complex than many people think. Four main blocs are typically identified: the Nordic (Sweden–Denmark–Norway–Finland–Iceland), the Balkan (Serbia–Croatia–North Macedonia–Slovenia), the ex-Soviet (Ukraine–Georgia–Armenia–Moldova–the Baltics) and the Greece–Cyprus alliance.

For Vienna 2026, the boycott shifts these dynamics. With Iceland out, the Nordic bloc loses a member. With Slovenia absent, the Balkan bloc weakens. And with Ireland out, the United Kingdom loses a historically friendly source of votes.

As for the Big Four, their historical performance is mediocre. Only Germany (2010) and Italy (2021) have won since automatic qualification began. France has been improving for years and finished seventh in 2025. In 2026, with Monroe as its act, France is my strongest bet within the Big Four.

Frequently asked questions about Eurovision Betting Odds

Conclusions and my personal bet for Vienna

I’ve spent weeks analysing every song, every price, every market move. And here’s my verdict:

Finland is the legitimate favourite, but at 2.70 you need them to win just to profit, and the favourite only wins about half the time. France is my strongest value bet at 6.00 because it combines jury quality with direct access to the final. Denmark at 7.50 is my value play. And Sal Da Vinci at 36.00 is my speculative punt.

But the most important thing I can tell you after ten years betting on Eurovision is: don’t stake more than you can afford to lose. Eurovision is unpredictable by nature. Betting is a seasoning that intensifies the experience, not a path to riches.

See you in Vienna. My slips are already placed.

Jessica Rodríguez, March 2026