Who are the favorites to win Eurovision?

On Saturday, artists representing 25 countries will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest, the high-profile competition that is also the world’s most-watched cultural event. The winner is chosen by a combination of votes from music industry juries from participating countries and viewers watching at home. Sometimes they reflect the strength of individual performances; other times, politics comes into play.

Who is most likely to triumph at this year’s event in Malmö, Sweden?

It won’t be Joost Klein, a crazy musician representing the Netherlands. On Saturday morning, Swedish police said in a statement that they were investigating a man “suspected of unlawful threats” against a Eurovision employee and that officers had passed a file to prosecutors. Hours later, Eurovision organizers said in a statement that Klein was under investigation and that “it would not be appropriate” for him to compete while legal proceedings were underway.

Here are the five acts who could have the best chance of winning, based on odds from European bookmakers and online discussions.

Croatia

Baby lasagna

The bookmakers’ favorite is Baby Lasagna, representing Croatia, with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” – a crazy three-minute mix of heavy metal and dance music.

The song begins with Baby Lasagna – real name Marko Purisic – singing to his mother that he’s a “big boy now” and wants to leave his family’s village for the city. “I’m going away and I sold my cow,” he sings, before calling on the villagers to join him one last time in a local folk dance.

In a recent interview, Purisic said that although the song may sound a bit ridiculous, it is also a serious attempt to draw attention to the persistent problem of youth emigration in Croatia.

Purisic said winning the song contest was not his goal. After a long career as a for-hire rock songwriter, he said, last year he considered changing direction and applied for a steady job in Croatia’s tourism industry. But with the success of “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” – which has been viewed millions of times on YouTube – he now hoped to build a career as Baby Lasagna, he said. “If I do that,” he added, “then I win.”

Israel

Eden Golan

On Saturday morning in Malmö, the representative of Israel, Eden Golan, rose in the ranking of European bookmakers to second place most likely to win, according to Oddschecker, a betting aggregator.

It comes after months of campaigning by pro-Palestinian groups and some Eurovision fans to get the contest’s organizers, the European Broadcasting Union, to ban the Golan from participating due to the war carried out by Israel in Gaza.

Those tensions were evident during Golan’s semifinal performance Thursday, when some audience members booed, while others tried to drown them out with cheers.

Golan’s song was initially called “October Rain,” an apparent reference to last year’s Hamas attacks in southern Israel. The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, objected that the song’s title and some lyrics were too political and asked Israel to change them. Golan tweaked the song, which is now called “Hurricane.”

Representing Israel on the world stage “has such enormous meaning and meaning, because of what we’re going through,” Golan said in a recent interview. “I won’t let anything break me or derail me.”

Read Times profile of the Golan.

Ireland

Bambie Thug

In recent weeks, the dark spectacle of Bambie Thug’s “Doomsday Blue” has won over Irish fans on social media – as has the singer’s openly pro-Palestinian stance and criticism of Israel’s involvement in Eurovision .

Eurovision organizers are banning artists from making political comments on their stages, saying the contest is meant to unite, not divide. But the Irish entry – real name Bambie Ray Robinson – tested those rules. At a press conference on Tuesday, Bambie Thug, who is non-binary and uses “they/them” pronouns, said Eurovision had demanded that they remove pro-Palestinian slogans from their outfits. On Thursday, Bambie Thug wrote on Instagram that “my heart and prayers go out to the Palestinian people.”

At one point during Bambie Thug’s semifinal on Tuesday, the singer stood in the middle of a pentagram, surrounded by lit candles. Then they danced seductively with a man dressed as a demon. As the song ended, the phrase “Crown the Witch” appeared on giant screens at the back of the stage.

Swiss

Nemo

Swiss entrant Nemo has an absurdly catchy track called “The Code,” in which they sing rap and opera about their journey to realizing they weren’t binary.

“I’ve been to hell and I’ve come back / To get me on the right path,” Nemo sings in the chorus: “Now I’ve found heaven / I’ve broken the code.” »

Throughout its 68-year history, Eurovision has often featured LGBTQ performers, with past winners including Dana International, a transgender woman, and Conchita Wurst, a drag act. However, this year is the first time that Eurovision highlights non-binary artists like Nemo and Bambie Thug.

In a recent video interview, Nemo, 24, said he was “amazed” that Eurovision fans were connecting with their “deeply personal” track. “I think the message behind the song is pretty universal,” Nemo said: “We all know that feeling of wanting to break free from something: everyone has a code to break.”

Ukraine

Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil

In 2022, a few months after the Russian invasion, Ukraine won Eurovision with the song “Stefania” by the Kalush Orchestra. This year, Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil, rapper and singer representing the country, are among the favorites.

They compete with “Teresa and Maria,” a moving song referencing Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary.

In a recent interview, Heil – real name Yana Oleksandrivna Shemaieva – said Eurovision was a vital opportunity to draw attention to the country’s plight. “We need to show the world that we still need their help,” she said.

Even though both men want to win Saturday’s final, Heil said it would be a bigger victory if Eurovision fans started listening to Ukrainian pop all year round. “This is the only way for us to be visible every day,” Heil said, rather than “from Eurovision to Eurovision”.