By Neil Durham
WHEN? 16 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm
WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
No Spain this year which is 1 of 5 countries to boycott 2026 because of Israel’s participation and it’s the UK’s Look Mum No Computer (pictured) which is giving us the most interesting entry of the pre-qualified finalists.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Thursday 5 March 2026, tour runs through 22 August 2026
SETLIST: Achilles; The Last Time I Saw The Old Man; Rainy Sunday Afternoon; Norman and Norma; Your Daddy’s Car; Bang Goes The Knighthood; I Want You; A Lady Of A Certain Age; Songs Of Love; At The Indie Disco; Neapolitan Girl; Mar-a-Lago By The Sea; Bad Ambassador; I Like; The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter; Absent Friends; Becoming More Like Alfie; Generation Sex; National Express; Our Mutual Friend; Invisible Thread; Tonight We Fly
Rainy Sunday Afternoon is the title of the latest album by The Divine Comedy and it’s a thundery Thursday evening in Barcelona.
By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum
WHEN? Friday 20 February through 3 May 2026
What better to blow away the wet cobwebs of this dingy start to the year than to experience Youth Sector?
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
Goodrem had 5 UK top 10 singles, a number 2 album with Innocent Eyes in 2003 and at the time of writing – 22 song reveals – her Eclipse is our favourite Eurovision entry.
By Neil Durham
WHEN? Tuesday 24 February 2026
HOW TO WATCH? Final 4 episodes of season 4 now available on Netflix. Season 5 and 6 to air
ITV This Morning’s host Alison Hammond makes for a sympathetic and enthusiastic host as we view episode 5 of season 4 of this Netflix period behemoth amidst an audience of mostly women who clap, cheer and whoop their way through the most enjoyable big screen way to watch an episode of Bridgerton.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Tuesday 3 February and ran through 5 February 2026
Musical theatre festival MTFestUK is a collection of 6 new pieces shared in 60-minute workshop form and Tristan is the new work composed by Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke (Leave To Remain, Lyric Theatre Hammersmith).
WHEN?: Saturday 7 March 2025 7pm UK time WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
WHERE?: Strawberry Arena, Stockholm
Melodifestivalen cements its position as Eurovision’s greatest selection show with this 66th final that includes the return of 2 former winners, a boy/girl group reunited after more than 20 years apart, a novelty TV character and 1 song capable of winning in Vienna in May.
Turner (Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Harold Pinter Theatre) and Melville (Oedipus, Wyndham’s Theatre) star in Marianne Elliott’s (COCK, Ambassadors Theatre) take on Christopher Hampton’s sexy adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel. Runs at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre 21 March through 6 June 2026. Tickets
WHEN?: Saturday 28 February March 2025 7pm UK time WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
WHERE?: Gärdehov Arena, Sundsval
The final heat of Melfest 2026 is its most competitive with the return of a former winner and the arrival of the sole American Song Contest victor.
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Saturday 14 February (matinee) and runs through 28 February 2026
Patrick Marber (The Producers, Garrick Theatre) reimagines Strindberg on the eve of Labour’s 1945 election win as the daughter of a powerful MP sparks a forbidden flirtation with her father’s chauffeur.
