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?
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.
WHEN? Saturday 7 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenburg
We predicted last weekend’s Heat 1 100 per cent correctly but think Heat 2 covers such a vast array of different musical styles it’s far less easy to call.
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN? Wednesday 28 January, tour returns to Mighty Hoopla 30 May 2026
Setlist: 24 Hours; Here Comes The Night; Milk; Trigger; Ego; Balenciaga Covered Eyes; Fingers Crossed; Love And Appreication; Release Me
Scandipop appears to be having a moment in the UK currently with Zara Larsson’s Lush Life in the top 10, A-Teens returning to Melodifestivalen with something special and the release of the 1st great album of the year, Beautiful Madness by Agnes.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
Tracklist: Interlude; Beautiful Madness; Trigger; Got Any?; Milk; Focus; Wake Up; Balenciaga Covered Eyes; Not Capable; Ego; Masterpiece; Sign It; Pre; Lovesongs; Uterus & Universe
‘Life is a beautiful madness, and it’s when we stop chasing perfection that the truly interesting things happen,’ says Agnes as she releases this new album and prepares to headline London’s KOKO next week where we join her.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN? Thursday 15 January 2026, runs through 24 January 2026 (review ticket) RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Non-league Macclesfield beat FA Cup holders Crystal Palace 5 days ago and Gerry & Sewell is the giant-killing theatrical equivalent.
