The 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is underway in Sweden, with 37 countries competing initially, and now 26 vying for the top spot. The Grand Final is set to take place on Saturday, May 11, at 9 p.m. Central European Summer Time (3 p.m. ET). You can find the complete running order of the competing countries on the Eurovision website.

The “European”—plus Australia, post-Brexit-U.K., and, controversially, Israel—musical showdown is renowned for featuring the shiniest, most bizarre, and inherently over-the-top performers around.

And this year for the second time, Americans get to vote, using the official Eurovision app or going to the voting hub for the contest.

What is Eurovision and why is it such a big deal?

Sometimes called “the Olympics of kitsch television,” the contest launched in 1956 with just seven participating nations, and the competition has grown significantly over the years.

It’s also where ABBA got their start, where Celine Dion made a splash before her heart went on to Vegas, and where dozens of other acts you’ve probably heard of won glory in the most extravagant way imaginable.

Why should you care, and how can you watch? Eurovision is a one-of-a-kind extravaganza that blends music, culture, and entertainment from across Europe and beyond. With original songs and performers representing countries they may not even be from, it’s a global celebration of talent.

Apart from the 2020 cancellation due to COVID-19, the Eurovision Song Contest has been an annual fixture for nearly 70 years, attracting widespread viewership globally.

How to livestream the Eurovision 2024 Grand Final

For those eager to catch the action, there are various options for livestreaming the Eurovision Song Contest, depending on where you live:

• Watch from the U.S.: Peacock
• Watch from the U.K.: BBC iPlayer
• Watch from France: France TV
• Watch from Spain: RTVE Play

Note that if you’re watching from the United States, Peacock is a subscription-based streaming service, with the lowest-cost tier being $5.99 a month.

Why is Eurovision controversial this year?

Although undeniably a celebration of kitsch, Eurovision has a history of expressions of nationalism and a protection of European unity. The European Broadcasting Union has drawn protest for allowing Israel to compete at a time of war when it previously banned Russia and Belarus—which last competed in 2022—from competing after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In Malmö, Sweden—host of this year’s contest after winning in 2023—thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on Thursday to protest Israel’s conflict in Gaza and call for the exclusion of Israel’s competitor from the semifinals. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted “boycott Israel.”

Despite the controversy, Eden Golan, Israel’s 20-year-old contestant, will perform her song, “Hurricane,” in the final, competing against singers from Ukraine, Spain, Greece, and nearly two dozen other countries.