Pakistan, May 17 -- Sequins, smoke machines and political drama? Eurovision is officially back. The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest final takes place Saturday night in Vienna, where 25 countries will battle for Europe's most gloriously unpredictable musis crown.

But this year's competition is not about key changes and glitter cannons - it's also wrapped in growing controversy over Israel's participation.

Now in its 70th year, Eurovision remains one of television's wildest cultural exports. The contest gave the world ABBA's Waterloo, launched Celine Dion into superstardom and somehow made wind machines feel like a personality trait.

This year, however, several broadcasters - including Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands -...