AP PHOTOS: Eurovision performers gear up for grand final with sparkles and songs

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Tautumeitas from Latvia performs the song “Bur Man Laimi” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Justyna Steczkowska from Poland performs the song “GAJA” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song “Espresso Macchiato” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Klavdia from Greece performs the song “Asteromata” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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KAJ from Sweden performs the song “Bara Bada Bastu” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Miriana Conte from Malta performs the song “SERVING” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Shkodra Elektronike from Albania performs the song “Zjerm” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Erika Vikman from Finland performs the song “ICH KOMME” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Kyle Alessandro from Norway performs the song “Lighter” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Louane from France performs the song “maman” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Claude from the Netherlands performs the song “C’est La Vie” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Yuval Raphael from Israel performs the song “New Day Will Rise” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Gabry Ponte from San Marino performs the song “Tutta L’Italia” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Laura Thorn from Luxembourg performs the song “La Poupee Monte Le Son” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Abor & Tinny from Germany perform the song “Baller” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Sissal from Denmark performs the song “Hallucination” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Ziferblat from Ukraine performs the song “Bird of Pray” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Zoe Me from Switzerland performs the song “Voyage” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Lucio Corsi from Italy performs the song “Volevo Essere Un Duro” during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Tautumeitas from Latvia who will perform the song “Bur Man Laimi” are presented to the audience during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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PARG from Armenia who will perform the song “SURVIVOR” is introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Laura Thorn from Luxembourg who will perform the song “La Poupee Monte Le Son” on stage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Claude from the Netherlands who will perform the song “C’est La Vie” is introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Miriana Conte from Malta who will perform the song “SERVING” is introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Zoe Me from Switzerland who will perform the song “Voyage” is introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Lucio Corsi from Italy who will perform the song “Volevo Essere Un Duro” are presented to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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KAJ from Sweden who will perform the song “Bara Bada Bastu” onstage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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VAEB from Iceland who will perform the song “ROA” on stage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Kyle Alessandro from Norway who will perform the song “Lighter” carries his nations flag onstage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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JJ from Austria who will perform the song “Wasted Love” on stage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Sissal from Denmark who will perform the song “Hallucination” onstage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Gabry Ponte from San Marino who will perform the song “Tutta L’Italia” introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Louane from France who will perform the song “maman” onstage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Remember Monday from the United Kingdom who will perform the song “What The Hell Just Happened” are introduced to the audience during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Yuval Raphael from Israel who will perform the song “New Day Will Rise” onstage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Klavdia from Greece who will perform the song “Asteromata” is introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Justyna Steczkowska from Poland who will perform the song “GAJA” is introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Erika Vikman from Finland who will perform the song “ICH KOMME” is introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Ziferblat from Ukraine who will perform the song “Bird of Pray” are introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Abor & Tinny from Germany who will perform the song “Baller” are introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Katarsis from Lithuania who will perform the song “Tavo Akys” onstage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Tommy Cash from Estonia who will perform the song “Espresso Macchiato” on stage during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Shkodra Elektronike from Albania who will perform the song “Zjerm” is introduced to the crowd during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Friday, May 16 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

By MARTIN MEISSNER

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will hold its grand final on Saturday night.

The Swiss city of Basel played host this week to competitors representing 37 countries. They danced, they sang, they engaged in disco diplomacy as part of one of the world’s biggest spectacles.

Semifinal performances on Tuesday and Thursday whittled the competitors down to just 26 acts. They’re competing for the coveted crystal microphone trophy.

The finalists are: Norway, Luxembourg, Estonia, Israel, Lithuania, Spain, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Austria, Iceland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Poland, Germany, Greece, Armenia, Switzerland, Malta, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, France, San Marino and Albania.

The contest airs Saturday at 9 p.m. local time (1900GMT).

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Photographer Martin Meissner from Germany switches from sports to entertainment for a week to photograph his fifth Eurovision.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.