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 second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Louane from France performs the song “maman” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Nina Zizic from Montenegro performs the song “Dobrodosli” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Claude from the Netherlands performs the song “C’est La Vie” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Go-Jo from Australia performs the song “Milkshake Man” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Miriana Conte from Malta performs the song “SERVING” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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JJ from Austria performs the song “Wasted Love” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Remember Monday from the United Kingdom perform the song “What The Hell Just Happened” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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PARG from Armenia performs the song “SURVIVOR” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Kyle Alessandro from Norway performs the song “Lighter” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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EMMY from Ireland performs the song “Laika Party” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Klavdia from Greece performs the song “Asteromata” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Yuval Raphael from Israel performs the song “New Day Will Rise” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Laura Thorn from Luxembourg performs the song “La Poupee Monte Le Son” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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ADONXS from Czechia performs the song “Kiss Kiss Goodbye” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Mariam Shengelia from Georgia performs the song Freedom during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Miriana Conte from Malta performs the song “SERVING” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Klemen from Slovenia performs the song “How Much Time Do We Have Left” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Justyna Steczkowska from Poland performs the song “GAJA” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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VAEB from Iceland performs the song “ROA” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Hosts Hazel Brugger, centre right and Sandra Studer, centre left, on stage during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Theo Evan from Cyprus performs the song “Shh” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Marko Bosnjak from Croatia performs the song “Poison Cake” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Gabry Ponte from San Marino performs the song “Tutta L’Italia” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Lucio Corsi from Italy performs the song “Volevo Essere Un Duro” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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KAJ from Sweden performs the song “Bara Bada Bastu” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Klavdia from Greece performs the song “Asteromata” during the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song “Espresso Macchiato” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 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.