The BBC has revealed its choice to represent the United Kingdom at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, opting for an experimental artist from the world of online video. The UK entry will be the musician and inventor Sam Battle, who performs under the name Look Mum No Computer.
The contest is set to be held in Vienna this May, following the victory of Switzerland's JJ in 2025. The specific song Battle will perform has not yet been released.
In a statement, the BBC described the artist as a "multi-talented solo artist, experimental singer/songwriter, live electronics performer and composer, inventor of unique musical machines". Battle first gained attention as the frontman of the indie band Zibra before building a significant online following of 1.4 million subscribers across social media through his inventive musical projects and videos.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Battle said: "I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey. I have always been a massive Eurovision fan... so getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour." He promised to bring his full creative vision to the performance, adding: "I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised!"
The announcement comes as the 2026 contest prepares to navigate ongoing controversy. Five countries—Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—withdrew from the 2025 competition in protest over Israel's participation amidst the conflict in the Middle East. Spain's departure was particularly notable as it had been one of the financially contributing "Big Five" nations.
The reigning 2025 champion, JJ, subsequently supported calls for Israel's exclusion from the event, aligning with similar comments made by the 2024 winner, Nemo.
