Eurovision Song Contest betting odds have revealed the favourites to win the 2024 contest. (Getty)
Updated betting odds ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 suggest that the legendary singing competition could be won by an LGBTQ+ artist this year.
We’re now just weeks away from the return of Eurovision, this time in Malmö, Sweden, following on from the historic victory from bisexual pop icon Loreen last year.
As ever, this year’s line-up includes a number of incredible LGBTQ+ performers representing their countries on the world’s biggest music stage, including Ireland’s Bambie Thug and Lithuania’s Silvester Belt.
And now, according to the betting public, an LGBTQ+ artist looks likely to win the contest this year – but sadly, it’s not the UK’s Eurovision act and Years & Years star, Olly Alexander.
Here are the top five entrants most likely to win Eurovision 2024.
5. Ukraine: Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil with “Teresa & Maria“
The fifth most likely entrant to win Eurovision 2024 right now is Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil for 2022’s winning country, Ukraine. Their thumping, broody track “Teresa & Marie” currently has a six per cent chance of winning, and while it’s a strong favourite among Eurovision fans, that favour appears to be lessening – this is the lowest the song has been in terms of betting odds so far.
4. Italy: Angelina Mango with “La Noia“
Fiery earworm “La Noia” by Angelina Mango, Italy’s entrant, looks set to be a huge hit with the Eurovision gays regardless of whether it takes the win or not. The song is currently fourth most likely to do so, but its odds have fallen in recent weeks, so let’s not get our hopes up.
3. Netherlands: Joost Klein with “Europapa“
“Europapa” by award-winning Dutch artist Joost Klein could very well be the “Cha Cha Cha” of 2024 – it’s just as wild, wacky and well-suited to a rave as the Käärijä track, and it’s also set for a top three finish. Joost Klein’s odds are continuing to climb, and if he does take the win, it will be the second time in five years that the Netherlands have done so.
2. Croatia: Baby Lasagna with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim“
With an artist name and track title like that, of course Croatia are potentially in line for the win. According to the betting odds, they’ve got a very strong shot at doing so too, with about a fifth of the public thinking they’re going to – and the odds are increasing.
“Rim Tim Tagi Dim” is a funny, silly rock-meets-rap-meets-rave song, so it’s destined to be a hit during the semi-finals and finals, too. Plus, if Baby Lasagna does win, it will be pretty historic: Croatia has never won the Eurovision Song Contest before.
1. Switzerland: Nemo with “The Code“
If the betting public are right, Switzerland’s non-binary singer and rapper Nemo is looking likely to take the Eurovision title this year, with approximately a quarter of betters believing they will do.
The musician’s entry, “The Code”, is an electric and pulsating track combining Nemo’s soaring vocals and impressive rap ability. It’s got star-power stamped all over it, much like Loreen’s “Tattoo” did last year, and from the song alone we can tell the live performance at the grand finale will raise the roof off of Malmö Arena. Fingers crossed.
Sadly, things aren’t looking too great for UK entrant Olly Alexander and his song “Dizzy”, nor for other LGBTQ+ contestants this year. Currently, Olly is the 12th favourite to win, while non-binary “ouija pop” star Bambi Thug is in 10th place.
Silvester Belt, Lithuania’s first LGBTQ+ artist to enter Eurovision, is sitting in 14th place, while Denmark’s Saba is 25th most likely to win.
The Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals take place on 7 and 9 May, and the grand final will air on Saturday 11 May.