The United Kingdom enters the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest with high hopes as LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER aims to end a 29-year victory drought since Katrina and the Waves triumphed in 1997. The 70th edition unfolds in Vienna, Austria, following their 2025 win, with 35 countries competing amid tensions over Israel’s participation.
Who is LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER?
Real name Sam Battle, this 31-year-old Lincolnshire native serves as a solo artist, songwriter, and YouTube sensation. He first gained notice in 2014 fronting indie rock band ZIBRA, which played Glastonbury in 2015 for BBC Introducing.
Battle launched his YouTube channel in 2016, accumulating over 91 million views and 1.4 million subscribers. He specializes in crafting custom synthesizers and circuit-bent instruments for quirky, experimental performances.
Sam Battle explained his pivot: “I’m a musician and about two and a half years ago, I decided to try a different venture, and I started putting up videos with machines that I built… I just couldn’t help myself, but build silly machines.”
His debut single, Groundhog Day, dropped in 2019, followed by tours in Germany, Switzerland, and the UK. In 2022, he formed supergroup Uncompressed with Cuckoo and Hainbach, debuting at Barcelona’s Sónar festival in 2019. Battle also co-produced tracks like Satellite M Moment for the A Street Cat Named Bob film and Glitter and Gold for Netflix’s Safe.
His style fuses “music, technology, and absurdity.” Beyond music, he delivered a TEDx talk, released a video game, and earned a Guinness World Record for the largest drone synthesizer.
Announcement and Expectations
Officials revealed in February 2026 that Battle represents the UK. He stated: “I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey. I’ve always been a massive Eurovision fan… I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised!”
Kalpna Patel-Knight, BBC head of entertainment, praised: “We are absolutely thrilled… LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER embodies everything the UK wants to celebrate – creativity, ambition, and a distinctly British wit.”
Eurovision host Graham Norton added: “I think LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER is a really great choice for the UK. If he connects with the crowd, there will be no stopping him.”
The Song: Eins, Zwei, Drei
Battle performs Eins, Zwei, Drei in the second semi-final, co-written and produced with Lasse Midtsian Nymann, Julie ‘Kill J’ Aagaard, and Thomas Stengaard. The track explores “escaping the soul-crushing boredom of the nine-to-five, into a world of dreams.” Its chorus features German lyrics, marking the first non-exclusively English UK entry in 68 years.
Battle noted the gamble: “This is not going to be taken seriously because… this is not conventional. So they’re taking a bit of a risk – but who knows?”
UK’s Eurovision Legacy and Recent News
The UK has competed 67 times since 1957, boasting a record 16 second-place finishes, most recently Sam Ryder’s Spaceman in 2022. Last year, Remember Monday placed 19th with What The Hell Just Happened?.
In January 2026, sources confirm an unnamed act was dropped after routine checks uncovered unacceptable online comments. Officials cited the event’s high stakes: “The BBC can’t take any chances… It was brutal but they were told they could no longer represent the UK.”
The contest faces boycott threats from nations like Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia over Israel’s involvement amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Belgium considered withdrawal but will compete, while Iceland pulled out. The European Broadcasting Union adopted stricter voting rules but allowed all participants.
Eurovision expert Dean Vuletic described it as “one of the most serious crises that the organisation has ever faced,” predicting the largest political boycott in history.
