ABBA will be celebrated in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final in a way that has never been seen before on television. 

This year the band are celebrating the 50th anniversary since their career-defining Eurovision victory in Brighton in 1974. 

Click to read this story at a glance…

• The 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Eurovision win will be celebrated with a television event unlike anything seen before
• A European Broadcasting Union representative hinted at surprises for the Grand Final, suggesting creative and innovative uses of archival material to pay homage to Eurovision history
• Despite speculation, ABBA’s potential appearance remains unconfirmed, though the event promises unexpected twists and exciting tributes to Eurovision throughout the broadcast

There has been widespread debate about whether the foursome would make a rare public appearance at the contest this year. 

Speaking exclusively to The Euro Trip, the European Broadcasting Union’s Digital and Communications Manager, Dave Goodman, said: “Obviously we’re going to celebrate the anniversary of ABBA. 

“We’re not going to reveal how, but it’s something that you won’t have seen on television before. 

“It’s going to be really exciting.” 

Goodman didn’t commit to confirming whether all four members of ABBA would make an unlikely appearance in Saturday’s Grand Final. 

Those involved with the creative side of this year’s contest have denied speculation that the band would appear in the show. 

Edward af Sillén, the contest’s writer and director, told a user on X (formerly Twitter) to “wake up” when they suggested ABBA would be performing. 

Goodman, however, did confirm that there “will be surprises in the Grand Final”. 

“We want people to see these shows and be surprised. 

“This year there’s lots of amusing, interesting and creative uses of archive, and paying tribute to Eurovision.” 

Goodman highlighted Johnny Logan’s appearance as an interval act in the first Semi Final in which he performs Loreen’s first Eurovision winner, Euphoria. 

The performance is a nod to Logan and Loreen being Eurovision’s only double winners, and Ireland and Sweden sharing the all-time record of contest wins. 

“Having Johnny Logan do Euphoria was a nice way of celebrating that [shared record].”