Bookmakers have Croatia, Switzerland and Ukraine as the top three favorites to win, while streaming data from Spotify suggests big odds for the Netherlands, Italy or hosts Sweden.
“This year is so exciting because there are four or five countries that really have a good chance of winning,” William Lee Adams, editor of Eurovision fan site Wiwibloggs, told Reuters.
“Eurovision is so boring when you have one clear favorite months in advance. But this year there is still so much to play for.”
The Croatian participant Baby Lasagna (real name Marko Purišić, 28) overtook Switzerland this week as the bookmakers' favorite with a song Dim Tag Team rim about a young Croat who leaves home with the ambition to become a 'city boy' with better opportunities.
Eurovision Song Contest, which has been held since 1956, has increasingly embraced inclusivity and acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community. That is the theme of Swiss rapper and singer Nemo, 24, who will perform The code – a drum and bass, opera, rap and rock song about their journey of self-discovery as non-binary.
Ukraine, which won the competition two years ago, months after being invaded by Russia, is represented this year by the duo Alyona Alyona, 28, and Jerry Heil, 32, with Teresa & Maria, a folk-like pop song with a strong dance beat and fast rap. The winner normally hosts the following year, but last year's competition was held in Britain due to the war.
Another top candidate is Joost Klein, 26, from the Netherlands with his song European Pope which combines pop tunes with happy hardcore. Klein, who lost his parents at a young age, says the song is about an orphan who travels through Europe in search of himself, as his father taught him to believe in a Europe without borders.
Also in the running is Italian Angelina Mango, 23, with her song The girl which translates to Boredom. Host nation Sweden is seen as a chance for back-to-back victories, represented by Norwegian twin brothers Marcus and Martinus Gunnarsen performing their song Unforgettable.
Four-time winner Israel, represented by Eden Golan, 20, is also ranked in the top 10 by bookmakers. Her song Hurricane was Israel's third proposed entry after the European Broadcast Union rejected two songs due to lyrics deemed political.