EVERYONE IS LAUGHING NOW… BUT THEY MAY REGRET IT ON FINAL NIGHT.’ — Eurovision insiders are quietly warning that Boy George may be the most unpredictable threat of the entire 2026 contest, with whispers growing that San Marino’s chaotic, heavily mocked entry could explode into the competition’s biggest shock upset just when rivals think it’s already dead, as the Culture Club icon prepares to storm the stage with a performance insiders describe as “wild, theatrical, and impossible to ignore,” fueling speculation that Europe may be underestimating a music veteran who has spent decades turning humiliation into headlines and backlash into comebacks — and if the audience erupts at the right moment, the act many dismissed as this year’s strangest gamble could suddenly become the performance nobody stops talking about the morning after…
EXCLUSIVE: Boy George could be the dark horse of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Iconic singer Boy George surprised many people when he announced he was taking part in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest representing San Marino. The Culture Club legend co-wrote the track Superstar with Senhit Zadik Zadik, Anderz Wrethov, Thomas Stengaard, Julie Aagaard (Kill J), and John-Emil Johansson. It will be performed by Italian star Senhit, and he is a guest on it.
The pair will take to the stage in Vienna for the first semi-final, which will broadcast live on BBC One on Tuesday May 12, in the hopes of making the final on Saturday April 16. They performed the song together on stage for the first time on April 19 at the London Eurovision Party, and I was there to witness it. Earlier in the day, George told me, “It took me a while to get my head around what we were doing, and now I’m very thrilled…She’s doing all the work. I turn up in a gorgeous outfit and take some attention,” he laughed.
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While he was quite modest about his contribution, the crowd’s reaction on the night indicated this is a popular pairing.
Love him or hate him, there is no denying that George is indeed an international superstar, and there was a palpable excitement about his appearance.
His presence ensured the duo got second billing at the sell-out show – just below the UK entry Look Mum, No Computer, who was obviously headlining with his song Ein, Zwei, Drei. In comparison, Boy George’s performance was a lot sleeker and polished, highlighting the amount of rehearsals the UK needed to do to keep up with him.
Of course, there is only so far status can take you, but the reality is the song is infuriatingly catchy and quite the Eurovision banger that definitely has the potential to go all the way in the competition.
They are also aided by the fact that this isn’t Senhit’s first rodeo. She has previously represented San Marino in 2011 with the song Stand By, and in 2021, she recruited Flo Rida to perform with her on Adrenalina.
Since she knows the score, she will be able to help George navigate the event, which has been running for a week already. Indeed, dress rehearsals and the semi-final performances for the international juries have already taken place. She is also a serious Eurovision fan favourite and is sure to do well in the public vote as people admire her “if at first you don’t succeed” attitude. There is a lot of love for her within the fandom.
Another important point that could cinch it for them is the UK can’t vote for our entrant. Therefore George’s huge fan base here are very likely to feel inclined to give him their votes.
With a combination of a great track, Senhit’s Eurovision experience and George’s star power and huge international fan base, this could well become San Marino’s first winning song since they made their Eurovision debut in 2008. If I were performing in this year’s Eurovision, I would be very worried
