SHARE
COPY LINK
IN PICTURES

Dig out your glitter: Sweden counts down to Eurovision

Sweden's entry Frans is back in his home country after promoting his song 'Sorry' abroad while host city Stockholm is preparing for a week of Eurovision madness ahead of the final on May 14th.

Dig out your glitter: Sweden counts down to Eurovision
Stockholm's Globe Arena where the final will be held. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT
With just eight days to go until the Eurovision Song Contest final in Stockholm, fans are already starting to arrive in the Swedish capital, while plenty of passing tourists are also enjoying the countdown clock in Östermalmstorg in the city centre.

 

Journalists are also settling into the press centre, which opened earlier this week and is set to welcome hundreds of reporters from the 42 participating countries.

 

Flags have started popping up all over the city, while the Globe Arena (Globen), which is hosting the final, is covered in banners.

Rehearsals kicked off inside the Globe Arena on Monday, with 20 countries taking to the stage in a mammoth session on Friday, including France, Spain and microstate San Marino (seen below). Superfans can get live updates on the official Eurovision rehearsals blog.
 

Sweden's entry Frans had his first rehearsal on Tuesday before heading off to do more promotional work away from the capital. He touched down at Bromma airport in Stockholm again on Friday afternoon, ahead of his second rehearsal on the main stage on Sunday.

 

Meanwhile bars and clubs around Stockholm are gearing up for Eurovision-themed parties throughout the week, while Abba's Björn Ulvaeus is set to unveil the English-language version of his new musical-dining experience, Mamma Mia The Party, while so many pop fans are in town. The Local was the first to report on his plans in January as he prepared to work on the script while enjoying some winter sunshine.

 

The Eurovision final takes place at 9pm local time on Sunday. If you live in Sweden you can watch it live on Swedish network SVT1.

All photos: Claudi Bresciani/Maja Suslin/TT