MALMÖ, Sweden — The Eurovision stars aligned last year as Sweden claimed its seventh victory — a feat shared only with Ireland — bringing the song contest back to ABBA’s home country this year, just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 1974 win.
In tribute to the band — Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad — Malmö is playing homage as the southern Swedish city hosts the 68th annual competition, which opened Tuesday and concludes with Saturday’s grand finale, for the third time. The celebrations coincide with a particularly fraught Eurovision after weeks of calls from artists and activists to ban Israel from participating over the war in Gaza.