Eurovision 2026: Who is Akylas, the Greek contender making his way up the favorites list?

Who will be the big winner of this 70th edition of the Eurovision? For now, the suspense remains intact. But some contenders are clearly among the favorites. That includes Akylas, the representative of the Greece. As of May 9, 2026 — seven days before the final — Akylas has a 14% chance of winning the contest according to the bookmakers, who now place him second in their ranking of favorites. Having been ranked fifth a few weeks ago, Akylas has climbed three spots.

According to the bookmakers, the Greek contestant has a 57% chance of breaking into the Top 5 and a 40% shot at the Top 3. But who is Akylas and what song does the Greek artist plan to perform this spring in Vienna? Here’s everything you need to know.

From his full name Akýlas Mytilinéos, this 27-year-old artist has loved music since he was a kid. But it was in 2021 that Akylas began to make a name for himself in Greece, thanks to TikTok cover videos. That same year, he released his first single. In 2022, the singer tried his hand at "The Voice of Greece", taking part in the show’s eighth season. In 2024, the singer once again made headlines with his hit "Atelié".

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• Eurovision 2026: Meet the 35 Songs Competing in This Year’s Contest

In 2025, Akylas takes on a fresh challenge by competing in "Sing for Greece" alongside 27 other participants. Ultimately, his song "Ferto" resonates with the audience, earning the maximum score from both the Greek and international juries as well as the public. That score secures his place to represent his country at the 70th edition of the Eurovision.

This spring, the self-taught musician, songwriter and performer will pull out all the stops to try to bring the trophy home. The artist can rely on his entertaining universe and on a multicultural, contemporary sound infused with Greek identity. Lately, Akylas did not hesitate to reprise the track "Rise Like a Phœnix", the song that helped Conchita Wurst clinch first place at Eurovision in 2014.

Let us recall that Greece has won the Eurovision Song Contest just once. It happened in 2005, with the song "My Number One", performed by Helena Paparizou.