After weeks of deliberation and missed deadlines, the Finals are underway. Fans voted for their favourite songs in the Knockout Stage, and ten of the 32 Acts now compete for the honour of the official Contest anthem.
The Knockouts delivered tension from start to finish, with close calls, clear favourites and one Round's unprecedented outcome.
Round-by-Round Breakdown
Round 1 set the tone for the Contest, giving the world its first exposure to the song’s lyrics. While Max Bellamy and The Moonlight Swingers put in a strong showing with their big-band offering, Synth & Son took a clear lead with their unique brand of synthpop.
An independent panel of judges settled Round 2, as there weren't enough public votes. Fan favourite High School Dropout, also considered likely to win the Contest, eventually emerged as the Round winner.
Round 3 was one of the most tightly fought battles of the Stage, with some naming it the “Group of Death”. Contest favourite Bryknii edged ahead in a dramatic finish, but the overwhelming support for both Cielo Groove ft. Saima Gaines and The Forty Twos rewarded them as the highest-scoring runners-up across all Rounds.
Round 4 produced a clear winner in boy band Westbound, who held off a competitive chase from veterans Violeta Montenegro and RJ “Hound” Mercer. The decisive upper end made this one of the more straightforward results of the Stage.
Round 5 saw a strong finish from the energetic Magenta Men, narrowly claiming the Round ahead of Bryknii’s collaboration with Kat Soo.
Round 6 belonged to Axel King (now known as Axel King and The Roses), who emerged as the standout in a busy and competitive field. While this Round had momentum throughout from the other Acts, Axel’s commanding lead proved hard to challenge.
Round 7 delivered one of the Stage’s most dramatic outcomes, with French diva Soline Bellefort edging out classical singer Chelsea Chapel in a near photo-finish. It was a Round defined by fine margins and sustained pressure, right through to the closing moments.
But it was Round 8 - defined by underdogs and wildcards - that provided the biggest surprise, with J-Pop artist SoraNami securing the upper hand over the other English-speaking Acts.
The Final Stage
The winners of each Round, alongside the two highest-scoring runners-up across all Rounds, have advanced to the Finals:
- Round 1: Synth & Son
- Round 2: High School Dropout
- Round 3: Bryknii
- Round 4: Westbound
- Round 5: Magenta Men
- Round 6: Axel King and The Roses
- Round 7: Soline Bellefort
- Round 8: SoraNami
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Runners-up:
- Round 3: Cielo Groove featuring Saima Gaines
- Round 3: The Forty Twos
The result is an electrifying, mixed-genre lineup that promises both momentum and rivalry. Early favourites Bryknii and High School Dropout made the cut, with Soline Bellefort and SoraNami representing French and Japanese languages respectively.
But the biggest question of all: who will emerge victorious in the rematch between label rivals Bryknii and Saima Gaines?
Whichever way you lean, it is now up to the fans to decide which Act will reign supreme. Voting for the Finals will take place between 11 and 25 September, through the dedicated voting page on the Real Figures Don’t F.O.L.D site.