This week, countries across Europe (along with several neighboring states, and for a third time, Australia) will descend on Kiev, Ukraine, for the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, a musical competition that’s beloved worldwide for stoking patriotism and bringing a helping of outlandish camp onto the global stage.

The contest has been bubbling since late last fall, as the participating countries have elected (and, in some cases, picked by fiat) their musical representatives. Two semifinals, on Tuesday and Thursday, will determine which countries will vie for the crown in the final, which is set to take place on Saturday.

So, what is Eurovision and what should viewers watch for? Here’s a rundown.

What, precisely, is Eurovision?

Founded in 1956, the Eurovision song contest was inspired by Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival, an annual song competition. Each year, participants from about 40 countries that are part of the European Broadcasting Union participate. Participants mostly hail from the European Union, but the contest also includes other entrants, like Macedonia and Azerbaijan.

In its six decades of existence, the contest, which is watched by almost twice as many people each year as the Super Bowl, has had some questionable winners and finalists, most of whom have struggled to sustain international fame after the victory.