Get your party hat on. It's Eurovision time again. The excitement and the cringe of the world's most ridiculous song contest is about to hit your lounge room like a speed train.

SEE ALSO: Get in the Eurovision spirit with this crowdsourced karaoke app

Expect to witness the most intense choreographed performances, plenty of long notes being sung and an excess of unwieldy props in a once-a-year celebration of musical excess.

This year the final is on May 14 in Stockholm, Sweden, with acts from 26 different countries battling it out in the last round of the competition, beginning from 9 p.m. CET.

While having a wild Eurovision-themed party is the norm across Europe and Australia, unbelievably, the U.S. will be able to watch the competition on TV for the very first time this year. This is your chance to shine, America. Call your friends, throw on the television and warm up your vocal chords.

If you're at a Eurovision party for the first time, or the umpteenth, keep an eye out for these weird little things while you're downing rakija (Balkan fruit brandy) and shoving latkes into your mouth.

1. When Australia gets on stage: Applaud wildly because it might be the last time

Dami Im representing Australia at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. Image: Getty Images

Why is Australia in a competition for European nations? Beats us. It really just means that the country's participation is likely teetering on the edge, on probation until it can prove that it play with the big boys.

So please, cheer for Australia louder than you normally would, because you might never see them ever again.

2. Drink every time you suspect political voting has happened

Did you think those European nations would get over voting for their neighbours? Nuh uh. While some people believe political voting is becoming less and less part of Eurovision competitions, a call from Ukraine's Eurovision representative to vote for them instead of Russia proves it will never end.

3. If you spot a celebrity lookalike: Impersonate the person they're trying to copy

Hovi Star representing Israel performs the song "Made Of Stars" during the final dress rehearsal of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. Image: Getty Images

Some Eurovision contestants look like they have been done up to look like other successful international pop stars. Expect to see Justin Bieber-styled haircuts, outfits that have been taken from a Beyoncé concert, or bands that bear a resemblance to Nickelback (seriously).

Why not see who out of your friends can pull off the best celebrity impersonation? Don't worry about a dodgy performance, it surely won't be much worse than some of the Eurovision performances.

4. There is always one piano ballad: Gather as many tissue boxes as you can

Soppy, melodramatic piano ballads make an appearance at every Eurovision, and 2016 is the same. Do we blame Coldplay? Perhaps.

Whatever the reason may be, it is a good reason to gather all the tissue boxes in the house just in case you might break down into tears. Not that because you're sad, but you're crying because of how terrible the song actually is.

5. Someone is bound to sing in their native language: So translate what they're saying

When one contestant inevitably sings in a language apart from English, you can bet much of the audience will not be sure what is going on — they could be singing about carrots, for all we know. So why not do your best to try and translate what they're singing?

No prizes for guessing that the lyrics consist of "baby" or "love" at some point, however.

6. If there is a traditional instrument and/or costume on stage: First person to find out the name of it wins

Freddie of Hungary performs ahead of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. Image: Getty Images

It's not a guitar, it's not a violin, is it a... lute? Maybe? A cameo appearance of a traditional instrument or costume is certainly going to happen in Eurovision, so why not try and challenge your friends to find out what on earth it exactly is with the power of the Internet.

Searching "small guitar thingy" or "big drum" is no guarantee of success, however.

7. Sing "Waterloo" every time ABBA is mentioned in relation to Sweden

The original Eurovision stars, Swedish band ABBA will get mentioned time and time again as their international success is yet to repeated. It's basically the musical equivalent of being compared to your much more successful cousins.

8. When the United Kingdom gets humiliated again, put your teabags out

Oh you poor Brits. Eurovision is just another contest that the UK seem to fall short in, getting the cold shoulder from their European compatriots when it comes to public voting. As an act of solidarity, put your English breakfast teabags on your doorstep for every time they get humiliated.

Ah Eurovision, as predictable as you have become, it's hard to not get hooked on you every year.

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