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Eurovision 2026 First Semifinal Begins in Vienna
The first semifinal of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest opens Tuesday in Vienna with artists from 35 countries competing. Five nations are boycotting over Israel's participation. Noam Bettan advanced through a dress rehearsal on May 11 after walking the turquoise carpet the previous day.
May 12, 3:03 AM·2m read5 sources
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The first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 begins Tuesday at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, the first semifinal of the 70th edition featuring artists from 35 countries. The top 10 acts from the first semifinal advance to the grand final.
The second semifinal is on Thursday. The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 culminates with a Grand Final in Vienna on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy automatically qualify for the final.
Austria automatically qualifies for the final as the host country and 2025 winner. Noam Bettan is representing Israel at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Michelle”. He performed during a dress rehearsal for the first semi-final at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on May 11, 2026.
Bettan walked on the Turquoise Carpet in Vienna on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland are boycotting the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. Five countries announced in December 2025 that they would not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Iceland and Ireland announced their boycott on December 4, 2025. Iceland’s broadcaster RUV announced its boycott on December 10, 2025. Israel came second in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest.
Austria won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Wasted Love performed by JJ. Israel first participated in Eurovision in 1973 and hosted in Tel Aviv in 2019. On the turquoise carpet on May 10, 2026 in Vienna, Senhit from San Marino performed with Boy George.
Look Mum No Computer from the United Kingdom walked on the turquoise carpet on May 10, 2026 in Vienna. Tamara Zivkovic from Montenegro walked on the turquoise carpet on May 10, 2026 in Vienna. Sarah Engels from Germany walked on the turquoise carpet on May 10, 2026 in Vienna.
Finland is the bookmakers’ favorite with the song “Liekinheitin” (“Flamethrower”) by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen. Greece’s Akylas is performing the track “Ferto” (“Bring It”). Portuguese quintet Bandidos do Cante is performing “Rosa”.
