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The first semi-final of Eurovision 2026: where and when to watch, bookmakers’ predictions

The first semi-final of Eurovision 2026: where and when to watch, bookmakers’ predictions

12 May 2026, 20:05

The first semi-final of Eurovision 2026: where and when to watch, bookmakers’ predictions — The first semi-final of Eurovision 2026

On Tuesday, 12 May, the first semi-final of the 70th anniversary Eurovision Song Contest will kick off in Vienna, at the Wiener Stadthalle. It will feature performers from 15 participating countries, as well as representatives from Italy and Germany, who automatically qualify for the final as members of the ‘Big Five’.

The show will be opened by Moldova’s representative, Satoshi, with the song “Viva, Moldova!”, and the evening will conclude with a performance from Serbia. The progressive metal band LAVINA will perform the track “Kraj mene”.

As a reminder, this year’s 70th anniversary Eurovision Song Contest is being hosted by the Austrian capital, Vienna. The country earned this right following singer JJ’s victory with the song “Wasted Love” last year. The contest will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle.

Fifteen acts will perform in the first semi-final, and only ten of them will progress to the grand final, which takes place on Saturday, 16 May.

When is Eurovision 2026 – where and when to watch the first semi-final

Eurovision kicks off with a pre-show at 21:30 (Kyiv time). The main show will start at 22:00.

The artists’ performances will be broadcast on:

On the websites of ‘Suspilne Culture’ and ‘Suspilne Eurovision’.
On the ‘Suspilne Kultura’ TV channel.
Listen on Radio Promin.
On the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel.

"Eurovision 2026" – running order

Fifteen participating countries will perform in the first semi-final. The running order is as follows:

Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova!
Sweden: Felicia – My System
Croatia: Lelek – Andromeda
Greece: Akylas – Ferto
Portugal: Bandidos do Cante – Rosa
Georgia: Bzikebi – On Replay
Finland: Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin
Montenegro: Tamara Živković – Nova Zora
Estonia: Vanilla Ninja – Too Epic To Be True
Israel: Noam Bettan – Michelle
Belgium: Essyla – Dancing on the Ice
Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – Sólo Quiero Más
San Marino: Senhit – Superstar
Poland: Alicja – Pray
Serbia: Lavina – Kraj Mene

In addition, Italy and Germany will perform in the first semi-final, having automatically qualified for the final.

Bookmakers have already made their predictions for the first Eurovision semi-final. They believe that Finland, Greece, Israel, Sweden, Croatia, Moldova, Serbia, Lithuania, Poland and Montenegro will progress to the final.

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