Eurovision 2026: Semi-Final Running Orders Revealed for Vienna Contest
Eurovision 2026: Semi-Final Running Orders Revealed

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is set to commence in Vienna, Austria, next week, with delegates from 30 countries vying for a place in the grand final. A total of 35 nations are participating this year, but host country Austria and four of the "Big Five" — the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Germany — are automatically qualified for the final. Nevertheless, their performers will still take the stage during the semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday, 12 May, and Thursday, 14 May.

Spain, typically the fifth guaranteed finalist due to its broadcaster's significant financial contribution to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), withdrew from this year's contest in protest over Israel's participation. Additionally, broadcasters from Iceland, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia opted out of Eurovision in response to the EBU's decision to allow Israel to compete.

First Semi-Final — Tuesday, 12 May

The opening semi-final features 15 competing acts, plus performances from Italy and Germany as pre-qualified nations. The running order is as follows:

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  1. Moldova: Satoshi — "Viva, Moldova!"
  2. Sweden: FELICIA — "My System"
  3. Croatia: LELEK — "Andromeda"
  4. Greece: Akylas — "Ferto"
  5. Portugal: Bandidos do Cante — "Rosa"
  6. Georgia: Bzikebi — "On Replay"
  7. Italy: Sal Da Vinci — "Per Sempre Sì" (pre-qualified)
  8. Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen — "Liekinheitin"
  9. Montenegro: Tamara Živković — "Nova Zora"
  10. Estonia: Vanilla Ninja — "Too Epic To Be True"
  11. Israel: Noam Bettan — "Michelle"
  12. Germany: Sarah Engels — "Fire" (pre-qualified)
  13. Belgium: ESSYLA — "Dancing on the Ice"
  14. Lithuania: Lion Ceccah — "Sólo Quiero Más"
  15. San Marino: SENHIT — "Superstar"
  16. Poland: ALICJA — "Pray"
  17. Serbia: LAVINA — "Kraj Mene"

Second Semi-Final — Thursday, 14 May

The second semi-final includes 15 competing acts, with performances from France, Austria, and the United Kingdom as pre-qualified nations. The running order is:

  1. Bulgaria: DARA — "Bangaranga"
  2. Azerbaijan: JIVA — "Just Go"
  3. Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu — "Choke Me"
  4. Luxembourg: Eva Marija — "Mother Nature"
  5. Czechia: Daniel Zizka — "CROSSROADS"
  6. France: Monroe — "Regarde!" (pre-qualified)
  7. Armenia: SIMÓN — "Paloma Rumba"
  8. Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro — "Alice"
  9. Cyprus: Antigoni — "JALLA"
  10. Austria: COSMÓ — "Tanzschein" (pre-qualified)
  11. Latvia: Atvara — "Ēnā"
  12. Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund — "Før Vi Går Hjem"
  13. Australia: Delta Goodrem — "Eclipse"
  14. Ukraine: LELÉKA — "Ridnym"
  15. United Kingdom: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER — "Eins, Zwei, Drei" (pre-qualified)
  16. Albania: Alis — "Nân"
  17. Malta: AIDAN — "Bella"
  18. Norway: JONAS LOVV — "YA YA YA"

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest is being held at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna's 15th district (Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus). The grand final will take place on Saturday, 16 May. The Independent will provide live coverage of the semi-finals and the final.

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