The 70th Eurovision Song Contest kicked off in Vienna, Austria, on May 12, 2026, with a semi-final that was as much about music as it was about the complex political and social landscape of Europe. The Wiener Stadthalle arena, decked out in hearts and the contest’s “United by Music” motto, played host to the first of three live shows, setting the stage for a week of dazzling performances, tense competition, and, inevitably, controversy.
After an evening of high-energy acts and emotional ballads, ten countries secured their places in Saturday’s Grand Final. The qualifiers, announced in the classic one-at-a-time format that keeps fans on the edge of their seats, were Greece (Akylas – “Ferto”), Finland (Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen – “Liekinheitin”), Belgium (Essyla – “Dancing on the Ice”), Sweden (Felicia – “My System”), Moldova (Satoshi – “Viva Moldova!”), Israel (Noam Bettan – “Michelle”), Serbia (Lavina – “Kraj Mene”), Croatia (LELEK – “Andromeda”), Lithuania (Lion Ceccah – “Sólo quiero más”), and Poland (ALICJA – “Pray”). According to ESCXTRA, the announcement order was random, adding to the suspense but not revealing the actual rankings.
Five acts did not make the cut for the Grand Final: Portugal (Bandidos do Cante – “Rosa”), Georgia (Bzikebi – “On Replay”), Montenegro (Tamara Živković – “Nova Zora”), Estonia (Vanilla Ninja – “Too Epic To Be True”), and San Marino (Senhit feat. Boy George – “Superstar”). The disappointment was palpable, especially for San Marino’s Senhit and British pop icon Boy George, who had made a splash with their party anthem and vibrant presence on Vienna’s turquoise carpet, as captured by the Associated Press.
While the performances took center stage, the contest’s political undercurrents were impossible to ignore. As reported by AP News, five countries—Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland—are boycotting this year’s event in protest of Israel’s participation. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as well as counter-demonstrations supporting Israel, are planned throughout the week in Vienna. Security has been ramped up, with Austrian and German police visibly present, a precaution underscored by recent terror threats and the region’s heightened alert status.
Israel’s entry, “Michelle” by Noam Bettan, was under intense scrutiny. Bettan, like last year’s Israeli contestant, performed amid both cheers and boos, a reflection of the broader debate surrounding Israel’s place in the competition. At a press conference, activist Patrick Bongola from the group No Music for Genocide called on artists to withdraw, stating, “Israel will not withdraw. The Austrian government will not have Israel removed from the competition, from the Song Contest. So I think it is a moral obligation for each and every artist to take action and step away from the competition.” Israel, for its part, strongly denies allegations of genocide in Gaza, and its supporters have organized their own rallies in Vienna.
This year’s contest is one for the record books in more ways than one. With only 35 participating countries, Eurovision 2026 marks the lowest turnout since 2003, a fact noted by both That Eurovision Site and AP News. The absence of five nations is expected to impact both the event’s revenue and its global viewership—organizers say 166 million people tuned in last year. On the flip side, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania have returned after skipping recent editions for artistic or financial reasons, providing a sliver of good news for Eurovision’s diversity.
Austria’s capital has embraced its role as host city with gusto. Vienna beat out Innsbruck in a competitive bidding process, and the city has been transformed into a festival of music and color. The contest’s “core team” was unveiled last June, and the shows are scheduled for May 12, 14, and 16. As the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) explained, the automatic qualifiers—Italy, Germany, the U.K., France, and host Austria—will join the semi-final winners in the Grand Final, with Italy and Germany having performed and voted in the first semi-final but not competing for votes themselves.
Finland’s entry, “Liekinheitin” (“Flamethrower”) by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, is widely considered a bookmaker favorite, with its intense energy and unique blend of violin and pop vocals. Greece’s Akylas brought a party-rap track, “Ferto,” that quickly became a fan favorite. Meanwhile, Portugal’s soulful “Rosa” and San Marino’s “Superstar” with Boy George added to the night’s stylistic diversity, even if they ultimately fell short of qualification.
Eurovision has always walked a fine line between music and politics, and this year is no exception. Russia’s exclusion in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine set a precedent, and allegations of vote-rigging in previous years have led the EBU to tighten voting rules. According to AP News, the number of votes per person has been halved to 10, and new safeguards are in place to detect “suspicious or coordinated voting activity.” The full breakdown of semi-final results, including points and rankings, will remain under wraps until after Saturday’s Grand Final, That Eurovision Site confirmed.
Despite the challenges, Eurovision’s resilience is legendary. As Dean Vuletic, author of “Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest,” told AP News, “If you look at the history of Eurovision, it’s gone through so many crises, so many political challenges, so many geopolitical changes in Europe, and it’s always managed to survive.” Media researcher Jonathan Hendrickx, however, sounded a note of caution: “They really are at their limits now, in terms of what they can handle with the current format.” The next few days will test the contest’s ability to adapt and endure.
For now, the focus returns to the music. As Vienna prepares for the next semi-final and the Grand Final on May 18, fans across Europe and beyond are already debating favorites and speculating about surprises to come. Whether you’re a die-hard Eurovision devotee or a casual viewer tuning in for the spectacle, one thing’s for sure: this year’s contest is shaping up to be one of the most memorable yet.