The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 took place in Vienna on May 12, featuring performances from fifteen countries. Out of these, ten entries have secured their places in the final.
The countries advancing to the final include:
- Greece (Akylas — Ferto);
- Finland (Linda Lampenius x 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);
- Poland (ALICJA — Pray).
Germany (Sarah Engels — Fire) and Italy (Sal Da Vinci — Per Sempre Sì) also performed in this semi-final but will proceed directly to the final due to their status as founding countries of the contest.
The following entries did not qualify for the final:
- Portugal (Bandidos do Cante — Rosa);
- Georgia (Bzikebi — On Replay);
- Montenegro (Tamara Živković — Nova Zora);
- Estonia (Vanilla Ninja – Too Epic To Be True);
- San Marino (SENHIT – Superstar).
Participants who qualified have already been informed of their performance order in the final.
Ukraine will be represented by singer Leléka with the song Ridnym in the second semi-final scheduled for May 14, performing in position twelve.
About Eurovision 2026
The 70th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, following last year’s victory by JJ with the song Wasted Love. The grand final is set for May 16, 2026, with semi-finals taking place on May 12 and 14. The event will be hosted at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena.
A total of 35 countries will participate, with 30 competing in the semi-finals. Ukraine’s entry, represented by Leléka with Ridnym, received the maximum score of 10 points from both the audience and the jury.
Up to 20 winners from the semi-finals will advance to the final. Additionally, representatives from the ‘Big Five’ (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy) will automatically qualify, with the exception of Spain, which has opted out of this year’s contest for the first time in its history, as well as the previous year’s winner, Austria.
The first semi-final of Eurovision 2026 concluded in Vienna, with ten countries qualifying for the final. Ukraine's entry will perform in the second semi-final on May 14.