Eurovision has returned for its 70th year and as the first semi-final kicked off, the countries competed for a spot in the Grand Final.
Thanks to JJ’s win in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Austria will host in Vienna this year, with 35 countries turning up to the Wiener Stadthalle.
Only 25 countries are allowed to compete in the final on Saturday, May 16, and so 10 countries must bid farewell to the competition after the semi-finals are over.
On Tuesday, May 12, the first semi-final saw Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia, Finland, Montenegro, Estonia, Israel, Belgium, Lithuania, San Marino, Poland and Serbia perform. With Italy and Germany part of the “Big Four” countries, they’re automatically guaranteed a place in the final.
Following a public vote, joining Germany and Italy in the final, will be Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland.
Viewers from the United Kingdom were unable to vote in the first semi-final as Look Mum No Computer will be performing on Thursday (May 14) for the second night.
The second semi-final will air on Thursday, May 14, with Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxembourg, Czechia, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta and Norway competing.
The “Big Four” countries performing and voting during the second Semi-Final are France and the United Kingdom. The hosts Austria will also be performing.
Here are all the countries that qualified from semi-final 1, and those that did not.
Full list of countries and performers who qualified from semi-final 1Italy: Sal Da Vinci – “Per Sempre Sì” (Big Four)Germany: Sarah Engels – “Fire” (Big Four)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”The five countries that did not qualifyPortugal: Bandidos do Cante – “Rosa”Georgia: Bzikebi – “On Replay”Montenegro: Tamara Živković – “Nova Zora”Estonia: Vanilla Ninja – “Too Epic To Be True”San Marino: SENHIT (and Boy George) – “Superstar”
Eurovision Grand Final airs on Saturday May 16 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.