The Semi-Finals will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, and guiding audiences on the Euro-phoric journey is commentator and Eurovision aficionado, Rylan, who will be joined on the ride by Angela Scanlon, live from the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna.
Eurovision 2026, Semi-Final 1
Tuesday 12 May, 8pm – BBC iPlayer and BBC One
In the first Semi-Final, the first group of countries will compete for a place in Saturday’s Grand Final. The 15 countries competing are: Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia, Finland, Montenegro, Estonia, Israel, Belgium, Lithuania, San Marino, Poland, and Serbia
The pre-qualified ‘Big Four’ countries performing and voting during the first Semi-Final are: Italy and Germany. Viewers in the UK cannot vote during this Semi-Final.
The show will open with a journey through time, demonstrating that the seven-decade history of the Eurovision Song Contest represents ‘70 Years of Love’: a film that portrays the life of a couple set against the backdrop of the world’s biggest live music show.
A 70-member choir will then launch the first Semi-Final with a tribute to ‘L’amour Est Bleu’ – one of the most popular Eurovision hits of all time. The song was performed when the city of Vienna first hosted the Contest in 1967.
While the votes are coming in, the interval act will see hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski finally settle how to easily distinguish Austria from Australia, via a light-hearted musical performance. They will be joined by the Milkshake Man, Go-Jo, who represented Australia at Basel 2025.
Eurovision 2026, Semi-Final 2
Tuesday 14 May, 8pm – BBC iPlayer and BBC One
The second Semi-Final will feature 15 different acts taking to the stage in the hope of securing a place in Saturday’s Grand Final. Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to vote for their favourites in this Semi-Final and UK viewers are in for a treat, as the UK act LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER takes to the Eurovision stage for the first time to perform his song ‘Eins, Zwei, Drei’, before he competes in Saturday’s Grand Final.
The ‘Big Four’ countries performing and voting during the second Semi-Final are: France and the United Kingdom, with pre-qualified hosts Austria also performing.
Competing this evening are: Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxembourg, Czechia, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta, and Norway.
The hosting duo of Victoria and Michael will open the show and kick off proceedings with a different take on JJ’s high octane 2025 winning song ‘Wasted Love’, and later JJ will take the stage to present viewers with a brand-new song.
Eurovision Semi-Final air Tuesday and Thursday on BBC One.