Israel, Finland and Sweden are among the ten countries to have qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final.
The contest opened on Tuesday night at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, with 15 countries competing in the first semi-final. Germany and Italy, who automatically qualify for Saturday’s final, also performed during the show.
Greece, Belgium, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland also progressed and will perform again in the Grand Final on Saturday, 16 May.
Noam Bettan performing Michelle for Israel
Croatia’s qualification was met with huge cheers inside the stadium, while Belgium are through to the Grand Final for the first time in three years.
Lithuania have now qualified for the fifth year running, while Moldova are back in the Grand Final having returned to the competition in 2024. Serbia also bounced back after failing to qualify last year.
Sweden continue their strong recent Eurovision record, having qualified for the final every year since 2011, while Israel have reached the final again, having missed out only once in their last 10 appearances.
Portugal, Georgia, Montenegro, Estonia and San Marino were eliminated from the contest after the first semi-final, with the qualifiers decided by a public vote.
Fan favourites Israel have booked a spot in Saturday’s Grand Final
Veteran British pop star Boy George performed on the night with San Marino’s Senhit, but they failed to secure a place in the final.
The 64-year-old Culture Club singer performed Superstar, which he co-wrote with Senhit, and appeared on a silver throne midway through the song, wearing a black suit and silver hat as Senhit shouted: “Boy George.”
Senhit began the performance in a shimmering tunnel, wearing a silver outfit matching the costumes of her dancers.
Israel’s Noam Bettan performed his song Michelle without incident during the first semi-final.
The Press Association reports that he was given a mixed reception by the crowd before his song began, with some members of the audience shouting, and later booing during the track’s quiet moments.
It comes after two protesters unsuccessfully attempted to storm the stage and throw paint during Yuval Raphael’s performance for Israel in 2025.
After his song, Bettan told the crowd: “Thank you so much.”
Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, with JJ’s song Wasted Love, which scored 436 points.
Boy George appeared on stage in a black suit and silver hat
RTÉ confirmed in December that Ireland would not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest and would not broadcast the competition after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed Israel would be allowed to take part.
Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia are not taking part this year, reducing the number of participating countries to 35, the lowest total since 2003.
Thursday’s second semi-final will see Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxembourg, Czechia, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta and Norway compete for the remaining places in Saturday’s Grand Final.
Host country Austria, along with France and the United Kingdom, will also perform and vote during the show.
Additional reporting: Press Association