Your one-stop guide to the 70th Eurovision Song Contest
Good evening Europe and good morning Australia… the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is about to begin!
We’ve put together everything you need to know as the week of Live Shows finally commences, including the running orders, top tips on watching the show and the all-important details on how to vote.
Welcome to Vienna
Austria is gearing up to deliver an epic Eurovision Song Contest after JJ took home the trophy in 2025 with his song Wasted Love.
The Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna has been busy in the lead up to the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, with artists perfecting their staging, the crew navigating all those quick changes between performances in the arena, and vocal warm-ups being heard in every corridor. See what’s been happening behind the scenes on our app.
What’s on, when?
First Semi-Final: Tuesday 12 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
Second Semi-Final: Thursday 14 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
Grand Final: Saturday 16 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
This year’s Contest is packed with what are all set to be unforgettable performances, from rousing power ballads to raucous dancefloor fillers, and plenty of tunes teeming with national identity. There’ll be thunder, lightning, fire, pyro, snowstorms and laser beams aplenty!
You may well have already taken full advantage of our sneak peeks offered over on Instagram and TikTok. And if you don’t yet know your FELICIA from your ALICJA, now’s the time to get to know the class of 2026 through our artist profiles . There, you’ll find their biographies, song lyrics and music videos.
You can also find all 35 songs on your favourite music service.
First Semi-Final
Tuesday 12 May, 21:00 CEST
The First Semi-Final of Eurovision 2026 (as well as the following two broadcasts) will be presented our hosts, Victoria Swarovski (TV presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer) and Michael Ostrowski (award-winning TV presenter and actor).
We’ll see 15 artists compete for a spot in the Grand Final, with 10 going through. Alongside those competing, we’ll also get to see Italy and Germany, who will be performing as part of the Big 4 in the Grand Final.
Running order
- 🇲🇩 Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova!
- 🇸🇪 Sweden: FELICIA – My System
- 🇭🇷 Croatia: LELEK – Andromeda
- 🇬🇷 Greece: Akylas – Ferto
- 🇵🇹 Portugal: Bandidos do Cante – Rosa
- 🇬🇪 Georgia: Bzikebi – On Replay
- 🇮🇹 Italy: Sal Da Vinci – Per Sempre Sì
- 🇫🇮 Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin
- 🇲🇪 Montenegro: Tamara Živković – Nova Zora
- 🇪🇪 Estonia: Vanilla Ninja – Too Epic To Be True
- 🇮🇱 Israel: Noam Bettan – Michelle
- 🇩🇪 Germany: Sarah Engels – Fire
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: ESSYLA – Dancing on the Ice
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – Sólo Quiero Más
- 🇸🇲 San Marino: SENHIT – Superstar
- 🇵🇱 Poland: ALICJA – Pray
- 🇷🇸 Serbia: LAVINA – Kraj Mene
Watch on YouTube
Second Semi-Final
Thursday 14 May, 21:00 CEST
As well as the 15 acts competing for one of 10 places in the Grand Final, we’ll also get to see performances from France, Austria and the United Kingdom.
Running order
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga
- 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: JIVA – Just Go
- 🇷🇴 Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Eva Marija – Mother Nature
- 🇨🇿 Czechia: Daniel Zizka – CROSSROADS
- 🇫🇷 France: Monroe – Regarde !
- 🇦🇲 Armenia: SIMÓN – Paloma Rumba
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro – Alice
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus: Antigoni – JALLA
- 🇦🇹 Austria: COSMÓ – Tanzschein
- 🇱🇻 Latvia: Atvara – Ēnā
- 🇩🇰 Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
- 🇦🇺 Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine: LELÉKA – Ridnym
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER – Eins, Zwei, Drei
- 🇦🇱 Albania: Alis – Nân
- 🇲🇹 Malta: AIDAN – Bella
- 🇳🇴 Norway: JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA
Watch on YouTube
Grand Final
Saturday 16 May, 21:00 CEST
On the evening of Saturday 16 May, we’ll watch our lineup of 25 songs competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Grand Final. This is what it’s all been leading up to since JJ lifted the trophy at Basel 2025. And we can’t wait to find out who will be his successor!
Watch on YouTube
Opening and interval acts
Special opening and interval acts are all set to deliver a lavish lineup of legends, superstars and show-stopping performers who’ll be joining us for this milestone year.
Eurovision royalty, Vicky Leandros is opening the First Semi-Final with a brand-new arrangement of her global hit, the 1967 entry L’amour Est Bleu. It’s been nearly 60 years since a 15-year-old Vicky first performed this song for Luxembourg when Vienna first hosted the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1967.
For the Grand Final Celebration! interval act, we’re bringing together beloved Eurovision legends Alexander Rybak, Erika Vikman, Kristian Kostov, Lordi, Max Mutzke, Miriana Conte, Ruslana and Verka Serduchka. Together they’ll take millions of viewers on an electrifying musical journey through seven decades of Eurovision magic.
With even more incredible acts taking to the stage – like Austrian electro-swing icon Parov Stelar and the man who brought us to Vienna this year, JJ, premiering his latest song – the 70th Eurovision Song Contest is shaping up to be the most spectacular celebration in our competition’s seven-decade history.
How to watch
The Semi-Finals and the Grand Final will be aired live on TV by local broadcasters, often with local language commentary. You can also watch on broadcasters’ websites, as well as on-demand services.
Non-participating nations can watch the Live Shows on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel.
In the US, you can watch the Live Shows with our friends at Peacock, but you can also stream the shows live on our YouTube channel for the first time in nearly a decade.
Watching from a non-participating country? Remember, you can still support your favourites using the “Rest of the World” vote!
Watch the First Semi Final on YouTube (Tuesday 12 May 2026, 21:00 CEST)
Watch the Second Semi Final on YouTube (Thursday 14 May 2026, 21:00 CEST)
Watch the Grand Final on YouTube (Saturday 16 May 2026, 21:00 CEST)
How to vote
Wherever you are in the world, you can help decide who lifts the trophy at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest!
In participating countries, instructions on how to vote will be on screen during the broadcasts. Voting opens after the last song has been performed at the Semi-Finals. You can vote up to 10 times, and you’ll have under 20 minutes to do so.
You can only vote in the Semi-Final in which your country is performing. Germany and Italy can vote in the First Semi-Final. Austria, France and the United Kingdom can vote in the Second Semi-Final.
In the Grand Final, voting will open just before the first song is performed. It will stay open through all the performances, and for approximately 40 minutes after the last song has been performed. You can cast your vote by phone, SMS, or at esc.vote, depending on where you are, and you can vote up to 10 times.
If you’re in a non-participating country the voting window will open at midnight before each Semi-Final, and will stay open until the Live Shows begin. Voting is then paused while the artists perform, and will re-open after the last song. You’ll then have just under 20 minutes to cast your 10 votes.
During the Grand Final, the voting window will open online at approximately midnight CEST before the show, closing briefly when the Live Show begins, and opening up again just before the first song is performed. It will then remain open through the Live Show until around 40 minutes after the last competing song has been presented.
Ooh aah, a little bit more
Download the official Eurovision Song Contest app for behind-the-scenes glimpses and live updates from Wiener Stadthalle. Rank your show favourites and share your personal scoreboard with fellow Eurofans around the world.
Rehearsal photos and clips, karaoke performances, exclusive videos and more on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
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