Discover a little bit more about the performers you’ll be watching on Thursday evening
Ahead of the second Live Show on 14 May, it’s time to get acquainted with the artists of Eurovision 2026! Which diva tried to recreate a moment from Helsinki 2007 in their bathroom? Who likes to sing while performing somersaults in mid-air? And which young up-and-comer can’t get enough of ’80s pop music? Find out below!
You can also learn more about the class of 2026 through our artist profiles. There, you’ll find their biographies, song lyrics and music videos.
Don’t forget to watch and vote!
🇧🇬 Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga
DARA’s Eurovision hero is Elitsa Todorova, who represented Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, alongside Stoyan Yankulov, with the song Water. Elitsa’s mother, Pavlinka Todorova, was even DARA’s vocal teacher! DARA was so inspired by Water that she used to sing it in choir performances and later in her own concerts.
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: JIVA – Just Go
JIVA’s all-time favourite Eurovision song is the winner that brought the Contest to Vienna last time around, Rise Like a Phoenix by Conchita Wurst. JIVA explains: “I’ve always loved the lyrics and the powerful meaning of the song. It carries a strong emotional message about resilience and rising again.”
🇷🇴 Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me
If Alexandra could describe herself with one emoji, it would be the anatomical heart 🫀
She feels it perfectly reflects the message behind her 2026 Eurovision entry, Choke Me: “Unlike the classic heart, which represents romance or cute love, the anatomical heart suggests vulnerability… and emotions that feel intense, physical and almost painful.”
🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Eva Marija – Mother Nature
The 2009 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was a formative moment for a young Eva Marija. It was the Moscow 2009 champion Alexander Rybak who inspired Eva to start playing the violin, when she was just three years old. According to the Mother Nature singer: “Fairytale paved the first steps of my love for music.”
🇨🇿 Czechia: Daniel Zizka – CROSSROADS
One of Daniel’s previous releases was the song 23:23, which he subsequently got to arrange and perform with the Czech Symphony Orchestra at the historic Bethlehem Chapel in Prague; a big highlight in Daniel’s musical journey to date.
🇫🇷 France: Monroe – Regarde !
The Wiener Stadthalle is just the latest in a run of phenomenal stages that the 17-year-old Monroe has performed on. The singer has previously gotten to sing at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican City. She described the space as incredibly unique, recalling that “its pillars resembled embracing arms.”
🇦🇲 Armenia: SIMÓN – Paloma Rumba
The strangest place SIMÓN has ever performed has been… in mid-air! The multi-talented entertainer likes to hang from the ceiling and sing his heart out while performing non-stop saltos. “That’s becoming my thing now,” confirms the artist from Armenia.
🇨🇭 Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro – Alice
Veronica’s all-time Eurovision hero is Mahmood, who represented Italy twice at the Contest, in 2019 and 2022. She reveals: “I really admire how he brings such a strong artistic identity to Eurovision. His songs feel very personal and contemporary, and they connect far beyond the Contest.”. Now it’s Veronica’s turn to draw audiences in!
🇨🇾 Cyprus: Antigoni – JALLA
Antigoni has a family dog called Tzatziki – named after the family’s favourite dip! “We call him Ziki for short,” assures Antigoni, which is just as well, really; the neighbours would be very confused if they heard the Cypriot superstar shouting for “TZATZIKI” day and night!
🇦🇹 Austria: COSMÓ – Tanzschein
COSMÓ’s absolute go-to karaoke tune is Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield. He loves the idea of being a blank canvas and writing your own story, as: “I found myself in this situation a lot last year.”
🇱🇻 Latvia: Atvara – Ēnā
If Atrava could describe herself with one emoji it would be: 🌓
She explains: “I think everyone has both light and shadow in them and I like exploring both in music.” Spoken like a true creative with an artistic view of the world around her!
🇩🇰 Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
Søren admits he has a huge soft spot for all things ’80s, and he says that in particular How Will I Know by Whitney Houston always gets him going – whether he’s dancing so hard he “sweats like a pig” or he’s getting emotional at the at the acoustic version. Søren is that artist with ALL the feels!
🇦🇺 Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
Delta’s entry, Eclipse, was released just one day before a real lunar eclipse turned the Moon blood red for 82 minutes – an event visible to nearly six billion people around the world! Get that promo, queen!
🇺🇦 Ukraine: LELÉKA – Ridnym
LELÉKA’s first memory of the Eurovision Song Contest was Ruslana winning for Ukraine in 2004, with Wild Dances: “I remember feeling incredibly happy. For me, it was a moment of discovering a sense of dignity – realising that, as a Ukrainian, you could truly be proud of this achievement and this international recognition.”
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER – Eins, Zwei, Drei
LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER has taken his act to many great spots. But one of the most memorable places he’s performed in is the refrigeration hold of the MS Stubnitz – an old fishing vessel that now functions both as a sea boat and music venue. He’s especially enamoured with the engine room, packed with diesel engines, generators and strange machinery. As far as he’s concerned: “The best thing of all is that it smells like old oil. Lovely.”
🇦🇱 Albania: Alis – Nân
A Eurovision classic that Alis goes to when he needs a real boost is Dark Side by Blind Channel, which finished sixth for Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam: “I love its energy and attitude!”. Alis is also a fan of another Finnish rock anthem – the Nordic nation’s winning entry from 2006, Hard Rock Hallelujah.
🇲🇹 Malta: AIDAN – Bella
As a child, AIDAN tried recreating his favourite song from the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in his own bathroom! “I used to try and recreate the rain scene from the music video of ‘Vertigo’ by Olivia Lewis.” Despite this early show of patriotism (Vertigo represented Malta), his mother was far from impressed!
🇳🇴 Norway: JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA
At karaoke sessions, JONAS absolutely loves performing Something’s Got a Hold On Me by Christina Aguilera from the soundtrack of the camp Cher and Christina classic Burlesque. According to the Norwegian rockstar: “It brings out my womanhood.”
We wish the very best of luck to this year’s Second Semi-Finalists as they prepare to blow us away in Vienna on Thursday 14 May!
