Eurovision 2026 live: Semi-final updates as Israel, Finland and and Greece battle for spot in the final
Annual song contest kicks off tonight in Vienna, Austria
www.independent.co.ukHere’s the latest you asked for on Eurovision semi-finals.
- The first Eurovision 2026 semi-final took place in Vienna on Tuesday, May 12, with Finland, Greece, and Israel among the contenders aiming to reach the final.[1][2]
- Ten acts advanced to the final from the first semi-final, with the final lineup including Finland, Greece, Israel, Sweden, and others; the UK and several other traditionally strong entries were noted in the coverage as still waiting for the second semi-final results.[4]
- Notable ongoing context: Israel faced controversy over its participation, and a formal warning was issued by Eurovision for a voting-video promotion; some countries continued to debate participation or broadcasting choices. Spain withdrew from competing this year in protest of Israel’s involvement, while others planned to broadcast the final despite not sending acts.[2][1]
- The second semi-final was scheduled for Thursday, May 14, with the UK’s Look Mum No Computer (representing the UK) and several other delegates performing live to qualify for the final. UK viewers could watch on BBC platforms.[1][2]
Illustration of what happened:
- Semi-final lineup and progression: a stream of performances in Vienna led to a top-10 that advanced to Saturday’s final, illustrating the contest’s blend of music, staging, and voting dynamics.[4]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise, up-to-date running order for the second semi-final and the final participants as soon as they’re confirmed, or fetch viewer summaries from specific outlets. Also tell me if you want a quick chart of finalists by country and their song titles.[4]