Eurovision 2026: Second Semi-Final Details
The list of countries and songs competing in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 was announced on March 11, 2026. The event itself will be held in Vienna on May 14, 2026. The semi-final, which begins at 22:00, will feature 15 countries, with 10 progressing to the grand final. The voting system will be a 50/50 split between national juries and public televotes. Viewers in the participating countries, as well as those in the 'Rest of the World' category, will be eligible to vote.
Participating Countries and Their Artists
The following nations will compete in the second semi-final:
- Azerbaijan
- Bulgaria
- Armenia
- Luxembourg
- Romania
- Czechia
- Switzerland
- Albania
- Australia
- Denmark
- Cyprus
- Latvia
- Malta
- Norway
- Ukraine
Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands have announced a boycott of Eurovision 2026. It is important to note that no vote was held regarding Israel's participation during the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The artists representing these countries and their songs are as follows:
- Azerbaijan will be represented by Jiva with the song 'Just Go'
- Bulgaria's entry is Dara with 'Bangaranga'
- Armenia will be represented by Simón performing 'Paloma Rumba'
- Luxembourg's artist is Eva Marija with 'Mother Nature'
- Romania will be represented by Alexandra Căpitănescu with 'Choke Me'
- Czechia's entry is Daniel Žižka with 'Crossroads'
- Switzerland will be represented by Veronica Fusaro with 'Alice'
The second half of the semi-final lineup includes:
- Albania with Alis performing 'Nân'
- Australia's Delta Goodrem with 'Eclipse'
- Denmark's Søren Torpegaard Lund with 'Før vi går hjem'
- Cyprus will be represented by Antigoni with 'Jalla'
- Latvia's entry is Atvara with 'Ēnā'
- Malta will be represented by Aidan with 'Bella'
- Norway's artist is Jonas Lovv with 'Ya ya ya'
- Ukraine will be represented by Leleka with 'Ridnym'
The countries that have automatically qualified for the final (the 'Big Five' and host nation) are:
- Austria, represented by Cosmó with 'Tanzschein'
- The United Kingdom, represented by Look Mum No Computer with 'Eins, Zwei, Drei'
- France, represented by Monroe with 'Regarde'
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has also announced changes to the voting system, with participating broadcasters voting to introduce new rules regarding song promotion. These changes aim to make the contest more engaging and dynamic. The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the world's longest-running and most-watched non-sporting television events.
The second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 promises to be a thrilling spectacle, featuring 15 nations including Ukraine, which traditionally fields strong entries. The voting system changes could significantly impact the results, adding further suspense and competition. The boycott by Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands highlights ongoing political and logistical challenges the contest sometimes faces, underscoring the need for continued dialogue among participating nations.