Moldova Tops Audience Poll After First Eurovision 2026 Semi-Final

Eurovision Audience Poll Results

According to Главком: Moldova's contestant Satoshi has emerged as the crowd favorite following the first semi-final of Eurovision 2026, according to the Eurovision Audience Poll conducted at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. The survey, which gathered responses from 3,000 attendees, saw Satoshi secure 778 votes, representing 28.2% of all participants.

Finland claimed second place with the duo Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen, who earned 432 votes (15.7%). Greece's Akylas took third with 327 votes (11.9%). The full ranking of 15 competing acts and two automatic finalists is as follows:

• 1. Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova! 778 votes (28.2%)
• 2. Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin 432 (15.7%)
• 3. Greece: Akylas – Ferto 327 (11.9%)
• 4. Poland: Alicja – Pray 277 (10.1%)
• 5. Sweden: Felicia – My System 216 (7.8%)
• 6. Croatia: Lelek – Andromeda 141 (5.1%)
• 7. Serbia: Lavina – Kraj mene 129 (4.7%)
• 8. Israel: Noam Bettan – Michelle 121 (4.4%)
• 9. San Marino: Senhit – Superstar 83 (3.0%)
• 10. Estonia: Vanilla Ninja – Too Epic To Be True 58 (2.1%)
• 11. Belgium: Essyla – Dancing on the Ice 52 (1.9%)
• 12. Montenegro: Tamara Živković – Nova Zora 47 (1.7%)
• 13. Portugal: Bandidos do Cante – Rosa 40 (1.5%)
• 14. Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – Sólo Quiero Más 31 (1.1%)
• 15. Georgia: Bzikebi – On Replay 24 (0.9%)

Two automatic finalists also performed during this semi-final: Italy's Sal Da Vinci received 179 votes, while Germany's Sarah Engels gathered 124 votes.

The poll was conducted by media outlets including ESC Insight, 12 Points From America, ESCXTRA.com, That Eurovision Site, Merci Chérie, and ESC Gabe. Historical data from 2023, 2024, and 2025 shows these surveys are strong predictors of qualification for the grand final. In 2023 and 2025, eight out of ten audience poll leaders advanced, while in 2024, nine out of ten made it through.

Upcoming Poll Stages

Further polling rounds are scheduled for May 13 and May 15. The first semi-final of Eurovision 2026 is set to begin at 10:00 PM local time.

These results highlight Satoshi's strong appeal among viewers, potentially signaling his chances for success in the final. – Source: ESC Insight

It is worth noting that past audience polls have consistently proven reliable indicators of final qualification prospects, shaping expectations for both fans and competitors. The upcoming survey rounds on May 13 and 15 could shift the dynamics ahead of the final, offering deeper insight into audience preferences.

As excitement builds ahead of the grand final, it's essential to consider the predictions surrounding this year's contenders. Recent analyses suggest strong correlations between audience preferences and final outcomes, making it worthwhile to explore what the AI forecasts reveal about the potential favorites for Eurovision 2026.