The Eurovision Song Contest returns tonight for its landmark 70th edition, bringing one of music’s biggest global live events back to Vienna for the first time since 2015. With political controversy, major rule changes, returning countries, and one of the contest’s most divided participation lineups in decades, Eurovision 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched editions in years.
Austria hosts this year’s competition after JJ won Eurovision 2025 with “Wasted Love,” giving the country its third time staging the event following previous editions in 1967 and 2015. The shows take place at Vienna’s 16,152-capacity Wiener Stadthalle and are presented by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, while Emily Busvine serves as green room host.
When Is Eurovision 2026?
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 schedule officially begins today.
Semi-Final 1
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Live at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
Semi-Final 2
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Live at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
Grand Final
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Live at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
All three shows begin at 21:00 CEST in Europe.
Where Is Eurovision 2026 Taking Place?
Vienna once again becomes the center of Eurovision after Austria secured victory in 2025. Wiener Stadthalle previously hosted the contest during Conchita Wurst’s post-win edition in 2015, and organizers are leaning heavily into Austrian cultural imagery this year.
Stage designer Florian Wieder returns for a third consecutive contest with a production inspired by the Viennese Secession movement. Three core visual motifs — “The Leaf,” “The Curved Line,” and “The Construct” — shape the stage architecture, while the green room draws inspiration from traditional Viennese coffee houses.
Outside the arena, Eurovision Village has been set up at Rathausplatz, featuring live performances, screenings, and fan events throughout the week. Official after-parties are taking place at the Prater Dome nightclub during EuroClub events.
Why Eurovision 2026 Is Already Controversial
Thirty-five countries are participating this year, marking Eurovision’s smallest lineup since 2003 and two fewer nations than in 2025.
Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain all withdrew in protest over Israel’s inclusion amid the ongoing Gaza war. The boycott represents Eurovision’s largest coordinated withdrawal movement since 1970 and has reignited wider conversations surrounding politics inside the competition.
At the same time, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova return after previous absences.
The European Broadcasting Union also introduced several rule changes following backlash surrounding the 2025 results. Semi-finals will once again combine jury voting and televoting after using televote-only systems from 2023 through 2025.
National juries now increase from five to seven members, with at least two jurors aged between 18 and 25. Voting limits have also been reduced from 20 votes per payment method to 10.
Which Artists Are Returning to Eurovision?
Several familiar Eurovision names appear across this year’s lineup.
Vanilla Ninja returns representing Estonia after previously competing for Switzerland in 2005. San Marino brings back Senhit, who competed in 2011 and 2021 and was originally scheduled for the canceled 2020 edition.
Poland’s Alicja finally reaches the Eurovision stage after her 2020 plans were interrupted by the pandemic. Georgia’s Bzikebi also returns to the Eurovision universe after winning Junior Eurovision 2008.
What Happens During the Semi-Finals?
Fifteen countries compete in each semi-final, with ten advancing from each show into Saturday’s Grand Final.
Tonight’s first semi-final opens with Eurovision legend Vicky Leandros performing Luxembourg’s 1967 winner “L’amour est bleu” backed by a 70-member choir. Interval acts include acrobatic troupe Zurcaroh and a comedic musical segment called “Kangaroo,” featuring the hosts and a guest appearance from Australia’s 2025 representative Go-Jo.
Thursday’s second semi-final opens with Swarovski and Ostrowski performing “Wasted Love” in intentionally exaggerated fashion before JJ returns later in the broadcast with his new single “Unknown.”
How Does Voting Work in Eurovision 2026?
The Grand Final on May 16 will feature 25 countries: Austria, the Big Four, and 20 qualifiers from the semi-finals.
All participating countries contribute both jury votes and public televotes. International viewers from non-participating nations can once again vote through the aggregated “Rest of the World” system online.
Organizers have also updated official voting language this year to discourage coordinated promotional campaigns involving governments or outside organizations.
Participating Countries and Artists
- Albania: Alis (Alis Kallaçi) – “Nân”
- Armenia: Simón (Simon Hovhannisyan) – “Paloma Rumba”
- Australia: Delta Goodrem – “Eclipse”
- Austria (Host): Cosmó – “Tanzschein”
- Azerbaijan: Jamila Hashimova – “Just Go”
- Belgium: Essyla – “Dancing on the Ice”
- Bulgaria: DARA – “Bangaranga”
- Croatia: Lelek – “Andromeda”
- Cyprus: Antigoni – “Jalla”
- Czechia: Daniel Žižka – “Crossroads”
- Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – “Før vi går hjem”
- Estonia: Vanilla Ninja – “Too Epic To Be True”
- Finland: Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen – “Liekinheitin”
- France: Monroe – “Regarde”
- Georgia: Bzikebi – “On Replay”
- Germany: Sarah Engels – “Fire”
- Greece: Akylas – “Ferto”
- Israel: Noam Bettan – “Michelle”
- Italy: Sal Da Vinci – “Per sempre sì”
- Latvia: Atvara – “Ēnā”
- Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – “Sólo quiero más”
- Luxembourg: Eva Marija – “Mother Nature”
- Malta: Aidan – “Bella”
- Moldova: Satoshi – “Viva, Moldova”
- Montenegro: Tamara Živković – “Nova zora”
- Norway: Jonas Lovv – “Ya Ya Ya”
- Poland: Alicja (Alicja Szemplińska) – “Pray”
- Portugal: Bandidos do Cante – “Rosa”
- Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – “Choke Me”
- San Marino: Senhit ft. Boy George – “Superstar”
- Serbia: Lavina – “Kraj mene”
- Sweden: Felicia – “My System”
- Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro – “Alice”
- Ukraine: Leléka – “Ridnym”
- United Kingdom: Look Mum No Computer – “Eins Zwei Drei”
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
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