Watch: Tonight at 21:00 CET, the first semi-final of “Pesma za Evroviziju 2026” takes place. Seven songs will secure their place in the final. Link to watch the live broadcast – Below!

Tonight marks the first semi-final of “Pesma za Evroviziju 2026”. 12 artists will compete for seven of the 14 spots available in the grand final. The seven qualifiers will be determined by an equal combination of jury votes (50%) and public votes (50%).

The semi-final will take place at the RTS Košutnjak Studios — Studio 8 in Belgrade, hosted by Dragana Kosjerina, Kristina Radenković, and Stefan Popović. Tonight’s show is the first of two semi-finals, with the grand final — where Serbia’s entry for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen — scheduled for February 28th.

The first semi-final will begin at 21:00 and continue until 23:30 CET.

Watch the first semi-final of “Pesma Za Euroviziju ’26” here!

Eurovision 2026: A Fiery First Rehearsal for Finland in Vienna

Eurovision 2026: Bzikebi Bring High Energy to Georgia’s First Rehearsal

Portugal’s First Rehearsal: Bandidos Do Cante Take the Eurovision 2026 Stage

Greece’s First Rehearsal: Akylas Takes the Eurovision 2026 Stage

Croatia’s First Rehearsal: LELEK Take the Eurovision 2026 Stage

Sweden’s First Rehearsal: Felicia Takes the Eurovision 2026 Stage

Moldova’s First Rehearsal: Satoshi Takes the Eurovision 2026 Stage

Vienna Rehearsals Begin: Eurovision 2026 Artists Take the Stage

How Serbia Will Select Its Eurovision 2026 Entry

As in previous years, “Pesma Za Euroviziju” will feature two semi-finals, scheduled for February 24th and February 26th. Each semi-final will include 12 competing artists, with seven acts from each show qualifying for the grand final, which will be held on February 28th. The winner of the national selection will be determined through a combined voting system consisting of public voting and a professional jury, split evenly at 50%–50%. The winning entry will go on to represent Serbia at Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna in May 2026. Serbia is set to compete in the second half of the first semi-final of Eurovision 2026, which will be held on May 12th.

First Semi-Final: Running Order

Mirna Radulović – “OMAJA“
Kosmos trip – “Sve je u redu“
Iva Grujin – “Otkrivam sebe“
Eegor – “Klaber“
Makao bend – “Daj nam svet“
Lores – “Unseen“
Manivi – “Svaki dan“
Anabela Mitić – “Trampolina“
YANX – “Srušio si sve“
Zejna – “Jugoslavija“
Ana Mašulović – “Zavoli me“
Đurđica Gojković – “Moma mala“

Click on the song title to listen!

Among The Contestants – Several Familiar Names:

Mirna Radulović – represented Serbia at Eurovision 2013 as part of the group Moje 3 with the song “Ljubav je svuda” (in English: “Love is All Around”) and finished 11th in the first semi-final.
Zejna – returning and beloved contestant who participated in “Pesma Za Euroviziju ’22” with the song “Nema te” (in English: “You are not there”) finishing 14th, in 2023 with the song “Rumba” finishing 7th, and in 2024 with the song “Najbolja” (in English: “The best”) finishing 5th.
YANX also known by her name Saška Janković – veteran participant who finished 2nd in “Beovizja 2018” with the song “Pesma za tebe” (in English: “A Song for you”), 3rd in 2013 with the song “Duga u tvojim očima” (in English: “Rainbow in your eyes”) and in 2019 with the song “Da li čuješ moj glas?” (in English: “Do you hear my voice?”). In “Beovizja 2009” she reached 10th place with the song “Nauči me” (in English: “Teach me”). She competed in “Pesma Za Evroviziju ’24” under the stage name YANX with the song “Kolo” (in English: “Voice” / “Circle dance”) but failed to qualify for the final. At Eurovision she participated as a backing singer for Serbia’s representatives Milan Stankovic, in 2010 with the song “Ovo je Balkan” (in English: “This is the Balkans”, 13th place), Nina, in 2011 with the song “Čaroban” (in English: “Magical”, 14th place), and Bojana Stamenov, in 2015 with the song “Beauty Never Lies” (10th place).
Eegor – competed in “Pesma Za Evroviziju ’23” in the semi-final with the song “Starac dana” (Hebrew: “Elder of days”) but did not qualify to the final.

Serbia at Eurovision: Impressive Record and Consistency

Serbia joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 and has been absent from the competition only once since then, in 2014. Already in its debut performance at the contest in 2007, Serbia recorded an especially impressive result and won 1st place with the song “Molitva” (in English: “Prayer”) with 268 points, thereby making history as the only country to win Eurovision in its very first participation! Since then, Serbia has continued to maintain consistency in most competitions by advancing to the final and achieving impressive results. Serbia is considered one of the most prominent and interesting countries at Eurovision due to its commitment to sending songs with a unique identity that characterizes it in terms of style, tradition and language.

Serbia Addresses Israel’s Participation Debate?

In an interview on RTS’s morning program on May 26th, Duška Vučinić-Lučić, head of media affairs for Eurovision at RTS and a long-standing contest commentator, revealed that despite questions raised about Israel’s participation, Serbia would not file an official complaint nor question the validity of the voting process.

She also expressed her opinion that Serbia’s Eurovision 2025 representative, Princ, would have reached the final had the judges at the semi-final stage also voted, and not only the audience. Vučinić-Lučić indirectly criticized the last contest’s slogan, “United by Music”, questioning its sincerity, but clarified that Serbia has no intention of withdrawing from Eurovision.

“Pesma Za Euroviziju ’26”: Key Dates

First Semi-Final – Tuesday, February 24th, 2026.
Second Semi-Final – Thursday, February 26th, 2026.
Grand Final – Saturday, February 28th, 2026.

Serbia at Eurovision 2025

“Mila” is the title of the song performed by Serbian singer Princ, who represented Serbia at the Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, finishing 14th in the second semi-final with 28 points. The song was written by Dušan Bačić. This marks his first foray into the Eurovision contest. The song is performed in Serbian.

The song deals with feelings of intense love and the accompanying pain, with the lyrics describing feelings of longing, shared memories, and a deep connection that persists despite difficulties and distances.

Eurovision 2026: This will be Serbia’s 18th participation in Eurovision. Serbia joined the contest in 2007 and achieved its best result in the same year when singer Marija Šerifović won first place with the song “Molitva”.