ORF continues Eurovision 2026 rehearsals in Vienna today, with each delegation receiving 40 minutes to polish their entries as the second day of technical rehearsals gets underway.
Eurovision 2026 officially began yesterday, May 2nd, with the first set of rehearsals in Vienna, Austria. While the first seven countries—Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia, and Finland are now preparing for their second rehearsals after a successful opening day, a new group of delegations arrives at the arena today for their initial stage time. Each national delegation has been allocated 40 minutes to begin their technical preparations and initial run-throughs.
During these rehearsals, the artists are able to perform their entries multiple times, polishing their performances ahead of the Semi-Finals and the Grand Final. This stage time is crucial for the performers and their creative teams to familiarize themselves with the Austrian stage, examine the lighting and camera angles, and make critical adjustments. Each delegation submitted its detailed staging plans to the Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, back in March to ensure all technical requirements were met.
In the week leading up to today’s start, stand-in rehearsals featuring substitute performers were In the week leading up to the start of rehearsals, stand-in sessions featuring substitute performers were conducted. These sessions allowed the production team to facilitate final technical adjustments, ensuring that every cue is ready for the artists’ arrival. This preparatory phase ensures that the transition to the live performances remains seamless for all 2026 participants.
Which countries will be holding the first rehearsals?
Today, May 3rd, rehearsals continue with the remaining eight countries from the first semi-final of Eurovision 2026:
Eurovision 2026 – Dates and times
Eurovision 2026 will take place in May, continuing the long‑standing tradition.
Here are the exact dates:
- First semi‑final: Tuesday, May 12th, 2026
- Second semi‑final: Thursday, May 14th, 2026
- Grand final: Saturday, May 16th, 2026
For those asking “What time does Eurovision 2026 start?”, each live show is scheduled to begin at 21:00 CET, making it accessible to viewers right across the continent.
Eurovision 2026: the 70th edition of the contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026. The Wiener Stadthalle arena, which will host the event, is expected to accommodate around 16,000 spectators per show. The contest returns to Austria following the nation’s third historic win with the song “Wasted Love”, performed by JJ. It will be Austria’s third time hosting Eurovision, after previous editions held in the country in 1967 and 2015.
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Writer and content creator at EuroMix, providing cultural insights into the world of Eurovision. Talor is a second-generation Eurovision enthusiast who grew up attending family viewing parties. The 1999 Eurovision, at just five years old, was the event that shaped his love for the contest. He holds a BA degree in Culture – Creation and Production, and his articles combine academic knowledge with a passion for pop and trash, appreciating humor and clever references in the competition’s songs. He specializes in cultural and social analysis, offering in-depth commentary.
Outside the Eurovision world, Talor works as an independent content and media manager.
