ORF hosts the fourth day of Eurovision 2026 rehearsals in Vienna, with each delegation receiving 40 minutes to polish their entries when technical rehearsals gets underway.
The fourth day of Eurovision 2026 rehearsals is officially underway on the magnificent stage in Vienna, Austria. Following the completion of the first rehearsal round for all nations in the first semi-final, along with seven nations from the second semi-final, the focus today shifts to the eight remaining countries of the second Semi-Final, which will take place on May 14th. Each delegation will be granted 30 critical minutes of intensive work to refine the staging, lighting, and camera angles that will ultimately determine their fate in the competition.
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.
Favorites Take the Vienna Stage
Today, all eyes are on the artists taking the stage for the first time, most notably the Danish singer Søren Torpegaard Lund. He has solidified his status as a serious contender, currently holding third place in the betting odds. Meanwhile, Australia’s Delta Goodrem, who also rehearses today, is breathing down his neck in fourth place.
Which countries will hold their first rehearsals today? The following eight nations from the second Semi-Final of Eurovision 2026 are scheduled to take the stage:
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- 10:30 CEST – Cyprus: Antigoni – “JALLA”
- 11:10 CEST – Latvia: Atvara – “Ēnā”
- 11:50 CEST – Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund –“Før vi går hjem”
- 12:45 CEST – Australia: Delta Goodrem – “Eclipse”
- 13:25 CEST – Ukraine: LELÉKA – “Ridnym”
- 14:00 CEST – Albania : Alis – “Nân”
- 14:40 CEST- Malta: Aidan – “Bella”
- 16:20 CEST – Norway: Jonas Lovv – “Ya Ya Ya”
As a reminder, photographs from the rehearsals that took place yesterday are expected to be released throughout the day. Stay tuned with us for updates as the day progresses!
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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