EUROVISION fever is back in full effect as the 70th Song Contest kicks off at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle tonight.
The first semi-final will see 15 countries battle it out for 10 spots the Grand Final.
Can I vote in the Eurovision semi-final tonight?
In short – no.
Aside from enjoying the show, UK viewers are unable to take part in tonight’s Eurovision semi-final.
This is because we have been drawn into the second semi-final on Thursday May 14, 2026.
Eurovision rules state that you can only vote in the semi-final in which your country is performing.
That means Brits will have to wait until Thursday to vote, when viewers can have their say alongside France and host nation Austria, as well as the 15 competing nations.
How do you vote in the Eurovision semi-final?
UK viewers will be able to vote on Thursday.
Don’t worry, as full instructions will flash up on screen during the BBC broadcast.
The official website explains: “If you’re in a participating country, you can vote by phone or SMS.
“The instructions you will need will be on the screen during the broadcast, and you can also find them at esc.vote.
“Voting opens after the last song has been performed. You can vote up to 10 times, and you’ll have around 18 minutes to do so. Use your power wisely.”
You cannot vote for the UK’s own entry, in line with long-standing Eurovision rules designed to prevent home-nation advantage.
Why does the UK only take part in one semi-final?
The UK is a member of the Eurovision Big Five alongside France, Germany, Italy and Spain, all of whom automatically qualify for the Grand Final.
These nations are are the biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – the organisation that runs Eurovision.
That pre-qualified status means the UK does not have to fight its way through the semi-finals, but is instead allocated to broadcast and vote in one of the two semis.
For 2026, Germany and Italy were drawn into the first semi-final, while the UK and France will join Austria in the second.
Spain has, however, pulled out of the contest entirely in protest of Israel’s participation amid the Gaza war, alongside Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia.
When are the two Eurovision 2026 semi-finals?
The Eurovision 2026 semi-finals will take place ahead of Saturday’s showpiece, with 30 of the 35 nations battling it out for 20 Grand Final spots.
Both start at 8pm and are live on BBC One and iPlayer, with the first on tonight – Tuesday, May 12 – and the second following on Thursday, May 14.
Rylan and Angela Scanlon will be providing commentary from the Wiener Stadthalle during both semis.
The order for the first semi-final is as follows:
- Moldova – Satoshi, Viva, Moldova!
- Sweden – Felicia, My System
- Croatia – Lelek, Andromeda
- Greece – Akylas, Ferto
- Portugal – Bandidos do Cante, Rosa
- Georgia – Bzikebi, On Replay
- Italy (non-competing) – Sal Da Vinci, Per sempre sì
- Finland – Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, Liekinheitin
- Montenegro – Tamara Živković, Nova zora
- Estonia – Vanilla Ninja, Too Epic to Be True
- Israel – Noam Bettan, Michelle
- Germany (non-competing) – Sarah Engels, Fire
- Belgium – Essyla, Dancing on the Ice
- Lithuania – Lion Ceccah, Sólo quiero más
- San Marino – Senhit, Superstar (featuring Boy George)
- Poland – Alicja, Pray
- Serbia – Lavina, Kraj mene
While the schedule for the second semi-final is:
- Bulgaria – Dara, Bangaranga
- Azerbaijan – JIVA, Just Go
- Romania – Alexandra Căpitănescu, Choke Me
- Luxembourg – Eva Marija, Mother Nature
- Czechia – Daniel Žižka, Crossroads
- France (non-competing) – Monroe, Regarde !
- Armenia – Simón, Paloma Rumba
- Switzerland – Veronica Fusaro, Alice
- Cyprus – Antigoni, Jalla
- Austria (non-competing) – Cosmó, Tanzschein
- Latvia – Atvara, Ēnā
- Denmark – Søren Torpegaard Lund, Før vi går hjem
- Australia – Delta Goodrem, Eclipse
- Ukraine – Leléka, Ridnym
- United Kingdom (non-competing) – Look Mum No Computer, Eins, Zwei, Drei
- Albania – Alis, Nân
- Malta – Aidan, Bella
- Norway – Jonas Lovv, Ya Ya Ya