Happy Father’s Day! On Thursday, May 14, 2026 the 70th Eurovision Song Contest continued in the Austrian capital Vienna. Read everything about the semi-final 2 here.

After the semi-final 1, which I reported about here, along with the depression concerning Vanilla Ninja not passing through the cards were shuffled completely new for the beginning of the show. A spark of hope that made me inhale was the post we received from Vanilla Ninja on Instagram as a first sign of life after their exclusion from the competition – especially because they refused to talk to the media according to the Estonian sources. Could such a depressing semi-final repeat? Hope was there for Armenia.

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Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Semi-Finalsts Impressions

1. BUL – Dara „Bangaranga“: Strong modern electropop meets Eastern-European beats. With her crazy dancers the girl-banger Dara provided a very sovereign show. She has a strong, dominant voice and knows how to play a role. Dara doubtlessly owned the show.
2. AZE – Jiva „Just Go“: You hear the sad yet decisive love ballad which was supported by her make-up that included staged blood. The song was carried by this typical Azeri music and atmosphere. I loved her singing more when she sang in her language, that fitted her better. I was not the only one whom, she reminded of Ell & Nikki’s performance who brought the contest to Baku in Düsseldorf 2011. In the same year Jiva took part in the national selection too but didn’t pass through.
3. ROM – Alessandra Cǎpitǎnescu „Choke Me“: The girl who looked like a nice sweet girl in her postcard was an incredible girl-banger! A one-woman rock-band, who honored her outfit just right. What an incredible singer who can sing it all: from hardcore growl to classic high notes. Absolutely incredible! Just wow!
4. LUX – Eva Marija „Mother Nature“: What a super sweet girl. The 20-year-old girl with Slovenian roots has impressed with her clean deep voice. Her song mirrored exactly its title but thanks to the bridge where she played her violin it got a beautiful Irish touch. I love her microphone stand, which looked like a tree and on which flowers bloomed from it for the final. On the whole she made the very best with the LED-screens.
5. CZE – Daniel Zizka „Crossroads“: A calm, almost silent song. Very minimalistic if you don’t count the mirror cabinet. It can be boring or appreciated in this reduced everything. The young singer could still definitely uplift it his song with his great singing.
   FRA – Monroe „Regarde!“: The youngest contestant with 17-years. The song starts with French opera-drama which continues in her impressive soprano-voice. I love how the French representatives remain true to their proud couture and incomparable language. An absolute blast!
6. ARM – Simón „Paloma Rumba“: YES! This is Armenian pop at its finest as the music screams. He, himself screams to break out of the ordinary with his song and performance and he does! He put in a bombastic show and made Armenian music cool. Definitely an eye-catcher with a catchy tone. The yellow was for sure a statement.
7. SWI – Veronica Fusaro „Alice“: Veronica is this vintage singer you secretly wish for in times of overfloating electro-pop songs. Her appearance with the glasses is so amazing. She reminds me of Alicia Keys with her music. She proved herself as super solid strong and independent woman. My top part was when she gripped her guitar.
8. CYP – Antigoni „Jalla“ (More): The sexy woman shaking her hips which we would have missed because Spain doesn’t participate this year. She has a sweet sympathetic voice and her song is very much learning on Oriental vibes despite the Greek leaning staging.
   AUT – Cosmó „Tanzschein“: The song is so cool, even though it is sung in Austrian-German, which is a less sexier kind of German. I loved his comic-animation on the floor in the beginning. Basically you wouldn’t consider such a song cool at the first sight but as it was ongoing it was absolutely amazing and in fact made you dance. „Tanzschein“ reminded me of the song „Nein, Mann“ from Laserkraft 3D.
9. LAT – Atvara „Enā“: Latvia entered the stage with an, as it was announced, gloomy ballade about child-trauma and fear. But personally I didn’t feel of it to be as gloomy. She had the shards of glass displayed and reflected which was mirrored in her dress but otherwise the song was rather modest and discreet. She sung in her native language which I love but it was a rather weak entry.
10. DEN – Søren Torpegaard Lund „Før Vi Går Hjem“: An entry in Danish is something I appreciate. His clean singing definitely speaks for him but otherwise I consider his song a little bit monotone in energy despite its great rhythm. It uplifted in its final.
11. AUS – Delta Goodrem „Eclipse“: Besides from Vanilla Ninja, THE megastar of the jubilee show who was an international superstar 23 years ago with my catchy tone „Lost Without You“. „Australia wants to know it“ the commentators kept saying and they certainly did with their glorious diva sparkling in gold and Swarowski stones. My highlight was her including her instrument, the piano, even if it was just during the short bridge. She has definitely evolved in style, confidence and her brilliant voice.
12. UKR — Leléka “Ridnym”: Ukraine sent a calm and peaceful song with Leléka embodying it. I loved the note of the traditional Ukrainian instrument. The light blue-white staging was a perfect addition to her performance but on the whole it did lack that blast.
    UKI — Look Mum No Computer “Eins, Zwei, Drei”: That was something no one probably expected – neither the artist’s name as well as Britains using a song title in German. The United Kingdom is either a 0-points candidate or a 2nd-place banger. That is for sure but hopefully this craziness we usually know from Finland will be rewarded.
13. ALB — Alis “Nân” (Mother): Native language is love but native dialect is next level! Alis looked like an international mega-star in his costume and was absolutely sovereign on stage. All I am personally struggling with was his performance mirroring the content of his song about a mother always be waiting for her child – which is basically not wrong but very unhealthily practiced by many mothers who crash into their children’s growth. Neutrally regarded still a beautiful pick regarding the week Mother’s Day this week.
14. MAL — Aidan „Bella“: Malta also entered the battlefield with its native language. But with the Italian title „Bella“ and the Italian flair that the singer provided on stage you can never go wrong. Not the most powerful song this year but surely very charming and alluring.
15. NOR — Jonas Lovv “Ya Ya Ya”: Jonas gave us an uplifting and flashy final in the very end which evolved the whole second semi-final again. He was indeed a piece of art himself with his tattoos and appearance. And maybe he had given us this Harry Styles vibe that made him popular.

ESC Semi-Final 1: Ranking & Outcome

I honestly wasn’t shaking as much for Armenia as I did for Estonia two days ago. Not because I cared less. Semi-final one was stated to have been weak but then I wonder what semi-final two should have been in return. Counting the general favorite of this show I only collected six acts that must have passed through but then again and most of all Switzerland and Armenia didn’t. This confirms that since the beginning of the Ukraine-war Ukraine (and Israel anyway) have become the never-ending politically interesting countries that always pass through the semi-finals even if they brought up nothing. which is a pity for equality of the other competing artists. Back then it somehow used to be Armenia and Azerbaijan. Comparing Armenia with last year’s contestant Parg, who provided a very strong but gloomy „Survivor“ it really seems like people prefer darkness and power over positive vibes and fun… otherwise you really need to belong to a minority.

Actual Qualifiers	Personal Qualifiers
Bulgaria Australia Ukraine Denmark Romania Norway Malta Albania Czechia Cyprus	Bulgaria Azerbaijan Luxembourg Romania Armenia Denmark Switzerland Cyprus Australia Ukraine

With Finland, Greece, Denmark and Australia you do have some top favorites who are going to battle for the victory among themselves. First questions already rise how Eurovision could take place if Australia won but as the 28th contest had taken place in Australia in April 1983 it does not seem impossible. For what concerns me I am rather unbiased.