Overview
- Following Tuesday’s first semifinal in Vienna, Finland, Greece, Israel, Sweden, Belgium, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland reached Saturday’s final, while Portugal, Georgia, Montenegro, Estonia and San Marino were eliminated.
- Germany’s Sarah Engels, already qualified for the final, performed Fire out of competition and staged a two‑metre backward fall into the arms of four dancers, drawing loud applause and brisk social media reaction.
- Israel advanced as isolated boos met Noam Bettan’s performance, and earlier withdrawals by several countries over the Gaza war shaped the political backdrop to the show.
- The 70th contest features 35 entrants, the fewest in more than two decades, and Vienna’s arena is under tight security with a large police presence and bag restrictions.
- With Germany already through to Saturday, SWR named Wavvyboi as the spokesperson who will announce Germany’s jury points, as the second semifinal on Thursday sets the rest of the lineup.