Second Rehearsals Kick Off for Semi-Final Two in Vienna
Eurovision 2026 rehearsals continued in Vienna on Friday, May 8, with ten of the fifteen countries competing in Semi-Final Two taking the stage for their second run-through at the Wiener Stadthalle. The 25-minute slots — which allow artists to refine lighting, camera angles, and choreography before the dress rehearsals — mark a critical phase in the run-up to the 70th anniversary contest, which opens on May 12.
Among the nations performing today are Bulgaria (DARA – “Bangaranga”), Azerbaijan (Jiva – “Just Go”), Romania (Alexandra Căpitănescu – “Choke Me”), and Luxembourg (Eva Marija – “Mother Nature”). The lineup also includes Czechia, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Latvia, and Denmark. Following these slots, 30-second exclusive rehearsal clips will be released, giving fans a first polished look at how performances will appear on television.
Israel’s Noam Bettan Shines in Second Rehearsal
Earlier this week, Israel’s Noam Bettan delivered a standout second rehearsal for his entry “Michelle.” According to the Jerusalem Post, the performance features a striking diamond-shaped structure that rotates and opens like a flower, allowing Bettan and dancer Lihi Freud to move toward the audience via a catwalk before being joined by four additional dancers. Israel will compete in Semi-Final 1 on May 12, performing 10th, and hopes to advance to the grand final.
Heightened Security: FBI Task Force Bolsters Austrian Efforts
While the focus for most fans is on the music and staging, security has become a major story in the Austrian capital. Austrian police have confirmed they are preparing for a week of heightened security both before and during the event. Uniquely, the FBI has set up a dedicated task force in New York that will operate around the clock during Eurovision week to help identify and thwart cyber threats.
The cooperation targets potential attacks against voting systems, the broadcast infrastructure of Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, and attempts to disrupt delegation operations. Dieter Csefan, vice president of the Vienna police, told Mako that the FBI is monitoring cyber threats and suspicious online activity. The collaboration follows an incident in 2024 where American intelligence helped thwart an ISIS attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, underscoring the value of transatlantic security cooperation for large-scale events.
The Stakes: Lowest Participation in 22 Years and the Battle for Streaming Supremacy
Eurovision 2026 features 35 participating countries — the lowest number since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004. This reduced field adds pressure on each act to stand out, especially as the contest marks its 70th anniversary.
A new Spotify data analysis released this week reveals what it takes to win in the streaming era. Topping the list of most-streamed Eurovision entries of all time is Duncan Laurence’s “Arcade” (Netherlands, 2019) with over 1.5 billion streams globally. Second is Rosa Linn’s “Snap” (Armenia, 2022), which despite placing 20th in the contest, reached Spotify’s Billions Club after finding viral success on TikTok and Instagram.
Notably, the data shows a generational divide: Gen Z listeners favor Alexander Rybak’s “Fairytale” (2009), Napa’s “Deslocado” (Portugal, 2025), and Joker Out’s “Carpe Diem” (2023), while older generations gravitate toward “Arcade,” “Snap,” and Loreen’s “Tattoo” (2023). ABBA remains the most-streamed artist to ever compete, with over 12.5 billion global streams, followed by Måneskin (9 billion) and Céline Dion (7 billion).
For this year’s hopefuls, the lesson is clear: viral social media appeal and streaming numbers can often outweigh an official jury vote. The 2025 entry “Deslocado” from Portugal sparked a social media trend of sharing personal stories, making it the most-streamed song from last year despite finishing 21st.
What’s Next: Dress Rehearsals and Live Shows
Second rehearsals for the remaining five Semi-Final 2 countries — Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta, and Norway — are scheduled for Saturday, May 9, along with the Big Five (Italy, Germany, France, United Kingdom) and host nation Austria. These sessions are the last extended rehearsals before dress rehearsals on Wednesday.
With Austria’s police bolstered by FBI cyber support, and artists fine-tuning their three-minute performances, the city of Vienna is gearing up for a contest that blends music, technology, and security in unprecedented ways. The outcome will not only crown a winner but also signal how Eurovision adapts to a new era of streaming, online threats, and global audience engagement.
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