Felicia from Sweden performed the song “My System” during the first semifinal of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. La Suédoise Felicia made it through. She interpreted the song My System during the first semi-final of the Eurovision in Vienna on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Dix pays, including Greece, Belgium, and Israel, qualified in the first semi-final of the competition in Vienna. Switzerland, with Veronica Fusaro, will enter the competition on Thursday during the second semi-final. The Finnish, Greek, and Israeli favorites advanced without surprise on Tuesday in Vienna during the first semi-final of the Eurovision song contest. The mood remained festive, despite the boycott call due to Israel’s participation. Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland also secured their spot for the final on Saturday, unlike Estonia, Georgia, Montenegro, Portugal, and San Marino. Switzerland, with Veronica Fusaro, will compete on Thursday in the second semi-final. The Finnish violinist Linda Lampenius and singer Pete Parkkonen captivated over 11,000 spectators gathered at the Stadthalle in the Austrian capital with their effective duo. Interviewed on Sunday, they were not stressed about their status as favorites among bettors. “The feeling must come from the heart,” explained this duo composed of a 56-year-old violinist and a 36-year-old singer who resonates with a title, Liekinheitin, Lance-flamme, performed in Finnish. Akylas, the candidate sent by Athens, also won over the audience in his native language with his electro-pop piece denouncing greed and the quest for material wealth. The Israeli candidate Noam Bettan, who sang in Hebrew, French, and English, also successfully qualified, much to the delight of his fans. The contest this year is shaken by the largest boycott in its history due to Israel’s presence, to which some countries criticize for its conduct in the Gaza war. Public audiovisual groups in Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia did not broadcast the program’s live broadcast, dismissed as a “circus” by the Slovenian group RTV. The three countries also decided not to send a candidate, as did Iceland and the Netherlands, who, on the other hand, broadcast the event in which a total of 35 countries participate. Several dozen pro-Palestinian activists placed coffins in the center of the Austrian capital on Tuesday to protest against Israel’s participation. “Of course, music should be something universal. Music should bring people together, but not in this way,” said 67-year-old protester Karin Spindlberger. For Martin Green, the director of the Eurovision, “it’s very healthy that two points of view can be expressed simultaneously in the same city.” And he declared: “Everyone respects each other’s space, with Austria being a country that allows everyone to express their point of view, and I think it can be very proud of it.” Amichai Chikli, the Israeli minister of foreign affairs, expressed concern on Monday in a statement about a “strong, coordinated outbreak of anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli speeches around Eurovision 2026.” In the second semi-final on May 14, Switzerland, Albania, Denmark, Armenia, Romania, Cyprus, Norway, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Malta, Bulgaria, Australia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Latvia will try their luck. Jury points are combined with the results of public voting to determine the ten songs qualified in each semi-final. These 20 songs will join the pre-selected titles from Austria, last year’s winner in Basel, who are automatically qualified for the final on Saturday. France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom automatically complete the lineup due to their status as major financial contributors. (ag/ats) [Context: The article covers details from the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, including qualifiers and notable performances. It also touches on the controversies and boycotts surrounding Israel’s participation in the event.] [Fact Check: The information is accurate and neutral, providing a summary of the events and participants in the Eurovision contest without bias or additional commentary.]
