The 70th Eurovision Song Contest is officially underway. Day 1 rehearsals kicked off at Vienna's Wiener Stadthalle on May 2, and the official Eurovision Live Blog on Reddit has given us our first look at how seven countries are bringing their performances to life on the biggest stage in European music.
The reactions from the arena? Electric. Several entries exceeded expectations, one country literally shook the building, and the betting odds are already shifting. Here's everything that happened — and what smart punters should take from it.
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Moldova: Satoshi Opens with Pure Energy
Satoshi kicked off Vienna 2026 as the first artist to rehearse, and he did not disappoint. The Moldovan entry for "Viva, Moldova!" is exactly what you'd want from a Semi-Final 1 opener — bouncing energy, chain-mail outfits, and a surprise cameo from Aliona Moon (Moldova's 2013 representative).
The live blog described Satoshi as "absolutely in his element exploring every inch" of the massive Stadthalle stage. His outfit? Royal blue with rows of chain mail on his shoulders, extending to his band and co-performers. The Japanese-culture-inspired backdrop adds colour and personality.
The consensus from the arena: Moldova has its party-starter, its hype guy, and its crowdpleaser all in one. This won't win Eurovision, but it's an ideal opener that sets the energy for Semi-Final 1.
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Sweden: FELICIA Literally Shakes the Arena
This was the moment of Day 1. The Eurovision live blog team reported they were "physically shaking" — not from excitement (though that too), but because FELICIA's banging synths near the end of "My System" made the arena floor actually vibrate. "It's like a potent current of epic electronica is running underneath us."
FELICIA arrived in sparkling black and red — a system upgrade from her Melodifestivalen outfit. The performance opens with a wind machine parting smoke to reveal her behind that iconic mask. And yes, the thrilling mask switch-out near the end is still there, accompanied by GIANT FELICIA climbing out of the screens and into the audience.
New for Vienna: FIGHTER FELICIA literally battling away lasers with her bare hands during the second verse, then taming them into framing her poses. Sweden may be 15/1 for the outright win, but this staging could push them significantly shorter after rehearsal clips drop.
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Croatia: LELEK's Blood-Red Wormhole
The three LELEK ladies singing in unison had the live blog team declaring they "may never be the same again." Their performance of "Andromeda" makes dramatic use of the catwalk running from the Green Room to the stage — the first time viewers will see this element properly pop.
The fashion? Deep blood-red robes woven into their ensemble, a chilling visual for a song teeming with drama. But the real star is the screen behind them: it takes viewers from a mystical cave to an enchanting forest, closing by pulling through a wormhole at such high speed it feels like a time warp.
Croatia at 20/1 is a genuine dark horse if this staging translates to television the way it landed in the arena.
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Greece: Akylas Turns Eurovision into a Video Game
This is where Day 1 got wild. Akylas took the Eurovision Song Contest from Arcade to arcade games. The live blog described being "taken right inside a video game" with multiple illusions for the viewer and new characters that Akylas wants to introduce on Semi-Final night.
The styling is peak Eurovision: orange and black tiger palette, furry boots, and a kitty-kat hat with little ears. But just when the audience thinks they know what they're getting, everything changes. Akylas stops, removes his funky shades, steps out of character, and addresses his mother in an emotional display. "Mommies everywhere are gonna love this."
Greece has surged from 5th to 2nd in the betting odds in the past week, now trading at 5/1 to 7/1. This staging confirms why — "Ferto" is both a televote spectacle and a genuine emotional moment that could win jury points too. At those odds, the each-way value is significant.
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Portugal: The Wall of Song
Bandidos do Cante brought something completely different to Day 1. Their performance of "Rosa" opens with a continuous shot panning through the lineup singing to the audience — described as a "Wall of Song" and a proper "final boss" moment.
Like football players singing their national anthem, Bandidos do Cante are visibly proud to showcase their beloved Cante Alentejano genre. A sixth member — their violinist — returns to contribute a magical moment, and the performance ends with the screen behind the band springing into life as Rosa literally blooms.
Portugal is a long shot for the win but could be a surprise qualifier from Semi-Final 1, especially with the jury vote returning to semi-finals — this is exactly the kind of authentic, musically rich entry that professional panels reward.
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Georgia: Bzikebi's Cyborg Alter-Egos
Georgia's Bzikebi paid homage to their Junior Eurovision roots by dressing in black and yellow bee-themed catsuits — a nod to the buzzzz around their JESC 2008 victory. But this isn't kids' TV. The outfits are yellow catsuits cinched with black-striped PVC, giving superhero vibes from several decades in the future.
The twist? Performing behind the Georgian trio is a second iteration: CYBORG BZIKEBI. These intimidating digital overlords surge the popstars with power, leading to an electrifying laser show. The live blog warned: "Don't stare into those eyes for too long."
"On Replay" is Georgia at its creative best. The JESC-to-ESC pipeline has produced some of Eurovision's most inventive staging, and this continues the tradition. Georgia could surprise in Semi-Final 2 qualification.
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Finland: The Favourite Takes the Stage
Finland closed Day 1 as the final rehearsal — fitting, given Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen are the 6/4 favourites to win Eurovision 2026. The delegation confirmed ahead of rehearsals that new costumes are the main change from UMK, with the overall performance "largely the same."
That's smart. Finland's "Liekinheitin" already has the staging formula that works — high energy, dual-vote appeal across both jury and televote, and fire (literally). When you're the clear frontrunner, you don't reinvent the wheel. You polish it.
Finland's odds have drifted slightly from 2.4 to 2.7-2.9 on exchanges as Greece has closed the gap, but they remain the consensus pick across fan polls, Polymarket, and bookmaker odds.
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The Vienna Stage: A Technical Marvel
Before we get to the betting implications, a word about the stage itself. The Vienna 2026 stage is a 2,000-square-metre, 210-tonne structure built in under two weeks with up to 300 workers on double shifts. The numbers are staggering:
- 2,135 lighting fixtures — all LED and laser (a Eurovision first)
- 8,500+ individually controllable LEDs
- 80 high-speed hoists for moving lights
- 28 live cameras using ARRI Alexa 35 cinematic system (another first)
- A catwalk running from centre stage to the Green Room, splitting the arena in two
The cinematic camera system is particularly significant for betting. Entries with sophisticated staging — like Greece's video game world and Croatia's wormhole — will look significantly better on television than previous years. This favours visually ambitious entries and could boost their televote scores.
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What Day 1 Means for the Betting Odds
Here's what smart punters should take from Day 1:
Greece is the real deal. The combination of video game staging, televote-friendly spectacle, AND an emotional jury moment confirms why "Ferto" has surged to 2nd in the odds. At 5/1-7/1, the value is thinning but still there for each-way bets.
Sweden is a sleeper at 15/1. The arena-shaking impact of "My System" could translate into a significant odds movement once rehearsal clips go public. FELICIA's staging is genuinely spectacular and 15/1 may look generous by mid-week.
Finland stays safe. No dramatic staging changes means no dramatic odds shifts — which is exactly what the frontrunner wants. Steady at 6/4.
Croatia deserves attention. LELEK's wormhole staging landed hard in the arena. If it translates to screen, 20/1 is each-way territory.
Day 2 rehearsals continue with Albania, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, and Israel. Follow our rehearsal schedule for daily updates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Eurovision 2026 rehearsals?
First rehearsals run from May 2-6, with seven countries rehearsing each day. Second rehearsals follow May 7-9. First Look photos are released approximately 24 hours after each rehearsal, with 30-second preview clips following a few days later.
Which countries rehearsed on Day 1?
Day 1 (May 2) featured Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia, and Finland in that order. The schedule mirrors Semi-Final 1's running order, giving these entries their first taste of the Wiener Stadthalle stage.
Has Greece's odds changed after rehearsals?
Greece was already surging before rehearsals — climbing from 5th to 2nd in the betting odds in the week leading up to Day 1. Akylas's "Ferto" is now trading at 5/1 to 7/1, closing in on Finland at 6/4. The video game staging from Day 1 could push Greece even shorter once clips are released.
Where can I bet on Eurovision 2026?
Major bookmakers including Betfred (Bet £10 Get £50 Free) and Stake offer comprehensive Eurovision 2026 markets. See our beginner's guide for a full walkthrough.