Eurovision 2026 rehearsals begin on Saturday May 2 at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, launching a 15-day marathon that culminates in the Grand Final on Saturday May 16. Every competing act gets two rehearsal slots before the live shows — and the footage that emerges from those sessions historically triggers the biggest odds movements of the entire contest cycle.
Here is the complete day-by-day rehearsal schedule, what happens at each stage, and why it matters for fans and bettors alike.
How Eurovision Rehearsals Work
Before diving into the schedule, it helps to understand the two distinct rehearsal phases:
- First rehearsals (30 minutes per act) — These are stop-start technical sessions. Artists run through their performance multiple times while the production team tests staging, lighting cues, camera angles, and LED content. Delegations can request adjustments between run-throughs. Official photos are released to accredited press after each first rehearsal.
- Second rehearsals (20 minutes per act) — These are more polished, closer to full run-throughs. The production is tighter, adjustments from the first rehearsal have been implemented, and the performance begins to resemble what viewers will see on live television. Crucially, 30-second clips from each second rehearsal are released publicly — the first time the general public sees any staging footage.
Those 30-second clips are the single most important piece of content in the entire pre-contest period. They move betting markets more than any interview, fan reaction, or social media post. When a staging lands perfectly in a 30-second clip, odds can halve overnight. When it disappoints, they drift just as fast.
Week 1: First Rehearsals (May 2–6)
Saturday May 2 — Semi-Final 1, Songs 1–7
The contest begins at 10:30 CEST with the first seven Semi-Final 1 entries taking to the Wiener Stadthalle stage for the first time. Each act gets a 30-minute slot:
- Moldova — Satoshi — "Viva, Moldova!"
- Sweden — Felicia — "My System"
- Croatia — Lelek — "Andromeda"
- Greece — Akylas — "Ferto"
- Portugal — Bandidos do Cante — "Rosa"
- Georgia — Bzikebi — "On Replay"
- Finland — Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen — "Liekinheitin"
Finland closing out Day 1 means the betting favourite's staging will be the first major talking point of rehearsal week. Press photographers and accredited journalists in the hall will share immediate reactions, and the official photos will follow within hours. Finland's violin-fire spectacle requires precise camera work — this first rehearsal will reveal whether the cinematic Arri cameras can capture the full drama of Liekinheitin's staging concept.
Sunday May 3 — Semi-Final 1, Songs 8–15
The remaining Semi-Final 1 entries take the stage:
- Albania — Alis — "Nan"
- Estonia — Vanilla Ninja — "Too Epic To Be True"
- Luxembourg — Eva Marija — "Mother Nature"
- Lithuania — Lion Ceccah — "Solo quiero más"
- Romania — Alexandra Capitanescu — "Choke Me"
- Bulgaria — Dara — "Bangaranga"
- Israel — Noam Bettan — "Michelle"
- Armenia — Simon — "Paloma Rumba"
Israel's first rehearsal will be among the most scrutinised of the week. Noam Bettan's staging for "Michelle" is a major unknown, and the reaction from press in the hall could significantly move the televote winner market. Romania's controversial "Choke Me" staging is another one to watch — the song has generated enormous discussion and the visual presentation will determine whether it translates to votes or remains a talking point without substance.
Monday May 4 — Semi-Final 2, First Half
Semi-Final 2 entries begin their first rehearsals:
- Malta — Aidan — "Bella"
- Serbia — LAVINA — "Kraj mene"
- Latvia — Atvara — "Ena"
- San Marino — Senhit — "Superstar"
- Belgium — Essyla — "Dancing on the Ice"
- Cyprus — Antigoni — "Jalla"
- Czechia — Daniel Zizka — "Crossroads"
Czechia's Daniel Zizka is one of the biggest risers in the betting this year, and his first rehearsal will be the first real test of whether the hype is justified. San Marino's Senhit with Boy George collaboration also promises visual spectacle — their staging ambitions have been among the most talked-about of the pre-contest period.
Tuesday May 5 — Semi-Final 2, Second Half
The remaining Semi-Final 2 acts take the stage:
- Azerbaijan — Jiva — "Just Go"
- Denmark — Soren Torpegaard Lund — "For vi gar hjem"
- Montenegro — Tamara Zivkovic — "Nova zora"
- Switzerland — Veronica Fusaro — "Alice"
- Australia — Delta Goodrem — "Eclipse"
- Norway — Jonas Lovv — "Ya ya ya"
- Ukraine — LELEKA — "Ridnym"
- Poland — ALICJA — "Pray"
Delta Goodrem's first rehearsal is arguably the most anticipated slot of the entire week. At approximately 11% implied probability and surging in the betting, Australia's staging for "Eclipse" will either confirm the market's growing confidence or raise questions. Denmark's Soren Torpegaard Lund faces the challenge of translating an intimate, emotional Danish-language ballad onto a 16,000-capacity arena stage — the lighting and camera work will be critical.
Wednesday May 6 — Big Four + Austria
The five automatically qualified acts rehearse for the first time:
- France — Monroe — "Regarde!"
- Germany — Sarah Engels — "Fire"
- Italy — Sal Da Vinci — "Per sempre si"
- United Kingdom — Look Mum No Computer — "Eins, zwei, drei"
- Austria — Cosmo — "Tanzschein"
France's Monroe is the second favourite to win outright, and her staging for "Regarde!" is reportedly built around intimate close-ups that play to the new Arri cinematic cameras. This first rehearsal will reveal whether the concept works at Eurovision scale. The UK's Look Mum No Computer is the wildcard — the Furby-organ-building YouTuber's staging is the biggest unknown quantity in the entire contest. Italy's Sal Da Vinci brings 40 years of stage experience to what should be a polished, emotionally resonant first run-through.
Week 1 continued: Second Rehearsals (May 7–9)
Thursday May 7 — SF1 Second Rehearsals
All 15 Semi-Final 1 acts return for their 20-minute second rehearsals. These are the sessions that produce the publicly released 30-second clips. The schedule is tighter — 20 minutes per act instead of 30 — and the expectation is a near-complete performance that closely resembles the live show.
This is when the betting markets really start moving. Every fan, pundit, and bookmaker will be watching those 30-second clips within minutes of their release, and the reaction is immediate. A staging that looks stunning in 30 seconds can cut odds in half. One that underwhelms can see an entry drift from contender to also-ran overnight.
Friday May 8 — SF2 First Half Second Rehearsals
The first group of Semi-Final 2 entries return for their polished second rehearsals, with 30-second clips released after each performance.
Saturday May 9 — SF2 Second Half + Big Four/Austria Second Rehearsals
The remaining Semi-Final 2 acts and all five automatically qualified entries complete their second rehearsals. By the end of Saturday May 9, every single act in the competition will have released a 30-second clip. This is the moment the full picture crystallises — the moment fans, pundits, and the betting market have a visual reference for every entry.
Historically, the 48 hours after all second rehearsal clips are released produce the most dramatic odds movements of the contest cycle. If you are planning to bet on Eurovision 2026 through Betfred or other bookmakers, the window between May 9 and the first semi-final on May 12 is often the last chance to find genuine value before the market fully prices in staging quality.
Week 2: Live Shows (May 10–16)
Sunday May 10 — Opening Ceremony
The Turquoise Carpet opening ceremony takes place in central Vienna. All 35 delegations walk the carpet in what has become one of Eurovision's signature media events. The route runs from the Burgtheater to the Rathausplatz, with thousands of fans lining the streets. This is a non-competitive event — purely ceremonial — but it generates enormous social media coverage and sets the tone for the live show week.
Monday May 11 — SF1 Press Rehearsal + Jury Show
- 15:30–18:30 CEST — Semi-Final 1 press rehearsal (full dress rehearsal open to accredited press)
- 21:00–23:15 CEST — Semi-Final 1 jury show (the performances that professional juries score)
The jury show is one of Eurovision's most important but least visible events. This is the performance that the professional jury panels in each country actually vote on — not the live broadcast the following night. The jury show typically runs identically to the live show in terms of staging, running order, and production, but takes place the evening before with a reduced audience. Jury scores are sealed after this performance.
This means that by Monday night, half of Semi-Final 1's total score is already determined. The jury results are kept secret until the live broadcast, but insiders, press, and delegations in the hall often have a strong sense of which acts impressed the jury — and those whispers move betting markets.
Tuesday May 12 — Semi-Final 1 LIVE
- 15:00–17:30 CEST — Family rehearsal (final technical run with a live audience of friends, family, and ticket holders)
- 21:00–23:15 CEST — Semi-Final 1 LIVE broadcast
The first live show. 15 acts compete, and approximately 10 will qualify for the Grand Final. The televote is cast during the live broadcast, and the combined jury + televote determines which entries advance. Results are announced in random order — no scores are revealed, just the names of the qualifiers.
Semi-Final 1 features several of the contest's biggest contenders: Finland (favourite), Greece (top 5), Sweden (perennial threat), and Israel (televote favourite). The non-qualifiers from this semi-final could produce genuine shocks.
Wednesday May 13 — SF2 Press Rehearsal + Jury Show
- 15:30–18:30 CEST — Semi-Final 2 press rehearsal
- 21:00–23:15 CEST — Semi-Final 2 jury show
Same format as Monday — the jury sees and scores the performances the night before the live broadcast. Semi-Final 2 contains Australia (surging), Denmark (top 3 in the betting), and Cyprus (strong televote appeal), making the jury show a critical moment for several high-profile entries.
Thursday May 14 — Semi-Final 2 LIVE
- 15:00–17:30 CEST — Family rehearsal
- 21:00–23:15 CEST — Semi-Final 2 LIVE broadcast
The second qualifying round. Another 15 or 16 acts compete for approximately 10 Grand Final spots. By the end of Thursday night, the full Grand Final lineup is confirmed, and the outright winner market narrows dramatically as eliminated entries are removed from the betting.
Friday May 15 — Grand Final Press Rehearsal + Jury Show
- Afternoon — Grand Final press rehearsal (full dress rehearsal for all finalists plus Big Four/Austria)
- Evening — Grand Final jury show
The Grand Final jury show is the most consequential single event of the entire contest. Every finalist performs their entry in full, and the jury votes are cast and sealed. By Friday night, 50% of the Grand Final result is already locked in. The press rehearsal earlier in the day is the last opportunity for delegations to make final staging tweaks before the scores that matter are recorded.
Saturday May 16 — GRAND FINAL
- 13:30–17:30 CEST — Grand Final family rehearsal
- 21:00 CEST – approximately 01:00 CEST (Sunday) — Grand Final LIVE broadcast
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final. Approximately 25 acts compete — the 10 qualifiers from each semi-final plus the Big Four (France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom) and host nation Austria. The televote runs during the live broadcast, the results are combined with the previously sealed jury scores, and the winner of Eurovision 2026 is crowned in the Wiener Stadthalle.
The show runs approximately four hours, from 21:00 to around 01:00 the following morning, including all performances, interval acts, the voting sequence, and the results reveal. It is the most-watched non-sporting live television event in the world, with an estimated audience of over 150 million.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Date | Event | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Sat May 2 | SF1 first rehearsals (1–7) | 30 min/act, photos released |
| Sun May 3 | SF1 first rehearsals (8–15) | 30 min/act, photos released |
| Mon May 4 | SF2 first rehearsals (first half) | 30 min/act, photos released |
| Tue May 5 | SF2 first rehearsals (second half) | 30 min/act, photos released |
| Wed May 6 | Big Four + Austria first rehearsals | 30 min/act, photos released |
| Thu May 7 | SF1 second rehearsals | 20 min/act, 30-sec clips released |
| Fri May 8 | SF2 first half second rehearsals | 20 min/act, 30-sec clips released |
| Sat May 9 | SF2 second half + Big 4/Austria 2nd | 20 min/act, 30-sec clips released |
| Sun May 10 | Opening Ceremony | Turquoise Carpet, Burgtheater to Rathausplatz |
| Mon May 11 | SF1 press + jury show | Jury scores sealed |
| Tue May 12 | Semi-Final 1 LIVE | 21:00 CEST, ~10 qualifiers |
| Wed May 13 | SF2 press + jury show | Jury scores sealed |
| Thu May 14 | Semi-Final 2 LIVE | 21:00 CEST, ~10 qualifiers |
| Fri May 15 | Grand Final press + jury show | Jury scores sealed — 50% of result locked |
| Sat May 16 | GRAND FINAL LIVE | 21:00–01:00 CEST, 150M+ viewers |
How Rehearsals Affect the Betting
If you are following Eurovision through Betfred or other licensed bookmakers, here is what to watch for at each rehearsal phase:
- First rehearsal photos (May 2–6): These provide the first visual clues about staging concepts, costume choices, and set design. They move the market moderately — a stunning photo can tighten odds by 10–15%, while a flat one can cause a small drift.
- 30-second clips (May 7–9): This is where the real action happens. These clips are the first publicly available footage of each act performing on the actual Eurovision stage. The market reprices aggressively based on these clips — entries that nail their staging can see their odds cut dramatically.
- Post-jury-show whispers (May 11, 13, 15): Jury show results are secret, but the Eurovision press corps is small and well-connected. Rumours about which acts impressed the jury filter through fan forums and social media within hours of each jury show, and sharp bettors use this intelligence to find late value.
The window between May 9 (all clips released) and May 12 (first live show) is historically the last opportunity to lock in pre-live-show value. After Semi-Final 1, eliminated entries are removed from the market, and odds on the remaining contenders tighten significantly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When do Eurovision 2026 rehearsals start?
First artist rehearsals begin on Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. Semi-Final 1 songs 1–7 rehearse first, starting at 10:30 CEST. The full rehearsal period runs through to May 16 (Grand Final day).
How long does each Eurovision rehearsal last?
First rehearsals are 30 minutes per act — these are stop-start technical sessions where staging, lighting, and camera angles are tested and adjusted. Second rehearsals are 20 minutes per act — more polished run-throughs that closely resemble the live performance.
When are the 30-second rehearsal clips released?
The publicly released 30-second clips come from the second rehearsals, which run from May 7 to May 9. These are the first publicly available staging footage for each entry and historically produce the biggest betting odds movements of the entire pre-contest period.
What is the difference between the jury show and the live show?
The jury show takes place the evening before each live broadcast — May 11 for Semi-Final 1, May 13 for Semi-Final 2, and May 15 for the Grand Final. Professional jury panels score the performances during the jury show, and those votes are sealed. The live broadcast the following night is when the televote is cast. The final result combines both jury and televote scores.