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The first Eurovision<\/a> semi-final takes place today, with Finland, Greece and Israel<\/a> among the countries competing for a spot in the final. <\/p>\n The annual song contest kicks off tonight (Tuesday 12 May) in Vienna, Austria, amid continued controversy <\/a>over Israel\u2019s participation. The country was issued a formal warning by Eurovision<\/a> last week over broadcaster Kan\u2019s endorsement of a video from delegate Noam Bettan calling for viewers to use all 10 of their allocated votes on him.<\/p>\n Bettan will be competing tonight <\/a>with his song \u201cMichelle\u201d, against favourites including Finland\u2019s Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkone, Greece\u2019s contestant Akylas, and Moldova\u2019s Satoshi. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, the UK\u2019s delegate Look Mum No Computer<\/a>, who is guaranteed a spot in the final along with other \u201cBig Five\u201d members France, Germany and Italy, will perform live during the second semi-final on Thursday 14 May. Spain, another member of the \u201cBig Five\u201d, withdrew from the contest this year<\/a> after Israel was permitted to compete.<\/p>\n Viewers in the UK will be able to watch live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8pm.<\/p>\n Follow live updates below:<\/p>\n Finland\u2019s Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen on the \u2018sad\u2019 meaning behind their Eurovision 2026 song<\/p>\n Ahead of their performance at tonight\u2019s semi-final, I spoke with Finnish favourites Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, who opened up about the \u201csad\u201d meaning behind their original song \u201cLiekinheitin\u201d.<\/p>\n Roisin O’Connor12 May 2026 11:37<\/p>\n <\/a>Israel\u2019s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest is mired in controversy. Here\u2019s why<\/p>\n The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest<\/a> is set to take place this month \u2013 but the popular music event remains mired in controversy surrounding the involvement of Israel.<\/p>\n The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organising body behind Eurovision, has faced calls to ban Israel<\/a> for three years running, but has each time allowed Israel to remain in the competition.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Israel\u2019s broadcaster was issued a warning by Eurovision after competition rules with a video asking fans to vote for the country\u2019s act 10 times.<\/p>\n This year the country is being represented by singer Noam Bettan, who will be competing with his song \u201cMichelle\u201d.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a breakdown of the controversy:<\/p>\n Louis Chilton12 May 2026 10:38<\/p>\n <\/a>The running order for the first semi-final<\/p>\n Finland is one of the favourites to win Eurovision 2026, and you\u2019ll get to see them competing in tonight\u2019s semi-final.<\/p>\n Other countries in the contest this evening including Greece\u2019s Akylas with his song \u2018Ferto\u2019, Portugal\u2019s Bandidos do Cante (they\u2019re a bit like Portuguese Westlife, I love them), Croatia\u2019s LELEK and Moldova\u2019s brilliant Satoshi. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s the full running order:<\/p>\n Roisin O’Connor12 May 2026 09:38<\/p>\n <\/a>Ireland to air Father Ted instead of Eurovision as it boycotts song contest over Israel<\/p>\n This decision is part of a broader boycott, with Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia refusing to send competitors<\/a> to the 70th iteration of the song competition and opting not to broadcast the final, citing Israel\u2019s war in Gaza. The Netherlands and Iceland are also not sending acts to compete but will still air the final.<\/p>\n Roisin O’Connor12 May 2026 09:09<\/p>\n <\/a>Eurovision gives Israel formal warning over call for viewers to \u2018vote 10 times\u2019<\/p>\n Israel<\/a>\u2019s national broadcaster has received a formal warning from Eurovision<\/a> organisers after it encouraged viewers to \u201cvote 10 times\u201d.<\/p>\n The Israeli public broadcaster, known as Kan<\/a>, was found to have broken the rules of the song contest<\/a> on Friday (8 May) when it shared videos on social media encouraging fans to support its 2026 entry, Noam Bettan.<\/p>\n In the clips, Bettan, who is competing this year with the song \u201cMichelle\u201d, told his fans to use all 10 of their allocated votes to support him in the first semi-final on Tuesday 12 May.<\/p>\n Roisin O’Connor12 May 2026 08:37<\/p>\n