The 3rd day of rehearsals for Eurovision 2026 has just begun.
Taking the stage today will be the counties that will perform in the first half of semi-final 2, excluding the automatic qualifiers.
This year, the rehearsal format will be different. Therefore, images might be available later on.
However, the ESBEAT team will do its best to supply all the required information and coverage.
This article will be updated throughout the day, so keep refreshing and visit us all day
Photos credits are reserved for Corrine Cumming and the EBU
Day 3: Monday, May 4th, 2026
First rehearsals Batch 3 (Semi-final 2, First half without automatic qualifiers)
| Country | Rehearsal Time (CET) |
| Bulgaria | 10:30 – 11:00 |
| Azerbaijan | 11:10 – 11:40 |
| Romania | 11:50 – 12:20 |
| Luxembourg | 12:45 – 13:15 |
| Czechia | 13:25 – 13:55 |
| Armenia | 15:00 – 15:30 |
| Switzerland | 15:40 – 16:10 |
1.🇧🇬 Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga
- Dara is wearing a black skirt, black belt, and black knee-high boots, with a short pink top and elbow-length pink gloves. The two parts are linked via black and pink fur trim that appears on both the belt and the gloves.
- 5 dancers on stage accompany Dara on stage,
- The song and the performance are inspired by ancient Bulgarian Kukeri tradition.
- The staging includes a home setting on stage, in a Wizard of Oz-style. At some point, they will sit on red chairs.
- Dara and the dancers will walk along the stage as the song progresses.
- The second part of the song has been revamped, so the production is sharper. There, the dance moves will be more synced.
2. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: JIVA – Just Go
- Jiva is wearing a dress with sequins of black, red and blue shimmer throughout her performance.
- Jiva starts the performance emerging from a cloud of smoke.
- The main prop is a billowing fabric sheet.
- The drapes blowing in the wind will be presented both in the video art and physically.
- The staging will highlight the differences between the black and white footage of the broken relationship scene of the backdrop and her shiny dress.
- In the final part of the song, the man behind the misery appears on stage, joining JIVA for a short time.
- She marches triumphantly down the stage away from him and this break-away moment is represented beautifully in the staging.
3.🇷🇴Romania: Alexandra Capitanescu – Choke Me
- Alexandra is wearing a black leather outfit: a corset with a collar and shoulders, strappy extensions coiled around her arm and long black leather boots.
- She is accompanied on stage by her 4 band member and another person (who hasn’t been revealed).
- The performance starts with a sharp intake of breath by Alexandra. The closure will be at the end of the song, where she exhales.
- One of the props is pipes lit in neon light, which Alexandra will hold attached to her. Those will be held by her dancers on the other edge.
- The scene is quite dark, and features some blue, white, and gray lighting.
- The staging concept relies on sophisticated camera angles, as well as the battle between Alexandra and her inner thoughts.
- The performance is described as electrifying
4. 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Eva Marija – Mother Nature
- The performance remained similar to the one from the national final, but with some upgrades.
- Eva is wearing an earth-colored outfit. However, she removed the visible trousers, which were replaced by a floaty, layered gown.
- The performance is dynamic, with Eva exploiting almost every inch of the stage. She will run and walk along it.
- Her dress will enable her to move almost effortlessly.
- Nature’s elements are flowering all around her during the performance: butterflies, birds, and blossoming buds. Some of them presented in neon lights.
- The scene is quite dark.
5.🇨🇿 Czechia: Daniel Žižka – Crossroads
- Daniel is dressed in a light, baby-blue shirt and trousers. He might change his outfit before the show. He will be barefoot on stage.
- Daniel won’t be alone on stage, accompanied by 4 dancers.
- The main prop piece is being moved into (and out of) place by four ‘dancers’ as the performance progresses. It is built with multiple-mirror staging, ensuring that viewers are treated to lots of visual effects. This will make us see Daniel’s character more than once.
- The staging features some tricky light and camera artwork.
- Vocally, it was as impressive as in the studio cut.
6.🇦🇲 Armenia: SIMÓN – Paloma Rumba
- SIMÓN will be accompanied by 5 backing dancers on stage.
- The office theme from the video clip will be the foundation of the Eurovision performance.
- SIMÓN is wearing a classic office uniform, which is later on removed and symbolizes freedom. The remaining outfit is quite thin, showing more of his body.
- The performance symbolizes the moment when he trashes the office after handing his resignation letter to the boss. The office visuals include elements like 16 boxes of paper piled high. The papers won’t stay there for long.
- SIMÓN showcases his abilities as a dancer, performing some acrobatics routine, like backflips.
- He starts the performance being hung upside down by his dancers.
- He even takes the camera into his own hands during the performance
- The song ends with SIMÓN on top of his dancers, delivering a victory pose on top of them
7.🇨🇭 Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro – Alice
- Veronica is wearing a cropped military jacket of her black trouser suit, which runs down the side of her legs too. Her outfit also features feather-trimmed shoulders, adding an extra touch of glam.
- She is accompanied on stage by 4 backing dancers and Alice.
- The staging concept ifs on of the strongest this year!
- The general palette is red, orange, green, black, and turquoise.
- Veronica Fusaro is playing tug of war with the viewer, as her microphone takes the form of a rope and it’s the singer at one end and the cameraman on the other.
- Veronica will accompany herself with an electronic guitar.
- The production utilizes red rope as a central motif for entrapment. Four dancers lead Veronica to a large cubic prop: a climbing frame encased in rope netting that symbolizes the suffocating ‘prison’ of an abusive relationship.
- The staging reaches its climax when Veronica breaks free with a guitar-led finale.
- The performance concludes with a striking overhead shot of Veronica on her knees, having fashioned the rope to spell out the name ‘Alice,’ cementing the song’s dark narrative.
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