Eurovision 2026 Rehearsal Day 5

The 5th day of rehearsals for Eurovision 2026 has just begun.
Taking the stage today will be 10 if the counties that will perform in semi-final 1:

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 5: Wednesday, the 6th of May 2024

2nd rehearsal of Semi-Final 1 (Songs 1-10, without automatic qualifiers)

Country	Rehearsal Time (CET)
Moldova	10:30 –  10:55
Sweden	11:05 –  11:30
Croatia	11:40 –  12:05
Greece	12:20 –  12:45
Portugal	12:55 –  13:20
Georgia	13:30 –  13:55
Finland	15:00 –  15:25
Montenegro	15:35 – 16:00
Estonia	16:10 –  16:35
Israel	16:45 –  17:10

1.🇲🇩 Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova

• The performance resembles the one from the national selection, but exploits the stage size.
• Satoshi is accompanied by 2 backing dancers/singers. One of them is Aliona Moon.
• Satoshi is wearing a royal blue sports top, and he is adorned with rows of chain mail on his shoulders. The shirt also has some white elements and the “373” print (which is Moldova phone prefix)
• Those chains are extended to his backing dancers/singers.
• The camera angles can make the viewer a bit dizzy, including a steady camera.
• The customs are highlighted by a touch of shiny metal.
• In the middle of the performance, we can see the Moldovan flag beaming out in big lights from behind the LED screen.
• The general performance is uplifting, full of energy, bouncy, and jumpy.
• The background is colorful, full of shapes, and some may say Japanese aesthetics inspires it.

2. 🇸🇪 Sweden: FELICIA –  My System

• FELICIA is dressed in black and sparkling red, accompanied by male backing dancers. Her outfit has been upgraded compared to the “Melodifestivalen 2026” final.
• As always, her face is covered by a mask.
• The performance starts with wind machine effects, alongside a cloud of smoke.
• The general concept of the staging remained quite similar to the one we’ve seen in “Melodifestivalen 2026“. The red lasers are still an integral part of the performance.
• The video effects on the backdrop will present FELICIA’s character climbing out of the screens and into the audience.
• During the second verse, we have a hand routine, which looks like she is fighting the lasers and is trying to defeat them with her bare hands. Later on, the lasers are synced with her movements, framing her in a bolder way.
• Towards the end, she switched her mask with another one.
• The performance is energetic, electrifying, and interactive.

3.🇭🇷 Croatia: LELEK – ANDROMEDA

• The band members are wearing a robe ensemble, combining pure white and deep blood-red colors in their costumes. As in “Dora”, their faces are covered with a unique symbolic makeup, which helps them convey the message.
• Their performance will utilize the catwalk connecting the Green Room and the main stage.
• The performance is built on the merits of their deep connection and chemistry.
• The backdrop LED screen plays a crucial role in the performance, presenting haunting visuals: from a mystical cave to an enchanting forest, closing the performance by pulling us through a wormhole at such high speed.
• The camera angles will be captivating.
• The performance is built on sisterhood, harmonies, and dark atmosphere.

4.🇬🇷 Greece: Akylas – Ferto

• The staging is arcade game inspired.
• Akylas is wearing an orange and black outfit, black sunglasses, a pendant, and his regular kitty hat and furry boots.
• Some may say his visuals will resemble a tiger. One of his props is a tiny orange scooter.
• Akylas will be joined on stage by Parthena Chorozidou, Michalis Michailidis, Christos Nikolaou, and Konstantinos Karypidis.
• There will be multiple video effects and illusions for the viewers, featuring some new characters.
• The visuals demonstrate a video game with Akylas as the main character. We will see him running in different urban views.
• The camera artwork will generate the impression of duplicate Akylas in a swirl. The LED floor will be colorfully lit in many colors.
• At the peak point of the performance, he stops, removes his funky shades, steps out of character, and addresses his mother in an emotional display.

5.🇵🇹 Portugal: Bandidos do Cante – Rosa

• A 6th member, a violinist, joins the 5 band members. They are wearing elegant suits in pastel and earth colors.
• The performance starts with the band members standing in one line, while the camera shots are long, panning them one by one to the audience.
• The band members will perform on the far part of the stage. The female violinist is wearing a white elegant suit
• They look proud and fully committed to their mission.
• The performance ends with the visuals on the screen behind the band springing into life. This is when Rosa blooms, on the backdrop LED screen.
• At some point, we will see 5 neon blue roses on screen that will move along the melody. Those roses will be seen as a video on the LED floor.
• The lights are mostly white, brown, and blue.

6.🇬🇪 Georgia: Bzikebi – On Replay

• The Bzikebi trio will play a tribute to their Junior Eurovision performance with black and yellow outfits. They are wearing yellow catsuits cinched in with black-striped PVC.
• Their general looks resemble superheroes.
• The backdrop will show 3 huge Cyborg Bzikebi characters with crazy eyes. These elements look quite artificial.
• The lighting is mainly blue and white.
• There will be a use for pyro and smoke.
• Their performance features rich neon lasers to enhance the song’s electrifying power. Those lasers are white, pink and purple,

7.🇫🇮 Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin

• Linda is wearing a strapless, silver mini dress with a soft, textured or ruched fabric that gives it a delicate, almost ethereal look. It is paired with knee-high metallic silver boots, which add a bold, futuristic contrast. The overall vibe is icy, elegant, and striking—almost like a modern “ice queen” aesthetic.
• Pete is dressed in a black, deep V-neck shirt or blouse with a silky, slightly sheer finish. He wears a neckline that plunges low, revealing a vertical chest tattoo, adding a dramatic and edgy touch. His trousers are loose, high-waisted black trousers create a flowing, relaxed silhouette.
• The general concept of the staging is similar to that of “UMK 2026”, but some elements have been sharpened, especially the customs.
• Linda Lampenius stands alone on the deserted stage of what was once an orchestra. She is surrounded by overturned chairs and sheet-music stands of what looks like an orchestra area.
• Linda will be allowed to play part of the song with live violin on stage!
• Pete is inside the wooden confessional box, with dramatic lights.
• Towards the peak of the song, the camera pans away from Linda. She will run towards the back of the stage to be reunited with Pete, and there she’s lifted onto the abandoned orchestra seating for a showdown with Pete. It brings him to his knees, and the set goes up in flames.
• The performance will be dramatic, hot, and full of fire and an orange-red palette.

8.🇲🇪 Montenegro: Tamara Živković – Nova Zora

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• Tamara is wearing a black corset bejewelled with black gems and topped off with a black ruff collar.
• Regarding the makeup, her face is painted, and this time she appears with more gentle lipstick
• 4 female backing dancers accompany Tamara.
• She begins her performance, draped dramatically across the stage floor by four shadowy figures.
• Similar to the “Montesong” performance, the show will be split into 3 scenes, labelled by roman numeral: I, II, III.
• The lights differ from orange, to red and then blue.
• The performance is based on facial expression and rich choreography. Tamara is sitting on the floor at some point.
• Thereafter, she contorts herself into a standing position so the audience can see her. The 4 dancers standing around her. The dancers are wearing skintight black with white collars
• In each scene, the 5 women perform another synced dance routine.
• The staging is characterized by dramatic light, mostly red and blue, with some effects like thunderers, lightning and lava.

9. 🇪🇪 Estonia: Vanilla Ninja – Too Epic To Be True

• The band has revamped the song: The bridge was changed, as the spoken recorded part (performed by a male vocalist) was removed. Instead, we got a more hymn-like part of the band chanting “Too Epic, Too Epic” with minimal production, in what sounds like a rock stadium piece. Overall, the song sounds a bit more modern.
• The band members upgraded their customers compared to the national final. They are still wearing white/cream outfits with black tops, which emphasise the girls’ rock credentials.
• Between the second and final chorus, they will be more connected to the audience.
• Some elements are black, combining well with the white light camera shots. They are accompanied by a drummer on stage and 2 backing singers behind the scenes.
• The performance concludes with pyro finish

10. 🇮🇱 Israel: Noam Bettan –  Michelle

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• Noam will be accompanied by 5 female dancers.
• Noam Bettan is wearing a black leather jacket over a black silk shirt, with the outfit completed by black leather trousers. The fabric has been chosen to match the diamond.
• The female dancers are wearing leather short jumpsuits that are dual in tone; one side cream, one side burgundy.
• Israel will use one of the biggest props in Eurovision 2026 production: It is a huge diamond in the center of the stage with a mirrored exterior. The diamond will open and move along the performance.
• The performance starts inside the diamond. Noam begins while surrounded by a reflective surface that gives the illusion of him being inside a crystal chamber.
• He’s beckoned out from his giant diamond by a sole dancer (the main character from the video clip), who takes him to the front of the stage, where we can find the rest of 4 female dancers.
• Most of the time, the dancers are around him, performing some hand choreography, like we could’ve seen in the clip.
• The lighting palette will differ from dark blue to bronze and gold.

Don’t forget to visit our Eurovision 2026 homepage