Eurovision 2026 Semi-Final 2 Predictions (After Rehearsals)

The second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 will be held on Thursday, May 14th, at 21:00 CET.
15 countries will compete for 10 spots in the final.
In this article, we will try to predict who will qualify for the final.

The running order for semi-final 2:

• 1. 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga
• 2. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: JIVA – Just Go
• 3. 🇷🇴 Romania: Alexandra Capitanescu – Choke Me
• 4. 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Eva Marija – Mother Nature
• 5. 🇨🇿 Czechia: Daniel Žižka –Crossroads
• AQ. 🇫🇷 France: Monroe – Regarde!
• 6. 🇦🇲 Armenia: SIMÓN – Paloma Rumba
• 7.🇨🇭 Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro – Alice
• 8. 🇨🇾 Cyprus: Antigoni – Jalla
• AQ. 🇦🇹 Austria COSMÓ – Tanzschein
• 9. 🇱🇻 Latvia: Atvara – Ēnā
• 10. 🇩🇰 Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
• 11. 🇦🇺 Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
• 12. 🇺🇦 Ukraine: LELÉKA – Ridnym
• AQ. 🇬🇧 UK: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER – Eins, Zwei, Drei
• 13. 🇦🇱 Albania: Alis – Nân
• 14. 🇲🇹 Malta: AIDAN – Bella
• 15. 🇳🇴 Norway: JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA

1.🇧🇬 Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga

• It is a high-octane, “Balkan-Trap-Pop” anthem.
• Dara is charismatic and manages to remain stable vocally while executing choreography.
• It is one of the memorable bops of the year (if not the best) that people will remember for sure.
• Bulgaria is a great show opener, lifting the arena properly. The stage concept works really well.
• Prediction: Qualifying for the final

2. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: JIVA – Just Go

• It is a cinematic soul ballad with Azeri/Turkish elements.
• Jiva is an experienced performer and a good vocalist.
• However, the song is a very mediocre ballad that goes nowhere.
• It is quite pale, compared to other ballads in the semi-final.
• Prediction: Not qualifying for the final (I can even see it last in the semi-final)

3.🇷🇴 Romania: Alexandra Capitanescu – Choke Me

• It is a heavy, nu-metal-infused pop-rock track.
• The staging concept is really cool: One of the props is pipes lit in neon light, which Alexandra will hold attached to her. Those will be held by the band members on the other edge.
• It isn’t only a brilliant song, but song the right and accessible way to deliver a rock song.
• Alexandra’s vocals are as good as in the studio version.
• Prediction: Qualifying for the final

4.🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Eva Marija – Mother Nature

• It is an indie pop song. The song starts with a short instrumental section, which is later merged into the first verse. The melody is based on the strumming.
• The main issue here is judging it by current terms. It could have worked much better in 2005-2013. In another point of view, the song is more suitable to Junior Eurovision.
• Eva is sweet, and suggests a pure and innocent interpretation.
• However, this semi-final is quite strong, and it seems she might be forgotten later on.
• Prediction: Not qualifying for the final

5. 🇨🇿 Czechia: Daniel Žižka –Crossroads

• It is an atmospheric, cinematic art-pop ballad.
• Daniel conveys one of the best male vocals this year. Personally, it is one of my favorite ballads this year.
• It seems that the song will get much more support from the jury. However, it isn’t a typical song to conquer the public votes.
• The song is a sophisticated, slow-burning indie ballad, and it takes time to connect to it.
• The staging itself is quite raw and simple, featuring mirrors. In particular, France and Armenia that follow with greater staging plans.
• One of my biggest concerns is the running order, as two other male ballads come later in the show: Albania and Malta.
• Prediction: Borderline

6. 🇦🇲 Armenia: SIMÓN – Paloma Rumba

• It is a rhythmic, “Latin-Balkan” fusion that celebrates the spirit of freedom.
• The performance is chaotic, and sometimes too aggressive with kicks, acrobatics, and more. I struggled to understand part of the sung lyrics.
• The beat is contagious, and on paper, it should do well with the public vote. But I am not sure the execution is right.
• I can see it either as a border line qualifier or as staying out of the final line-up.
• Prediction: Borderline

7.🇨🇭 Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro – Alice

• It is a swaggering, dark rock ballad. The song opens with a waltz-like drum beat and a “muddy,” bluesy electric guitar riff.
• It is a dark, psychological narrative about boundary-crossing and obsessive love. The story is told from the perspective of an obsessive narrator, while the character Alice is stripped of her voice entirely
• I feel like the Swiss delegation has done almost everything possible to push it through with very engaging staging.
• I am not sure the general public will appreciate it much, but I have hope the jury will lift it up.
• Prediction: Borderline

8. 🇨🇾 Cyprus: Antigoni – Jalla

• It is a maximalist, high-energy “Ethno-Pop” song.
• The staging concept is festive: The main prop is a very large table; there are some chairs on it as well. The Cypriot team will walk along the table and perform some choreography on it. The table has some plates on it, delivering a Greek tavern in its realness.
• Antigoni hasn’t performed well in rehearsals, with shaky vocals and less energy.
• On the one hand, it is unique that the view of the semi-final features not a few ballads and rock songs. On the other hand, entries like Bulgaria and Denmark (which are also upbeat) will make look much questionable.
• I can see Balkan and South/Eastern countries voting for this one: Azerbaijan, Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Armenia and more.
• Prediction: Borderline (has the potential to be a surprising non qualifier)

9. 🇱🇻 Latvia: Atvara – Ēnā

• It is a minimalist, hauntingly beautiful “Art-Ballad” that centers entirely on vocal storytelling.
• Atvara performs the song emotionally and accurately.
• On paper, it should get the jury’s support. However, there are plenty of juicy bait entries.
• The problem is that many bold entries will come just right after, like Cyprus, Denmark, Australia and Ukraine.
• Latvia doesn’t have many friendly voting countries in this semi-final: Ireland doesn’t compete this time, while Lithuania, Estonia, and Georgia voted in semi-final 2.
• I am a bit worried that the entry might be too high art for the public. I feel like the message should have been conveyed better to the audience
• Prediction: Not qualifying for the final

10. 🇩🇰 Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem

• It is a nostalgic, guitar-driven electro-pop anthem performed in Danish.
• The performance will bring to life the nightclub experience, with special props looking like an aquarium box.
• It is one of the refreshing episodes of the show, with modern production.
• Søren feels very comfortable on stage and can easily be seen.
• Prediction: Qualifying for the final

11. 🇦🇺 Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse

• It is a cinematic ballad with Epic Orchestral Pop elements.
• Delta is one of the promising and stable performers of this semi-final.
• The staging is somehow a fusion of Disney theme, Eurovision classic, and very much Diva-coded.
• The global theme will help it push through.
• At this point, I can see it as a contender to win the jury vote.
• Prediction: Qualifying for the final

12. 🇺🇦 Ukraine: LELÉKA – Ridnym

• It is a delicate, emotionally raw folk-jazz ballad.
• LELÉKA proves that simple is beautiful. While the staging is based on quite a limited budget, it still succeeds in creating a moment.
• The song probably suggests a greater jury appeal, but Ukraine has proved it is one of the public vote magnets in recent years.
• Ukraine is the only country with 100% qualification rate, and I see no reason why it will change this year.
  LELÉKA brings an intelligent and classic performance, with delicate vocals.
• Prediction: Qualifying for the final

13. 🇦🇱 Albania: Alis – Nân

• It is a dramatic ballad.
• The backdrop LED video presents many women behind him. They symbolize Albanian women and mothers; some of them are wearing traditional Albanian costumes.
• The English subtitles will really help translate the message to the general public.
• Alis is one of the best vocalists this year, and it feels like he is fully connected to the topic.
• I can see it grabbing points from both the jury and the public.
• The fact that some Balkan countries are voting in this semi-final (Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus) as well as countries will Albanian diaspora (Switzerland and Austria) will help it a lot.
• Prediction: Qualifying for the final

14. 🇲🇹 Malta: AIDAN – Bella

• It’s a high-gloss cinematic ballad with Mediterranean pop production and Latin influences.
• It is one of the entries that made it really hard to predict.
• The song conveys a romantic atmosphere.
• On one hand, the staging (in the national final) brought a beautiful vision to the performance. On the other hand, the modifications that were brought to Vienna didn’t really upgrade it.
• Malta usually enjoys from solid jury vote, but quite limited public support.
• This is clearly a more jury-appealing song.
• Somehow, in the sequence of the song, I am not impressed by this one as much as I wanted.
• Prediction: Borderline (can be saved by jury)

15. 🇳🇴 Norway: JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA

• It is a flamboyant, high-octane glam-pop-rock song.
• It is a sensual performance, and Jonas sells the song quite convincingly.
• The fact it closes the semi-final can actually really help here.
• I must say the “Melodi Grand Prix 2026” performance looked better, but it is still based on the same terms and concept.
• Let’s not forget it comes after 2 male ballads (Albania and Malta), so it might help it shine even more.
• Prediction: Borderline (but likely to qualify)

Certain Qualifiers

These 8 countries I can see as certain qualifiers:

1. 🇦🇺 Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
2. 🇩🇰 Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
3. 🇷🇴 Romania: Alexandra Capitanescu – Choke Me
4. 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga
5. 🇺🇦 Ukraine: LELÉKA – Ridnym
6. 🇦🇱 Albania: Alis – Nân
7. 🇨🇿 Czechia: Daniel Žižka –Crossroads

Borderline

I can see 3 of these countries qualifying, while the 2 remaining won’t qualify:

• 🇦🇲 Armenia: SIMÓN – Paloma Rumba
• 🇨🇾 Cyprus: Antigoni – Jalla
• 🇲🇹 Malta: AIDAN – Bella
• 🇳🇴 Norway: JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro – Alice

Non Qualifiers

Sadly, I believe those 3 countries will struggle to qualify

• 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: JIVA – Just Go
• 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Eva Marija – Mother Nature
• 🇱🇻 Latvia: Atvara – Ēnā

If I have to reduce my list to 10 countries only:

1. 🇦🇺 Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
2. 🇩🇰 Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
3. 🇷🇴 Romania: Alexandra Capitanescu – Choke Me
4. 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga
5. 🇺🇦 Ukraine: LELÉKA – Ridnym
6. 🇦🇱 Albania: Alis – Nân
7. 🇨🇿 Czechia: Daniel Žižka –Crossroads
8. 🇳🇴 Norway: JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA
9. 🇨🇾 Cyprus: Antigoni – Jalla
10. 🇲🇹 Malta: AIDAN – Bella

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