The first semifinal of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest took place in Vienna on May 12, with 10 of the 15 participating countries advancing to the final: Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland.

Portugal, Georgia, Montenegro, Estonia, and San Marino failed to qualify from the first semifinal.

Armenia is represented at Eurovision 2026 by Simon. He will perform his song “Paloma Rumba” during the contest’s second semifinal on May 14.

This year’s competition has been marked by political tensions and boycott calls, with protests taking place against Israel’s participation because of the war in Gaza. Five countries are boycotting Eurovision 2026 over the issue.

During the performance of 28-year-old Israeli contestant Noam Betani, boos and anti-Israel slogans were heard, although part of the audience also supported the singer by chanting his name.

Before the performance, the singer told The Jerusalem Post that he intended to focus on music and would treat any criticism as “background noise,” the BBC reported.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are also planned in Vienna, prompting tightened security measures across the city. Police officers from various regions of Austria have been deployed to the capital, while German law enforcement agencies are also assisting.

One of the main favorites to win the competition is Finland with the song “Liekinheitin,” performed by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen.

The Eurovision final is scheduled to take place on May 16.