Day 3: start of the 2nd semi rehearsals

Day three of rehearsals: the second semifinal has started. Nobody knows about the stage anymore. We try to keep you informed. For the time being, we’ll stick to the nine countries that rehearsed.

FINLAND: Expectations were obviously high with a big name like The Rasmus in da’ house. In black and yellow rain gear, the stars stood on stage between huge black balloons. Eurovision.tv praises the professionalism of the band members.

ISRAEL: It was quite exciting whether Israel would participate or not. However, the security issues died down. And so Michael Ben David stood on stage in white, surrounded by his dancers. Remarkable: eurovision.tv reports that there is good singing. That has not been done so far.

SERBIA: Konstrakta’s act is little different from what we saw during the national final. She has the healthy hair of Megan Markle, which she also sings about. She washes her hands regularly. The dancers around her carry towels. Everything to stay “In corpore sano”, in a healthy body.

AZERBAIJAN: It was to be expected: Azerbaijan has a standout act. Nadir Rustamli sings from a sort of staircase that looks like a grandstand. There is also a dancer in that stand. Halfway through the act, the stand is split in two and the dancer and singer can see each other.

GEORGIA: Circus Mircus represents Georgia. And clowns belong to a circus. A singer in a leather jacket and flying goggles, a man with an eye patch and a belly organ and a bassist who seems to have borrowed the hat from the Ukrainians. That last man has a beard of flowers. Many colors can be seen on stage. Surreal is how even the official site describes it.

MALTA: Emma Muscat performs in a dress covered with silver. She is flanked by four dancers. Later during the act, she sits behind a huge piano. She also uses the so-called B-stage, just in front of the green room. The sun springs into action and gives off its golden light during this act.

SAN MARINO: You can expect a striking act from Achille Lauro. He wears body stocking, cowboy boots and hat, a black boa and he is at a red rodeo. While you’d expect that with the title “Stripper,” the clothes don’t come off. Where there is smoke there is fire: that certainly applies to this act, which ends with a lot of pyro technics.

AUSTRALIA: Of course Sheldon Reily wears his jeweled mask. Surprising is the huge white suit he is also wearing. At the bottom of the suit is a huge tow. Eurovision.tv compares it to a wedding dress that drags on the floor. It almost seems as if Sheldon is staying in the clouds.

CYPRUS: Andromache is singing in a purple dress with what looks like a huge fan behind her. The dancers move around that fan. The fan is also used to display the graphics. Different colors are visible.

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Road to Vienna: Belgium

Road to Vienna: Belgium As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Belgium. Essyla : An Artist with an eccentric stage presence Essyla, born Alice Van Eesbeeck in 1997 in Perwez, Belgium, developed a passion for music at a young age. Influenced by French chanson, jazz, folk, rock, and funk, she quickly found her artistic voice. She formed her first band as a child and later trained at the IMEP music school in Namur to refine her vocal skills. Breakthrough on The Voice Belgique Essyla gained national recognition in 2021 as a finalist on The Voice Belgique Season 9. Mentored by Typh Barrow, she finished as runner-up behind Jérémie Makiese. This exposure introduced her powerful voice and unique style to a wide audience. Music Career and First Releases After the show, Essyla worked as a backing vocalist while developing her solo career. In 2023, she released her debut singles “Let You Go” and “Not My Kind of Dude,” followed by her first EP I’ll Be Okay. Her music blends pop with funk and rock influences, often focusing on empowerment and self-confidence. Later singles like “Your Letters” (2024) and “Tip Toe” (2025) further established her sound. Road to Eurovision Song Contest 2026 In 2026, Essyla reached a major milestone when RTBF selected her to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. This marks a defining moment in her growing career. Dancing on the Ice: Emotional Pop in Focus Dancing on the Ice explores the thrill of emotional risk in modern relationships. It shows how vulnerability and chaos can feel intentional—and even exciting. Duality and Inner Conflict The song highlights a tension between confidence and insecurity, love and doubt. The protagonist seeks connection while questioning their own emotional stability. Fragile Love, Strong Impact The ice metaphor reflects the beauty and instability of love. Dancing on it symbolizes choosing intensity over safety, making the track a powerful statement on living and feeling deeply. Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest Belgium has a long history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated since its inception in 1956. The country has secured one victory: in 1986 with Sandra Kim‘s “J’aime la vie.” However, good scores for Jean Vallee (1978) and Urban Trad (2004) can not be left unmentioned. In recent years Loïc Nottet (2015) and Blanche (2017) reached the top-5. The previous Flemish entry, Gustaph’s “Because Of You”, reaced a 7th place. Over the years, Belgium has achieved several top-ten results, reflecting its ongoing commitment to the competition. The Bookmakers Belgium is currently ranked 28th with the bookmakers, suggesting that Essyla, like Red Sebastian last year, might miss out  the big final. Still, surprises are part of Eurovision’s magic. We look forward to see  Essyla to shine on stage.

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Road to Vienna: Belgium

Road to Vienna: Belgium As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Belgium. Essyla : An Artist with an eccentric stage presence Essyla, born Alice Van Eesbeeck in 1997 in Perwez, Belgium, developed a passion for music at a young age. Influenced by French chanson, jazz, folk, rock, and funk, she quickly found her artistic voice. She formed her first band as a child and later trained at the IMEP music school in Namur to refine her vocal skills. Breakthrough on The Voice Belgique Essyla gained national recognition in 2021 as a finalist on The Voice Belgique Season 9. Mentored by Typh Barrow, she finished as runner-up behind Jérémie Makiese. This exposure introduced her powerful voice and unique style to a wide audience. Music Career and First Releases After the show, Essyla worked as a backing vocalist while developing her solo career. In 2023, she released her debut singles “Let You Go” and “Not My Kind of Dude,” followed by her first EP I’ll Be Okay. Her music blends pop with funk and rock influences, often focusing on empowerment and self-confidence. Later singles like “Your Letters” (2024) and “Tip Toe” (2025) further established her sound. Road to Eurovision Song Contest 2026 In 2026, Essyla reached a major milestone when RTBF selected her to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. This marks a defining moment in her growing career. Dancing on the Ice: Emotional Pop in Focus Dancing on the Ice explores the thrill of emotional risk in modern relationships. It shows how vulnerability and chaos can feel intentional—and even exciting. Duality and Inner Conflict The song highlights a tension between confidence and insecurity, love and doubt. The protagonist seeks connection while questioning their own emotional stability. Fragile Love, Strong Impact The ice metaphor reflects the beauty and instability of love. Dancing on it symbolizes choosing intensity over safety, making the track a powerful statement on living and feeling deeply. Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest Belgium has a long history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated since its inception in 1956. The country has secured one victory: in 1986 with Sandra Kim‘s “J’aime la vie.” However, good scores for Jean Vallee (1978) and Urban Trad (2004) can not be left unmentioned. In recent years Loïc Nottet (2015) and Blanche (2017) reached the top-5. The previous Flemish entry, Gustaph’s “Because Of You”, reaced a 7th place. Over the years, Belgium has achieved several top-ten results, reflecting its ongoing commitment to the competition. The Bookmakers Belgium is currently ranked 28th with the bookmakers, suggesting that Essyla, like Red Sebastian last year, might miss out  the big final. Still, surprises are part of Eurovision’s magic. We look forward to see  Essyla to shine on stage.

Read More »
Follow Us: