Basel Bulletin: odds, opinions and social media

Odds, opinions and social media; that is what we talk about these days. The last seven participants of the second semifinal have their second rehearsal. We have no liveblog from EBU, however we are expecting 30 seconds videos later today. We also have pictures.

🇬🇪 Georgia

Georgian representative Mariam Shengelia has shared several updates in the lead-up to her first rehearsal in Basel. She posted from the airport with her delegation, thanking supporters and expressing excitement for the week ahead. On Instagram, Mariam wrote that she was “ready to carry Georgia with pride,” alongside behind-the-scenes photos and a short clip of her vocal warm-up. Her tone has remained positive and focused, and Georgian media outlets have echoed that optimism with supportive coverage.

Mariam’s first rehearsal of “Freedom” featured dramatic staging centred on a large rock prop and traditional Georgian elements. She began the performance elevated on the rock, joined by dancers in chokha coats and surrounded by fog and flag choreography. Reactions from the press were largely positive. Fans praised the visual transformation, especially the costume reveal near the end, while others noted similarities to Greece’s staging. The performance was described as theatrical and culturally rooted. Despite strong staging, Georgia remains low in the odds, currently around 36th place, down slightly from pre-rehearsal rankings. The impact of the performance on qualification chances remains uncertain.

📷 EBU/Alma Bengtsson

🇩🇰 Denmark

Over the past few days, Denmark’s Sissal has been active on social media as she headed to Basel. She shared travel updates carrying a Faroese flag (a nod to her roots) and expressed excitement for rehearsals (twitter.com). In Basel, she’s posted Instagram stories with her dance crew and tweeted appreciation for fans waiting outside the venue. The vibe is upbeat and engaging, with Sissal showing behind-the-scenes glimpses and thanking supporters for “all the love” during her journey.

Eurovision press and fans got their first look at “Hallucination” during Sissal’s initial rehearsal. She had promised a revamped show for Basel – and delivered. The staging now features a wind-blown transparent curtain and neon tunnel, plus a high-fashion blue outfit reveal mid-song. No pyro was used in this performance. Fan communities praised her, though some felt the entry is a dated EDM (Electronic Dance Music) throwback, dubbing it an “Euphoria leftover”. In the betting markets, Denmark still sits near the bottom (about 27th place with <1% win chance), and that hasn’t significantly improved post-rehearsal.

📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

🇨🇿 Czechia

Czechia’s ADONXS has kept fans in the loop online, sharing his Basel experiences over the last 3–4 days. He posted Instagram photos from the arena, captioned with gratitude for the support. ADONXS also took time to reply to fans on Twitter, joking that he’s ready to “kiss kiss hello” to the Eurovision stage. His social media presence shows confidence and camaraderie with other contestants, which fans have warmly received.

At his first rehearsal in St. Jakobshalle, ADONXS delivered a polished performance that Eurovision outlets described as “clean” and “elegant,” focusing on his charm. The staging starts minimalistic and white, with sleek LED patterns evoking an Inception-like vibe. By the second verse, four dancers in matching white join him, and a burst of red strobe lighting during the dance break “momentarily takes your breath away”, according to the EBU. The Eurovision press and fan bloggers were impressed by the visual transition and ADONXS’s effortless stage presence. Many fans on forums are now touting Czechia as a potential dark horse. In the betting odds, Czechia currently ranks in the top ten (around 6th with ~3% chance to win) – a position that held steady, if not slightly strengthened, after the strong first rehearsal.

📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Luxembourg’s Laura Thorn has been sharing her Eurovision journey on social media as the country returns to the contest after decades. In the past few days, she posted a heartfelt photo arriving in Basel, thanking fans for the “incredible welcome.” Eurovision fan pages noted that Laura was “looking marvellous” in her rehearsal attire, and clips of her meeting other artists backstage have circulated on Instagram. The general social media buzz among Luxembourgers is proud and nostalgic, with Laura engaging followers by saying she’s honored to bring her nation back to Eurovision.

During her first rehearsal, Laura delivered a performance that pays homage to Eurovision history. She kept the doll-inspired concept from the national final but scaled it up dramatically for Basel. Laura begins the act inside a life-sized pink-and-red dollhouse, with animated giant hands helping “position” her like a puppet. Five male dancers in red velvet suits bring 60s go-go moves, transitioning Laura from stiff doll-like poses into lively choreography. Massive LED projections and the retro set have “taken the performance to an entirely new level”. The Eurovision press applauded the creative staging and Laura’s strong vocals, and fans in the arena cheered seeing Luxembourg’s nostalgic French-pop style back on stage. However, at the bookmakers Luxembourg remains a long-shot – currently in the bottom five with well under a 1% chance of winning. That position hasn’t budged post-rehearsal, but the feel-good reception suggests Luxembourg’s comeback is already a win.

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming

🇮🇱 Israel

Israel’s Yuval Raphael has been very visible on social media ahead of her Basel rehearsals. In the last few days, the young singer posted an emotional video message before flying out, saying she is “beyond excited” and grateful for the chance to represent Israel. Upon arriving in Switzerland on Monday, Yuval shared photos at the venue and a selfie with Israeli fans who greeted her at the airport. 

Yuval performs alone on stage with no dancers, delivering vocals while climbing a chandelier’s steps. The Israeli delegation reported that she “astonished the production team” with her performance, especially given that Yuval only began performing live six months ago. In the betting odds, Israel remains firmly among the frontrunners (currently ~4th with about a 6% chance to win). That ranking has been reinforced after the rehearsal.

📷 EBU/Alma Bengtsson

🇷🇸 Serbia

Serbia’s representative, Princ, has kept a relatively low online profile, but he’s still shared moments from Basel. Earlier this week, the official Eurovision Instagram gave a royal welcome, noting Princ arrived “in a princely manner” to the host city. On his own social media, Princ posted a selfie captioned “Hello Basel!” and thanked supporters back home, writing that Eurovision fans are “the true soul of Eurovision” and he “can’t wait to see you in Basel”. These interactions, alongside a short a cappella clip he uploaded from rehearsals, have rallied Serbian fans, even as Princ stays focused on preparation.

Princ’s first rehearsal in Basel made headlines for unexpected reasons. During the run-through of his ballad “Mila,” some onlookers misinterpreted the stage’s black-and-red color scheme as an allusion to the Albanian flag. The Serbian delegation clarified afterward that the colors were chosen to symbolize sorrow (black) and passion (red) in the song’s emotional narrative – not any political statement. Once the dust settled, attention returned to Princ’s performance itself: a stripped-down presentation with Princ alone on stage. Eurovision commentators noted his poise under pressure and the raw emotion he brought to “Mila.” Fan reaction in the Eurovision community has been sympathetic and positive about Princ’s talent. In the betting odds, however, Serbia is still an underdog – currently around 30th place with less than a 1% chance of winning. That hasn’t shifted post-rehearsal.

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming

🇫🇮 Finland

Finland’s pop provocateur Erika Vikman has been lighting up social media in the lead-up to her Eurovision performance. In the last few days, she’s shared flashy Instagram reels from Basel – strutting in her rehearsal outfit and tagging it #BossBitchEnergy – and posed for selfies with fans who gathered outside her hotel. Notably, Erika made waves by leaving a “spicy” comment on Eurovision’s official post about her rehearsal photos, a tongue-in-cheek nod to the double entendre of her song “Ich komme.” The playful interaction went viral among Eurovision devotees, reinforcing Erika’s image as an unapologetic diva. She’s also tweeted about enjoying fondue in Switzerland, keeping things light-hearted off stage.

Erika Vikman’s first rehearsal closely followed her UMK staging, keeping the same concept on a larger scale. Dressed in a black latex-style outfit with gold spikes, she began atop a golden pedestal and later climbed onto a giant golden microphone. Bold LED graphics displayed “ICH KOMME” and “ERIKA,” with smoke jets adding impact. The performance featured no dancers—Erika commanded the stage solo. Reactions from the press were positive, highlighting her strong vocals and stage presence. While there were few surprises compared to the national final, fans appreciated the consistency. Finland currently sits around 8th in the betting odds, with no significant change following the rehearsal.

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming

 

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Eurovision time! The second semi-final opens with a parody of JJ’s “Wasted Love”, performed by the hosts. To us, it feels like wasted time. 🇧🇬 Bulgaria In what looks like a waiting room, we see Dara with her dancers. There is some rather wild dancing going on. Halfway through the performance, the waiting room disappears, but the act remains just as gripping. Dara opens the show and immediately grabs the viewer’s attention, from the first second to the last. A perfect opener. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan At first, Jiva’s performance is rather understated. That should put the focus mainly on the vocals and the song. Halfway through, the man she has to let go of appears, and a small routine with ribbons unfolds. A pity, because it distracts from the particularly strong vocals Jiva delivers. Whether the song is strong enough for a place in the final, we would not dare say. 🇷🇴 Romania There is a lot happening on stage for Romania. At first, Alexandra is connected to the two guitarists by light cables. 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And that is exactly what she does: she is literally dancing on a table. She is surrounded by four dancers. Antigoni throws a party that lets the arena really cut loose. At the end of the performance, we see a lot of fire. Fuego? 🇦🇹 Austria Cosmo starts off lying on the stage. Cartoon-like figures are projected onto the floor, making it look as if the singer is performing inside his own cartoon. Later, he is musically supported by musicians wearing animal heads. They later climb a climbing frame. Cosmo chooses to head down the catwalk, prompting deafening cheers from the Austrians in the arena. Unfortunately, we do not see Austria finishing very high this year. 🇱🇻 Latvia Singer Atvara stands alone on stage; we see a beam of light as if a door is open. This creates Atvara’s shadow. Atvara delivers vocals that are somewhat airy, but clean. 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Read More »
May 14, 2026 No Comments
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