Vienna 12 points: another day of rehearsals

🇲🇪 Montenegro – Tamara Živković, “Nova Zora”

Running order: 8 | Rehearsal: 10:30–11:00 CEST

Tamara Živković opened Sunday’s rehearsal block at the Wiener Stadthalle. According to the official Eurovision subreddit, she starts “Nova Zora” lying on the floor, surrounded by four shadowy figures who gradually reveal themselves as her dancers. As the song begins, she slowly rises, pulling dramatic poses along the way. The stage shifts between deep red and small flashes of blue as the choreography moves from sharp, uniform steps into something rawer and more primal.

Ahead of Vienna, Tamara told CdM that the staging carries over from Montesong in concept. Her goal is a performance combining emotion, energy, and visual impact — one that makes the audience truly feel the power of the “New Dawn.” She and broadcaster RTCG confirmed that the revamped version stays largely in Montenegrin but adds a short line in English. Tamara stated she carefully considered fan feedback on social media before finalising those adjustments. Montenegro performs 8th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision/RTCG

🇪🇪 Estonia – Vanilla Ninja, “Too Epic To Be True”

Running order: 9 | Rehearsal: 11:10–11:40 CEST

According to the official Eurovision subreddit, Vanilla Ninja’s staging stays largely in line with their Eesti Laul performance as the trio return to the Eurovision stage after 21 years. The team revamped the song slightly to give it a stronger rock feel, aiming to appeal to both the public and the juries. Their outfits are also upgraded from the Eesti Laul look, sharpening the rock identity they bring to Vienna. Audience participation plays a central role, with the track edited to build a clear “hype moment” in the middle-eight. The performance closes with a large blast of pyrotechnics in its final seconds.

Vanilla Ninja formed in Tallinn in 2002. Kerli Kivilaan, Lenna Kuurmaa, and Piret Järvis make up the current trio. They represented Switzerland at Eurovision 2005 with “Cool Vibes,” finishing 8th. The band disbanded in 2008 and reunited in 2020. Estonia performs 9th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision

🇮🇱 Israel – Noam Bettan, “Michelle”

Running order: 10 | Rehearsal: 11:50–12:20 CEST

Noam Bettan opens his performance inside a massive diamond-shaped prop. Broadcaster Kan describes it as the largest stage prop at this year’s contest. The diamond’s interior uses infinite mirrors to create the illusion of countless reflections — a direct visual reference to the music video for “Michelle.”

A solo dancer draws Bettan out of the diamond and leads him to the front of the stage, where four more dancers await. Kan reports that Bettan’s vocal performance drew enthusiastic reactions from those present in the arena. Director Yoav Tzafir called it a pleasure to work with Bettan.

Note that the official Eurovision reddit reports about the performance of this song, but doesn’t mention the country’s name a single time in their report.

Israel performs 10th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May.

sources: Eurovision/Times of Israel

🇧🇪 Belgium – Essyla, “Dancing on the Ice”

Running order: 11 | Rehearsal: 12:45–13:15 CEST

According to the official Eurovision subreddit, Essyla brings a sleek and dance-forward performance to the Wiener Stadthalle. RTBF, Belgium’s French-language national broadcaster, confirmed that Essyla performs with four male dancers: Max Lukaina, Axel Remezo, Julien Maniquet, and Tom Van de Weghe. Elena Gambardella and David Vandenplas choreograph the performance. Gambardella previously danced at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

RTBF shared rehearsal footage on Instagram in the weeks before Vienna, giving the first public glimpse of how the team plans to bring “Dancing on the Ice” to the stage. When RTBF announced her selection, Essyla said: “I don’t fully realize. A part of me is still elsewhere, as if I were hiding the fact that I am the one who represents Belgium.” Belgium arrives in Vienna after two consecutive non-qualifications. Belgium performs 11th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision/RTBF

🇱🇹 Lithuania – Lion Ceccah, “Sólo Quiero Más”

Running order: 12 | Rehearsal: 13:25–13:55 CEST

Lion Ceccah brings a technically complex staging to Vienna. A large metal sculpture built from tensioned steel cables and held together by electromagnets stands centre stage. At the emotional peak of the performance, the electricity cuts. The magnets release. The entire structure collapses, live, on stage, in front of the audience.

Lion Ceccah explained his vision to LRT directly: “This is not just a stage decoration, but a living stage sculpture, an installation that becomes the axis of the performance, transforms along with the music and ultimately collapses right on the stage. I wanted to create a spectacle that the audience has never seen before in any Lithuanian Eurovision performance.”

Head of Delegation Audrius Giržadas confirmed the structure works as planned and was sent to Vienna ahead of rehearsals for testing. He called it an incomparably more complex stage solution than anything Lithuania has previously transported to Eurovision. Born in Vilnius in 1991, Tomas Alenčikas performs as Lion Ceccah. He is a stage artist, songwriter, drag culture advocate, and musical theatre specialist. Lithuania performs 12th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision/LRT

Second rehearsals for Montenegro, Estonia, and Israel take place on Wednesday, 6 May. Belgium and Lithuania follow on Thursday, 7 May. Official photos from today’s rehearsals will appear approximately 24 hours after each performance on the Eurovision Song Contest’s official Instagram and Facebook channels.

Martijn

See all contributions

Related news

News

Vienna 12 points: saturday’s rehearsals

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest officially kicked off today in Vienna. First rehearsals remain closed to press — only three approved images per country will be released. Meanwhile, the official Eurovision subreddit is providing live descriptions of each performance. Eurovision Universe tried to find more information than the Eurovision blog provides us. We hope we succeeded in that. All countries below compete in Semi-Final 1 on Tuesday, 12 May. 🇲🇩 Moldova – Satoshi, “Viva Moldova!” Running order: 1 | Rehearsal: 10:30–11:00 CEST Moldova opened the entire contest on Saturday morning, and Satoshi hit the Wiener Stadthalle stage first among all 35 competing nations. In the lead-up to today’s rehearsal, he spoke openly to Moldovan state broadcaster Moldova 1 about his methodical preparation. “We record every rehearsal and analyse our performance, repeating exactly the movements we will make. We don’t have a rigid choreography, but we do have set positions. I feel quite confident. Things are happening as we planned.” Moreover, producer Roman Burlaca confirmed sweeping changes to the staging. Costumes are completely new, LED visuals have been upgraded, special effects added. A surprise “repeatable element” will be built in, though Burlaca stayed tight-lipped: “You will see it soon and understand.” Additionally, Satoshi announced on his Facebook page that the official music video was directed by Roman Burlaca, recorded by Nicu Lungu, and features the JOC National Ballet. Moldova performs 1st in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. Moldova1 + 2 🇸🇪 Sweden – FELICIA, “My System” Running order: 2 | Rehearsal: 11:10–11:40 CEST According to the official Eurovision Reddit live blog, the performance opens with a smoke machine parting to reveal FELICIA, mask firmly on, before lasers engulf the entire stage. Crucially, Vienna brings something entirely new: in the second verse, FELICIA physically battles the lasers with her bare hands before taming them to frame her poses. Furthermore, the synths near the song’s climax make the arena floor physically vibrate. As a finale, a giant projection of FELICIA climbs out of the screens and into the audience. Swedish press were enthusiastic ahead of Vienna. Matilda Källén of Dagens Nyheter called the staging “maxed out, well-choreographed, and ready for Eurovision,” while Johan Hammerby of Hallandsposten dubbed it “world-class.” 🇭🇷 Croatia – LELEK, “Andromeda” Running order: 3 | Rehearsal: 11:50–12:20 CEST According to the Eurovision Reddit live blog, the performance opens with a walk down the full catwalk from the Green Room to the main stage. The five members then perform in deep blood-red robes, a visual step up from their Dora-winning look. LED screens carry the audience from a cave through a forest before closing with a wormhole sequence. Croatia Week described “Andromeda” as an atmospheric, cinematic ethno-pop track with powerful vocals, dramatic builds, and elements drawing from Croatian and Bosnian historical and cultural themes. This addresses generational trauma, resistance, and the strength of women across generations. At the heart of the song lies the tradition of sicanje. As Croatia Week explains, sicanje is a practice in which Croatian Catholics in parts of Bosnia, Herzegovina and Dalmatia tattooed crosses on their skin as a mark of identity and protection, particularly during times of oppression or the threat of forced conversion. Ahead of Vienna, HRT Magazine reported that LELEK themselves described the pressure of being favourites as “wind in our backs rather than a burden,” adding: “We don’t even want to imagine how it will be. We want to absorb the first emotion when we go on stage.” Furthermore, Telegrafi noted that the song’s lyrics, written by Tomislav Roso, with music by Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić and Zorja Pajić, sparked international attention even before the Vienna rehearsals began, including a debate in Turkey over the song’s historical references. Croatia Week + 3 🇬🇷 Greece – Akylas, “Ferto” Running order: 4 | Rehearsal: 12:45–13:15 CEST Greece enters Vienna as one of the strongest favourites, yet the delegation is actively keeping the full staging under wraps, a strategy that immediately recalls Joost Klein (Netherlands, 2024), who famously refused to reveal his “Europapa” staging until the live show in Malmö. Today’s Reddit live blog confirmed that Akylas performs in an orange and black outfit with furry boots and a distinctive hat, building a video game-like world on stage. Then he stops, removes his shades, and addresses his mother directly. However, key elements of the staging deliberately remain hidden. Speaking to ERT before flying to Vienna, Akylas said: “I don’t feel stressed, mainly excitement. We have studied everything and I believe that we will perform very well.” Creative director Fokas Evangelinos added: “It is a three-minute story with a beginning, middle and end, full of humour and emotion.” True to that approach, when a fan asked on Instagram after the stand-in rehearsal how it went, Akylas replied with just three words: “We’re doing very well.” No spoilers. No details. Exactly as planned. 🇵🇹 Portugal – Bandidos do Cante, “Rosa” Running order: 5 | Rehearsal: 13:25–13:55 CEST Portugal closed the opening rehearsal block. The group departed Lisbon Airport at 08:00 on 1 May, arriving in Vienna with their first Wiener Stadthalle rehearsal scheduled for the very next morning. In the days before arriving, broadcaster RTP actively posted on social media that the staging of “Rosa” has been reworked for Vienna, though the group deliberately kept the exact changes under wraps. The Portugal Post described “Rosa” as a performance that translates Alentejo heritage into something resonant across language barriers. That heritage is Cante Alentejano. This is a traditional vocal style the Alentejo region carries proudly.It even is UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Bandidos do Cante offer something genuinely different: five voices, one tradition, and a song that quietly demands your full attention. Lidador Noticias + 3 🇬🇪 Georgia – Bzikebi, “On Replay” Running order: 6 | Rehearsal: 15:00–15:30 CEST Georgia’s Eurovision 2026 rehearsal brought Bzikebi back to the big stage with a clear nod to their Junior Eurovision past. The trio wore black and yellow, but in a much more futuristic version than in 2008: yellow catsuits

May 2, 2026 No Comments

Uncategorized

Vienna 12 points: another day of rehearsals

Day two of rehearsals at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest is underway in Vienna. First rehearsals remain closed to press — only three approved images per country will be released, with official photos published approximately 24 hours after each performance. Meanwhile, the official Eurovision subreddit is providing live descriptions of each performance. Eurovision Universe tried to find more information through social media, national broadcaster coverage, and press reports. All countries below compete in Semi-Final 1 on Tuesday, 12 May. 🇲🇪 Montenegro – Tamara Živković, “Nova Zora” Running order: 8 | Rehearsal: 10:30–11:00 CEST Tamara Živković opened Sunday’s rehearsal block at the Wiener Stadthalle. According to the official Eurovision subreddit, she starts “Nova Zora” lying on the floor, surrounded by four shadowy figures who gradually reveal themselves as her dancers. As the song begins, she slowly rises, pulling dramatic poses along the way. The stage shifts between deep red and small flashes of blue as the choreography moves from sharp, uniform steps into something rawer and more primal. Ahead of Vienna, Tamara told CdM that the staging carries over from Montesong in concept. Her goal is a performance combining emotion, energy, and visual impact — one that makes the audience truly feel the power of the “New Dawn.” She and broadcaster RTCG confirmed that the revamped version stays largely in Montenegrin but adds a short line in English. Tamara stated she carefully considered fan feedback on social media before finalising those adjustments. Montenegro performs 8th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision/RTCG 🇪🇪 Estonia – Vanilla Ninja, “Too Epic To Be True” Running order: 9 | Rehearsal: 11:10–11:40 CEST According to the official Eurovision subreddit, Vanilla Ninja’s staging stays largely in line with their Eesti Laul performance as the trio return to the Eurovision stage after 21 years. The team revamped the song slightly to give it a stronger rock feel, aiming to appeal to both the public and the juries. Their outfits are also upgraded from the Eesti Laul look, sharpening the rock identity they bring to Vienna. Audience participation plays a central role, with the track edited to build a clear “hype moment” in the middle-eight. The performance closes with a large blast of pyrotechnics in its final seconds. Vanilla Ninja formed in Tallinn in 2002. Kerli Kivilaan, Lenna Kuurmaa, and Piret Järvis make up the current trio. They represented Switzerland at Eurovision 2005 with “Cool Vibes,” finishing 8th. The band disbanded in 2008 and reunited in 2020. Estonia performs 9th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision 🇮🇱 Israel – Noam Bettan, “Michelle” Running order: 10 | Rehearsal: 11:50–12:20 CEST Noam Bettan opens his performance inside a massive diamond-shaped prop. Broadcaster Kan describes it as the largest stage prop at this year’s contest. The diamond’s interior uses infinite mirrors to create the illusion of countless reflections — a direct visual reference to the music video for “Michelle.” A solo dancer draws Bettan out of the diamond and leads him to the front of the stage, where four more dancers await. Kan reports that Bettan’s vocal performance drew enthusiastic reactions from those present in the arena. Director Yoav Tzafir called it a pleasure to work with Bettan. Note that the official Eurovision reddit reports about the performance of this song, but doesn’t mention the country’s name a single time in their report. Israel performs 10th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision/Times of Israel 🇧🇪 Belgium – Essyla, “Dancing on the Ice” Running order: 11 | Rehearsal: 12:45–13:15 CEST According to the official Eurovision subreddit, Essyla brings a sleek and dance-forward performance to the Wiener Stadthalle. RTBF, Belgium’s French-language national broadcaster, confirmed that Essyla performs with four male dancers: Max Lukaina, Axel Remezo, Julien Maniquet, and Tom Van de Weghe. Elena Gambardella and David Vandenplas choreograph the performance. Gambardella previously danced at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. RTBF shared rehearsal footage on Instagram in the weeks before Vienna, giving the first public glimpse of how the team plans to bring “Dancing on the Ice” to the stage. When RTBF announced her selection, Essyla said: “I don’t fully realize. A part of me is still elsewhere, as if I were hiding the fact that I am the one who represents Belgium.” Belgium arrives in Vienna after two consecutive non-qualifications. Belgium performs 11th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision/RTBF 🇱🇹 Lithuania – Lion Ceccah, “Sólo Quiero Más” Running order: 12 | Rehearsal: 13:25–13:55 CEST Lion Ceccah brings a technically complex staging to Vienna. A large metal sculpture built from tensioned steel cables and held together by electromagnets stands centre stage. At the emotional peak of the performance, the electricity cuts. The magnets release. The entire structure collapses, live, on stage, in front of the audience. Lion Ceccah explained his vision to LRT directly: “This is not just a stage decoration, but a living stage sculpture, an installation that becomes the axis of the performance, transforms along with the music and ultimately collapses right on the stage. I wanted to create a spectacle that the audience has never seen before in any Lithuanian Eurovision performance.” Head of Delegation Audrius Giržadas confirmed the structure works as planned and was sent to Vienna ahead of rehearsals for testing. He called it an incomparably more complex stage solution than anything Lithuania has previously transported to Eurovision. Born in Vilnius in 1991, Tomas Alenčikas performs as Lion Ceccah. He is a stage artist, songwriter, drag culture advocate, and musical theatre specialist. Lithuania performs 12th in Semi-Final 1 on 12 May. sources: Eurovision/LRT Second rehearsals for Montenegro, Estonia, and Israel take place on Wednesday, 6 May. Belgium and Lithuania follow on Thursday, 7 May. Official photos from today’s rehearsals will appear approximately 24 hours after each performance on the Eurovision Song Contest’s official Instagram and Facebook channels.

May 3, 2026 No Comments