Vienna just set the stage for a high-stakes musical showdown as the first 10 qualifiers for the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final were revealed on Tuesday night. While the sequins were flying at the Wiener Stadthalle, the glitz couldn’t entirely hide the massive geopolitical boycott that has stripped this year’s 70th anniversary competition of five major participating nations. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland all walked away from the event to protest Israel’s inclusion, leaving a somber shadow over what is usually the world’s most inclusive pop entertainment party.
The night belonged to the fans as 15 nations in total are now locked in for Saturday’s showdown. The 10 countries that fought their way through the first semi-final include Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Israel, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, and Sweden. They join the “Big Four”—the UK, France, Germany, and Italy—along with host nation Austria. Finland emerged as an early betting favorite with their wild pop and violin mashup Liekinheitin, which brought the house down. But not everyone had a smooth ride. Israel’s Noam Bettan faced loud protests from the crowd during his rock ballad Michelle, though he still managed to secure enough votes to advance. According to a detailed report by AP News, five countries were sent packing, including San Marino. Even a surprise guest appearance from 80s icon Boy George couldn’t save San Marino’s Senhit from elimination. Estonia, Georgia, Montenegro, and Portugal also saw their Eurovision dreams end early as they failed to crack the top ten.
This milestone 70th edition is a massive moment for Austria, which earned hosting rights after JJ’s win in Basel last year. Holding the contest in the historic Wiener Stadthalle was supposed to be a pure celebration of European unity, yet the empty seats from the boycotting nations tell a different story. The absence of heavyweights like Spain and Ireland changes the entire voting math for the final. Fans are already debating how these missing votes will shift the power toward the Nordic countries or the remaining Big Four. With 15 spots now filled and more to come from the second semi-final, the pressure is on for the favorites to prove that the music can still drown out the noise of a very divided continent.