ORF and EBU have finally released the rehearsal schedule for the Eurovision song contest 2026 in Vienna according several sites yet I haven't seen an official release when writing this. Finland's first 30 minutes rehearsal is scheduled on May 2 at 15.40-16.10. The second one, 25 minutes instead of the usual 20 btw it seems, is scheduled for May 6 at 15.00-15.25. Oddly the Big4 + Austria have 25 + 25 minutes rehearsals on May 7 and 9, which
But what happens in these first and second rehearsals and what are they for?
If things haven't changed much since I was there the first 30 minutes rehearsals is mostly technical. The acts get to the stage for the very first time after the stand in rehearsals have practiced the lighting and camera angles, props and all that . Usually they get to go through the song three times, four if you are lucky and happy how things progress and changes can be made after each run through as the delegation watches on screens how it all looks like. After that the team gathers into a viewing room with producers and watch it all again and more changes can be made. At this point the whole back drop and/or color scheme can change for example. All changes are noted second by second and prepared for the second rehearsals.
The second rehearsal is (or used to be) 20 minutes and if you manage to perform your act twice or if everything goes smoothly three times. The possible changes made in the first rehearsal should be done by done and in theory by now the act should be ready and done. Minor changes can still be requested and done for the future but they will be effective only in the dress rehearsals and can't be rehearsed anymore beforehand and therefor a minor risk.
In the three dress rehearsals the whole show is done as it is and your act gets on stage and does what needs to be done and that's it. Back in the day all rehearsals were open to media and videos started circulating right away on the internet but as we know these days Ebu has closed doors policy at least for the first rehearsals and it is totally understandable and thumbs up as people can't behave on world wide web. It's after all a rehearsal, don't judge and kill a work non finished and polished. Now Ebu controls the material that comes out on video or photos and that's simply to protect the artists from the sharks out there and give them peace to fine tune their acts and save their voices before they show it to the world when it really matters.
Saturday May 2 - First rehearsals for
Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia and Finland
Sunday May 3 - First rehearsal for
Montenegro, Estonia, Israel, Belgium, Lithuania, San Marino, Poland and Serbia
Monday May 4 - First rehearsal for
Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxemburg, Czechia, Armenia and Switzerland
Tuesday May 5 - First rehearsal for
Cyprus, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta and Norway
Wednesday May 6 - Second rehearsal for
Moldova, Sweden, Croatia. Greece, Portugal, Georgia, Finland, Montenegro, Estonia and Israel
Thursday May 7 - Second rehearsal for
Belgium, Lithuania, San Marino, Poland, Serbia
First rehearsal for
Italy, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Austria
Friday May 8 - second rehearsals for
Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxemburg, Czechia, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Latvia, Denmark
Saturday May 9 - second rehearsal for
Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta and Norway
Italy, Germany, France, United Kingdom and Austria
Sunday May 10
Turquoise carpet and Welcome party
Monday May 11
First semi-final dress rehearsal 1
First semi-final dress rehearsal 2 - Jury show
Tuesday May 12
First semi-final dress rehearsal 3
First semi-final live broadcast
Wednesday May 13
Second semi-final dress rehearsal 1
Second semi-final dress rehearsal 2 - Jury show
Thursday May 14
Second semi-final dress rehearsal 3
Second semi-final live broadcast
Friday May 15
Final dress rehearsal 1
Final dress rehearsal 2 - Jury show
Saturday May 16
Final dress rehearsal 3
Final live broadcast
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