Greece has qualified for the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after Akylas’ performance of “Ferto” secured a place in the top 10 during the first semi-final in Vienna.
Akylas was the first act announced as a qualifier from the 15-country semi-final, although results were revealed in random order.
Other countries progressing to the final include Moldova, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland.
The theatrical performance of “Ferto” drew strong reactions from audiences and media throughout Eurovision week, with international outlets highlighting the staging, multilingual lyrics and contemporary visual style.
Commentators have compared Greece’s momentum this year to some of the country’s strongest Eurovision eras, including Helena Paparizou’s 2005 winning performance of “My Number One.”
The first semi-final also featured performances from automatic finalists Italy and Germany, while the opening act celebrated “70 Years of Love” with former Eurovision winner Vicky Leandros performing “L’amour est bleu.”
Australian 2025 entrant Go-Jo also appeared in an interval performance alongside hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski.
