Eurovision Semi-Final 2 dress rehearsal

Media were inside Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle on May 13 for the first dress rehearsal of Eurovision 2026’s second semi-final, but the reporting that emerged from the room was notably partial. Fan outlets and live bloggers described staging, props and audience response from the arena rather than the camera-specific television presentation that usually defines how Eurovision entries are judged at home. ESCXTRA, which ran a live blog from the venue, said the session was “only open to the press” and posted rolling notes on each performance. Separate reporting from Eurofans Radio said on-site press could not film the show, and that the evening jury rehearsal would not be broadcast live. ### Why were reports from Vienna focused on the arena, not the TV feed? Eurofans Radio reported on May 13 that “onsite press” could not film any part of the show and said the evening jury rehearsal was exclusively for national juries and the audience in the hall. That restriction helps explain why rehearsal coverage on Wednesday centered on what journalists could see from the press area rather than on polished “down the lens” shots from the official broadcast output. (escxtra.com) ESCXTRA’s live blog reflected those limits in practice. The outlet described props, blocking, lighting and crowd reaction in real time, while repeatedly noting uncertainty about how some moments would read on screen. In its entry on Bulgaria’s opener, for example, the blog said a moving set-piece created an effect the writer was “curious to see” on the actual screen. ### What exactly was this rehearsal on May 13? Wiener Stadthalle lists the May 13 second semi-final “Evening Preview Show” at 9 p.m. as the full run-through on the night before the live television broadcast, and says that is when international juries cast their votes. (eurofansradio.com) The venue also lists an “Afternoon Preview Show” on May 14 at 3 p.m. and the live broadcast on May 14 at 9 p.m. Eurofans Radio said a separate dress rehearsal was set for 15:30 CEST on May 13 and described it as accessible to the press ahead of the jury show later that evening. (escxtra.com) The same report said all 15 competing acts would perform alongside the pre-qualified finalists from France, the United Kingdom and host country Austria. ### Which acts were covered in the press rehearsal? (stadthalle.com) ESCXTRA’s live blog listed 18 performances in the running order it was following from the hall. Those included the 15 competing second semi-final entries — from Bulgaria’s Dara opening with “Bangaranga” to Norway’s JONAS LOVV closing with “Ya Ya Ya” — as well as automatic finalists France’s Monroe, Austria’s COSMÓ and the United Kingdom’s LOOK MOM NO COMPUTER. The same live blog also described the opening sequence. (eurofansradio.com) ESCXTRA wrote that the show began with a recap video and a pre-filmed parody built around Austrian winner JJ’s staging, before hosts Michael and Victoria appeared on stage to introduce the semi-final. ### How unusual is press access at this stage of Eurovision week? Eurovisionworld’s 2026 rehearsal schedule says first and second rehearsals are closed to the press. By May 13, however, the contest had moved beyond those early technical sessions and into full-show run-throughs at the arena, where media access was allowed in some form even if filming rights were restricted. (escxtra.com) Wiener Stadthalle’s event page draws a clear distinction between rehearsals and the televised shows. (escxtra.com) The venue describes the evening preview as a full run-through and the afternoon preview as the final dress rehearsal, with the live broadcast on May 14 determining which acts advance. ### What happens next in Vienna? Thursday, May 14 is the next key date in the schedule. Wiener Stadthalle lists the second semi-final afternoon preview at 3 p.m. and the live broadcast at 9 p.m., while Eurofans Radio said the online “Rest of the World” vote would remain open until the voting window closes during the live semi-final. (eurovisionworld.com) (stadthalle.com)