The Eurovision Song Contest on May 14: The second semi-final live on ORF 1 and ORF ON
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast live from 9:00 pm on ORF 1 and ORF ON: 15 countries will compete for one of ten tickets to the grand finale on Saturday, May 16. In the second semi-final, only the participating countries – as well as France, the United Kingdom, and the host country Austria, which are already qualified for the final – will vote. „Mr. Song Contest“ Andi Knoll will comment on the ESC live from 9:00 pm on ORF 1 and ORF ON and will open the ESC evening at 8:15 pm with his „Mr. Song Contest proudly presents.“ On Thursday, May 14, all ORF channels – ORF 1, ORF 2, ORF III, Ö1, Ö3, and FM4 as well as ORF ON, ORF KiDS, and Social Media – will be dedicated to the ESC 2026. The ORF regional studios of Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Burgenland, Styria, and Salzburg will broadcast the ESC Frühschoppen from the Eurovision Village from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm live on the radio. In the Vienna Stadthalle, before the live broadcast at 9:00 pm, a complete run-through of the semi-final will take place at 3:00 pm with the „Afternoon-Preview-Show“ before an audience. For everyone who wants to experience the ESC beyond the main venue and screens, numerous side events await, including public viewing opportunities.
The running order of the second ESC semi-final on Thursday, May 14 – live from 9:00 pm on ORF 1 and ORF ON:
1. Bulgaria: DARA – „Bangaranga“
2. Azerbaijan: JIVA – „Just Go“
3. Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – „Choke Me“
4. Luxembourg: Eva Marija – „Mother Nature“
5. Czech Republic: Daniel Zizka – „CROSSROADS“
France: Monroe – „Regarde!“
6. Armenia: SIMÓN – „Paloma Rumba“
7. Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro – „Alice“
8. Cyprus: Antigoni – „JALLA“
Austria: COSMÓ – „TANZSCHEIN“
9. Latvia: Atvara – "Ēnā"
10. Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – „Før vi Går Hjem“
11. Australia: Delta Goodrem – „Eclipse“
12. Ukraine: LELÉKA – „Ridnym“
United Kingdom: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER – „Eins, Zwei, Drei“
13. Albania: Alis – „Nân“
14. Malta: Aidan – „Bella“
15. Norway: JONAS LOVV – „Ya Ya Ya“
„Afternoon-Preview-Show“ and „Live-Broadcast-TV-Show“ of the second semi-final on May 14 in the Vienna Stadthalle
In the Vienna Stadthalle on Thursday, May 14, before the live TV broadcast of the second semi-final („Live-Broadcast-TV-Show“) of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 at 9:00 pm on ORF 1 and ORF ON, a complete run-through of the show takes place at 3:00 pm with the „Afternoon-Preview-Show.“
"Fairytale – Folk & Fun„ in the Eurovision Village, ESC stars in the Eurofan House, “Euro Carneval" in the EuroClub, and numerous public viewings of the second semi-final
On May 14, the Eurovision Village at Vienna's Rathausplatz opens at 11:00 am with a premiere, the ESC Frühschoppen – organized by the Vienna Wind Music Association and moderated by Martin Ferdiny, a trained musician who also participates. First-class bands like the Guards Music, the Post and Telecommunications Music Vienna, and the Big Band of the Police Music Vienna will play wind music classics and ESC songs. Also present are stars of the Eurovision Song Contest – on Thursday on site: Sal Da Vinci from Italy, Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen from Finland, and Sarah Engels from Germany. Fitting to the big folk hit „Fairytale“ by Alexander Rybak (2009), the motto is „Folk & Fun,“ and at 7:30 pm, the Global Kryner (under the direction of Christof Spörk), who brought the Oberkrainer sound to the Eurovision Song Contest for Austria in 2005, will provide good cheer. The second semi-final will be broadcast live from 9:00 pm.
The Eurofan House at the Vienna Museum starts on May 14 with „Eurofan Voice“ and ESC director Martin Green, CBE. Additionally, stars from this year's Eurovision Song Contest will be present at the Eurofan House on Thursday – this time the acts from Croatia (Lelek, 12:00 pm), Italy (Sal Da Vinci, 1:00 pm), Germany (Sarah Engels, 2:00 pm), Sweden (FELICIA, 3:00 pm), and Serbia (Lavina, 4:00 pm). „Big Fat Eurovision Trivia“ hosted by OGAE will quiz participants at 5:00 pm.
„Euro Carneval“ in the EuroClub at the Vienna PraterDOME: On May 14, the EuroClub will live stream the second ESC semi-final, starting at 9:00 pm (live stream starts at 8:30 pm). The EuroClub transforms into a colorful celebration with costumes, rhythms, and lively ESC atmosphere. Participating are former Austrian ESC acts Cesár Sampson, SALENA, and Thomas Forstner.
In addition to numerous other public viewings in the host city of Vienna, the „Eurovision Song Contest Music & Breakfast“ takes place at Café Landtmann until the final day, May 16. Additionally, „Queering The Belvedere“ takes place at Belvedere 21.
The ESC highlights on ORF 1 on Thursday, May 14
Fanny Stapf welcomes guests on Thursday, May 14 at 5:55 pm live at the ORF glass studio at Vienna's Rathausplatz in the ORF-1 evening magazine "Vienna 2026 – The Song Contest Magazine„: Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, who participate for Finland and are considered favorites, this year's German participant Sarah Engels, Italy's ESC-2026 representative Sal Da Vinci, Cesár Sampson, who secured third place for Austria with “Nobody But You" in 2018, and Marcos Tritremmel, president of OGAE Austria, the official Austrian ESC fan club. ORF reporter Larissa Robitschko is on site at the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz, capturing the atmosphere among fans from all over the world. Philipp Maschl reports live from the Vienna Stadthalle, providing backstage insights into the preparations and interviews with this year’s delegations. ORF science editor Tobias Mayr reports with the „ESC-Science“ feature. A member of the ESC Core Team will also be on stage again to provide behind-the-scenes insights into the music event.
In "Vienna 2026 – The Songs" (6:50 pm, ORF 1), Tina Ritschl presents the acts of the second ESC semi-final 2026. The songs from France, England, and Austria are also showcased.
In „ZIB Magazine ESC“ (Monday to Saturday, 7:56 pm, ORF 1), Philipp Maschl reports live from the Vienna Stadthalle. On Thursday, he covers the topic „High Tech behind the Scenes.“ 30 to 40 cameras, up to 2,000 lighting fixtures, and over 1,000 square meters of LED screens. Several stage areas, walkways, a dedicated green room – along with automated stage technology with lifts, rotating elements, and movable pods.
Andi Knoll reveals his personal favorites for the second ESC semi-final in „Mr. Song Contest proudly presents“ (8:15 pm, ORF 1). With much experience, charm, and ESC expertise, he introduces the countries and acts that he believes have the best chance of making it to the final. He is supported by Zoë, Cesár Sampson, and ESC starter COSMÓ, who offer additional insights and exciting assessments with their expert opinions. An entertaining and pointed introduction to the competition – with surprising favorites, well-founded analyses, and plenty of ESC passion.
The ORF radio ESC program on May 14
In the „Ö1 Küchenradio“ (1:10 pm), „Mr. Song Contest“ Andi Knoll prepares a holiday menu shortly before the ESC final: a leek-feta-pear dish and Krautspatzn. On the menu: favorite music beyond the song contest playlist. „Douze points. A revue of incredible Eurovision entries“ is on the program in „Spielräume Spezial“ from 5:10 pm on Ö1.
The Ö3-Wecker broadcasts live from 6:00 to 9:00 am from the ORF glass studio in the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz. The Ö3-Wecker moderation team Philipp Bergsmann and Anna Kratki wake up with Austria during Eurovision week and provide all the news for the world’s largest music show. „Mister Song Contest“ Andi Knoll can be heard with his ESC section in the Ö3-Wecker – with fans from across Austria, from Bregenz to Graz to Oberwart. He captures the Eurovision atmosphere across Austria. The Ö3-Wecker quiz „Wer gegen wen“ is a special version during the song contest week: ESC fans visiting Vienna compete against the Ö3-Wecker moderation team and test their general knowledge about Europe and Australia. The Ö3 reporters cover the Vienna Stadthalle, fan meetings, the wackiest side events, and the Eurovision Village – in the Ö3-Wecker, in the Ö3 news, and on the Ö3 social media channels.
When Vienna becomes the center of the ESC, FM4 is in the thick of it: In „FM4 Sounds like Song Contest,“ Conny Lee and Philipp Emberger broadcast live from 3:00 to 6:00 pm from the ORF glass studio in the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz. With many live guests like Michael Ostrowski, host of this year’s ESC, or the previous year’s ESC winner JJ. Also, current and former ESC acts and FM4 musicians are guests, sharing their favorite moments, stage highlights, and the special ESC feeling. Live games with the on-site audience, spontaneous challenges, and fan stories are not missing from „FM4 Sounds like Song Contest.“ The program includes the greatest ESC hits, unexpected song gems from contest history, current contributions from this year, and fitting FM4 tracks around the theme of the Eurovision Song Contest.
A premiere takes place on Ascension Day in the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz. On Thursday, May 14, Martin Ferdiny moderates the first ESC Frühschoppen. Guests include music cabaret artist and former ESC participant Christof Spörk, ORF program director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, and some volunteers from the ESC team. The Vienna Guard music and the Big Band of the Vienna police music play. The ORF regional studios of Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Burgenland, Styria, and Salzburg broadcast the ESC Frühschoppen from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm live on the radio. In the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz, the post-telecom music Vienna continues until 1:30 pm after the broadcast.
The Eurovision Song Contest on ORF ON, ORF KiDS, and Online
ORF ON brings the Eurovision Song Contest to where fans are: live, up close, and always available. All live shows and the entire ESC program are available live and on demand on ORF ON, as well as in an extensive ESC video collection. "Backstage-Diary – Behind the Hype" (from May 10) offers exclusive rare insights behind the scenes of the gigantic ESC stage. Reporter Marcel Kilic is up close backstage at the ESC and closely follows ESC host Victoria Swarovski as she meets the show team, artists, and fans. An authentic diary full of emotional highlights and unexpected moments at the world’s largest music show.
With exciting stories around the world's largest TV entertainment event, exclusive interviews, photos and videos, live tickers during the shows, and a social wall with posts from the entire ESC universe, the ORF website songcontest.ORF.at provides a comprehensive look at what’s happening. The newly launched site by ORF for the ESC is the main source of information for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Social media users are also supplied with diverse content about acts, shows, and events. Hosts Felicia Lu Kürbiß, Josefine Palla, and Paul Pongratz have been taking fans from around the world into the colorful ESC universe for several months and will also be present with creative content on the social media platforms Instagram and TikTok during show week.
The Eurovision Song Contest on ORF TELETEXT – watch and engage
This year, fans can follow their comments on the TV screen during the live shows on ORF TELETEXT. The special „TXT meets ESC“ service for the Eurovision Song Contest makes this possible. How does it work? Simply post on debatte.ORF.at and join the discussion. The most original contributions will be aired. Additionally, ORF TELETEXT continuously offers news about artists and shows – available on „ESC 2026“ (page 450) as well as in „Culture and Show“ (pages 107, 110, or from 190).
The Eurovision Song Contest barrier-free
This year, ORF offers a comprehensive barrier-free range around the Eurovision Song Contest – both on television and online. Subtitles, audio description, ÖGS interpretation, and specially produced sign performances are available for all three live shows. Additionally, all broadcasts on ORF ON are live and on-demand with all barrier-free offerings available.
The program "Welcome to Vienna – The ESC Opening" is broadcast comprehensively barrier-free. For deaf and hearing-impaired viewers, live subtitles are available on ORF TELETEXT on page 777 as well as on ORF ON. For blind and visually impaired audiences, the show is made accessible with live spoken audio commentary. The audio version is available by switching to the second audio channel (TV device) and on ORF ON (stream). The barrier-free broadcasts are available at on.ORF.at as video-on-demand.
(May 11, 2026)