Day 5. Live Blog 2nd Rehearsals

Today we will follow the 2nd rehearsals in Ahoy, and will keep you informed live.                                                 In Cooperation with: Eurovision Artists. Photo & Video Credits: EBU

17.15 – Ukraine

Last of the day Go_A, performs with a stand-in (Emmy) for singer Kateryna Pavlenko. Kateryna did not feel quite fit this morning, and in accordance with the security measures, she remains in quarantine pending a Covid-19 test. Whether the stand-in Emmy sings live, or whether the tape recording from the first rehearsal was used, is not entirely clear. Fact is, whether you like this genre or not … the act is rock solid. With a 9th place in the polls, Ukraine will undoubtedly easily qualify for the final.

16.50 – Azerbaijan

Also today, Efendi puts down a solid rehearsal. Here and there some minor flaws in song and dance, and a little more conviction than last Sunday. 21st place in the poll. A place in the final is certainly not excluded.

 

16.25 – Romania

Roxen performs in the same comfortable as last Sunday. Although vocally a little bit stronger than during the 1st rehearsal, Roxen comes across as nervous and anxious, which does not help her voice and the strong message of her song. 16th in the polls … Final perhaps , if she manages to recover.

16.00 – Israel

During the first rehearsal it became clear that it is sometimes difficult for Eden to combine singing and dancing. The whole act looks energic and modern, but also today, Eden has trouble with the combination of singing and dancing. 17th in the polls, but will Israel make it to the final?

 

15.35 – Belgium.

Hooverphonic still impresses today with their modest, sober and well-thought-out act. A welcome change from all the visual violence. Only a 20th place in the polls, but hopefully thanks to the professional jury we will see Belgium back in the final.

14.45 – Croatia

Vocally, this rehearsal sounds a lot better than the first. The act is well put together, Albina herself still seems a bit insecure and nervous. Hopefully she will get over that before Tuesday. Own the stage girl!! With a 19th place in the polls, a final place should certainly be possible.

14.20 – Norway

Today TIX puts on a much better rehearsal than last saturday, when the nerves seemed to be playing tricks on him. TIX has a high favor- and sympathy factor, and with a 15th place in the polls, we would like to see him back in the final.

13:55 – Cyprus

Elena once again puts on an okay rehearsal, occasionally she sounds a bit out of breath. With seventh place in the polls, Cyprus will reach the final without too much trouble.

1.30 pm – Ireland

Hard work has been done in the Irish camp in recent days. The whole thing seemed very messy last Saturday, during the 2nd rehearsal all the graphics come into their own much better, and it seems as if Lesley is running barefoot through a book, turning the pages. Vocally, there is still some gains to be made. With a 24th place in the polls, the question is whether it is all good enough for a final place.

 

13.05 – North Macedonia

While there were some minor flaws in his vocals last Saturday, today Vasil puts down a solid rehearsal, although it seems that, especially at the end during the last blow, he is holding back to spare his voice. North Macedonia ranks 32 in the polls. It is very doubtful whether Vasil will be able to qualify for the final.

 

11.40 – Australia

Just like last Saturday, no rehearsal in Ahoy , since Montaigne is not present in Rotterdam, but an exclusive preview

11.15 – Sweden

Tusse had still some problems with his voice last Saturday, this now seems to have recovered completely. On stage there was an apparently self-assured, radiant Tusse, with a well-thought-out, slick act as we are used to from Sweden. Sweden ranks 10th in the polls. We will certainly see Tusse in the final

 

10.50 – Russia

No changes in the act here either. Solid and stable act and vocals. The powerful message / ode to the Russian woman is very clear! Russia is ranked 14th in the polls. Finals should not be a problem. We would not be surprised if Russia managed to get a top ten, perhaps even a 5 position  in the final

10.25 – Slovenia.

In the second rehearsal for Slovenia, Ana comes out better than last Saturday. More confident in her singing and movement across the stage, although it seems her shoes are killing her. Slovenia is in 35th place in the polls. A final place will be a challenge.

10.00 am – Lithuania. The Roop shows  a solid,  dynamic act again in the 2nd rehearsal, with little or no changes. The Roop is ranked 8th in the polls. A top ten listing should certainly be possible for the Roop.

 

Related news

Eurovision 2026

In the Spotlight: Akylas

Tomorrow the first  semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna. 15 countries compete for a spot in the final. One of them is Greece, represented by Akylas But who is he? Let’s give him a spotlight.   From Cruise Ships to a Eurovision Dream Akylas Mytilinaios, better known as Akylas, was born in 1999 in Serres, a city in northern Greece. He grew up in a close-knit family that often struggled financially. Those difficult circumstances later became an important source of inspiration for both his music and ambitions. From an early age, Akylas showed a strong passion for music and the performing arts. He attended the Music School of Serres, where he studied music theory and composition. At the same time, he participated in theatre workshops, helping him develop the striking stage presence that has now become part of his artistic identity. That blend of music and theatre is still clearly visible in his work today. The Voice and Life on Cruise Ships After finishing school, Akylas did not immediately enter the Greek music scene. Instead, he gained experience as a singer on cruise ships. For two years, he performed daily for international audiences across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. From disco to rock, the varied repertoire helped him sharpen both his vocals and his performance skills. Greek television audiences first got to know Akylas in 2021 through The Voice of Greece. He stood out with energetic performances of pop hits, including “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. Although he did not win the competition, the show gave him valuable exposure and introduced him to a wider audience. Shortly afterwards, he performed at Thessaloniki Pride, making a strong impression during one of his first major live appearances. Viral Success Thanks to TikTok and “Atelier” Like many young artists, Akylas successfully used social media to grow his audience. His cover performances quickly went viral on TikTok, helping him build a loyal and rapidly growing fanbase. That online success eventually opened doors within the Greek music industry. In 2021, he released his first original song, Fthinókrasso. The track reflects on his early experiences living in Athens and the struggles that came with it. His real breakthrough arrived in 2024 with Atelier, a catchy indie-pop single created together with Papazó. The song became a hit in Greece and firmly established Akylas as one of the country’s most exciting new pop acts. More releases followed, including Ela Kontá. His music combines modern pop and electronic influences with a clear theatrical flair. The Road to Eurovision 2026 By the end of 2025, Akylas had become a familiar name within the Eurovision community. With Ferto, he delivered a personal electro-pop track that criticises greed and overconsumption. In January 2026, Greek broadcaster ERT announced Akylas as one of the contestants in Sing for Greece 2026, the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. “Ferto” quickly became a fan favourite among Eurovision followers and gathered millions of views online within just a few weeks. Akylas successfully advanced to the national final and is now considered one of the frontrunners to represent Greece at Eurovision. A Distinct Artistic Identity What makes Akylas stand out is his openness and authenticity. He proudly identifies as a queer artist and often uses his music to highlight themes such as self-love, acceptance, and freedom. His style blends modern pop, indie influences, and theatrical performance. He draws inspiration from both Greek and international artists, while his personal experiences and difficult upbringing frequently shape his songwriting. Beyond music, Akylas also shows interest in other creative disciplines. His background in theatre partly explains why his performances often feel like small stories unfolding on stage — something that naturally fits perfectly within the Eurovision world. Will he qualify for the final? We have no doubt about that. The real question is: just how high will he fly on Saturday?

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

In the Spotlight: Akylas

Tomorrow the first  semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna. 15 countries compete for a spot in the final. One of them is Greece, represented by Akylas But who is he? Let’s give him a spotlight.   From Cruise Ships to a Eurovision Dream Akylas Mytilinaios, better known as Akylas, was born in 1999 in Serres, a city in northern Greece. He grew up in a close-knit family that often struggled financially. Those difficult circumstances later became an important source of inspiration for both his music and ambitions. From an early age, Akylas showed a strong passion for music and the performing arts. He attended the Music School of Serres, where he studied music theory and composition. At the same time, he participated in theatre workshops, helping him develop the striking stage presence that has now become part of his artistic identity. That blend of music and theatre is still clearly visible in his work today. The Voice and Life on Cruise Ships After finishing school, Akylas did not immediately enter the Greek music scene. Instead, he gained experience as a singer on cruise ships. For two years, he performed daily for international audiences across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. From disco to rock, the varied repertoire helped him sharpen both his vocals and his performance skills. Greek television audiences first got to know Akylas in 2021 through The Voice of Greece. He stood out with energetic performances of pop hits, including “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. Although he did not win the competition, the show gave him valuable exposure and introduced him to a wider audience. Shortly afterwards, he performed at Thessaloniki Pride, making a strong impression during one of his first major live appearances. Viral Success Thanks to TikTok and “Atelier” Like many young artists, Akylas successfully used social media to grow his audience. His cover performances quickly went viral on TikTok, helping him build a loyal and rapidly growing fanbase. That online success eventually opened doors within the Greek music industry. In 2021, he released his first original song, Fthinókrasso. The track reflects on his early experiences living in Athens and the struggles that came with it. His real breakthrough arrived in 2024 with Atelier, a catchy indie-pop single created together with Papazó. The song became a hit in Greece and firmly established Akylas as one of the country’s most exciting new pop acts. More releases followed, including Ela Kontá. His music combines modern pop and electronic influences with a clear theatrical flair. The Road to Eurovision 2026 By the end of 2025, Akylas had become a familiar name within the Eurovision community. With Ferto, he delivered a personal electro-pop track that criticises greed and overconsumption. In January 2026, Greek broadcaster ERT announced Akylas as one of the contestants in Sing for Greece 2026, the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. “Ferto” quickly became a fan favourite among Eurovision followers and gathered millions of views online within just a few weeks. Akylas successfully advanced to the national final and is now considered one of the frontrunners to represent Greece at Eurovision. A Distinct Artistic Identity What makes Akylas stand out is his openness and authenticity. He proudly identifies as a queer artist and often uses his music to highlight themes such as self-love, acceptance, and freedom. His style blends modern pop, indie influences, and theatrical performance. He draws inspiration from both Greek and international artists, while his personal experiences and difficult upbringing frequently shape his songwriting. Beyond music, Akylas also shows interest in other creative disciplines. His background in theatre partly explains why his performances often feel like small stories unfolding on stage — something that naturally fits perfectly within the Eurovision world. Will he qualify for the final? We have no doubt about that. The real question is: just how high will he fly on Saturday?

Read More »
Follow Us: