The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest kicks off tonight with the first semi-final held at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria. Fifteen countries perform, but only ten will qualify for Saturday's Grand Final. The event is hosted by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski and begins at 21:00 CEST.

While Italy and Germany, who are pre-qualified for the final, perform their entries during this show, they are not competing in the semi-final itself.

Opening Ceremony

The show opens with a film titled "By Your Side for 70 Years," illustrating the history of Eurovision through the eyes of a fictional Austrian boy. Following this, the older version of the boy performs with a 70-member choir a rendition of "L’amour est bleu," originally performed by Vicky Leandros at Eurovision 1967 when Vienna last hosted the contest. Leandros joins the stage for the performance.

Postcards and Performances

Before each performance, viewers will see creatively produced "postcards" blending Austrian locations with imaginative studio footage of the performers. These range from chairlift rides and miniature appearances in natural landscapes to urban backdrops. The postcard concept pays homage to Emanuel Herrmann, who invented the postcard in Austria in 1869.

Interval Acts

During interval acts, Austrian dance company Zurcaroh performs a historical-themed acrobatic and dance spectacle inspired by Vienna’s Prater amusement park circa 1900. Hosts alongside Go-Jo, Australia's 2025 Eurovision representative, present "Kangaroo," a humorous musical number contrasting Austria and Australia.

Voting Procedure

The participating countries in this semi-final, along with Italy and Germany, will vote after all performances conclude. Each country has two sets of points (jury and televoting) awarding 1 through 8, then 10 and 12 points. Additionally, viewers worldwide can vote online, and their combined votes hold the weight of one participating country.

The event promises to be a celebration of Eurovision’s seven-decade legacy, showcasing new music and performances leading up to the Grand Final on Saturday.