Greek singer Akylas has secured a place in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with his song ‘Ferto’.
Akylas performed in the first semi-final in Vienna and advanced to Saturday’s final after receiving enough support from viewers across Europe. The upbeat dance-pop track has emerged as one of the more talked-about entries of the competition, with Eurovision fans and commentators tipping Greece as a potential contender.
Greece has been gaining traction with the song, featuring Akylas in tigerprint coat, shorts and hat against a retro video game backdrop that also showcased knitting, a glitterball and classical statue that came to life.
According to the singer, the track explores themes of consumerism, ambition and the struggles experienced by a generation shaped by Greece’s financial crisis.
Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Finland, Belgium, Lithuania, Poland, and Serbia also qualified and will compete in the final on Saturday.
Australia’s Delta Goodrem will perform in the second semi-final on Friday.
It’s been a tense start in Vienna as Israel competed in the first semi-final amid a boycott by five countries over the Gaza war.
The contest, traditionally a good-natured celebration of pop music and high camp now in its 70th year, has become mired in crisis over Israel’s military offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023.
The public broadcasters of five countries – Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia – are boycotting this year’s event, making it the smallest since 2003 with 35 entries.Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but Israel has continued to compete despite disputes.
The tension in the city was palpable ahead of the semi-final, though inside the concert hall where it was held only cheers for Israel were audible during its performance.
With Reuters, PA and AFP
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