Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleRoisin O'ConnorWednesday 13 May 2026 09:31 BSTProtests heard during Israel performance at Eurovision Song Contest semi-finalVeteran British pop star Boy George performed with San Marino’s Senhit during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest.The 64-year-old Culture Club singer performed Superstar, which he co-wrote, at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, appearing on a silver throne midway though the song, wearing a black suit with a silver hat, as Senhit shouted “Boy George”.San Marino will go no further in the competition, though, after being eliminated along with Portugal, Georgia, Montenegro and Estonia.Italy and Germany – along with France and the UK who will perform in the second semi-final on Thursday – automatically gain a place in the final as members of the “Big Four”, who make the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision each year. Austria is also guaranteed a spot in the final as this year’s host.Here are the countries that qualified from the first semi-final: Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland.In fullEurovision 2026 live: Results and updates as first semi-final takes place in ViennaThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in