Eurovision 2026 Rehearsal Schedule: Dates, Times & Odds Impact
TL;DR: Eurovision 2026 has entered the rehearsal window. Official Eurovision reporting says technical rehearsals with stand-in performers began on April 24, the Vienna stage was unveiled on April 28, and the first official artist stage rehearsals begin on Saturday, May 2. This is the highest-signal betting window before the live shows on May 12, 14 and 16. Track live odds →
The Key Eurovision 2026 Rehearsal Dates
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest takes place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. The important rehearsal and show dates are:
| Date | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| April 24 | Technical rehearsals with stand-ins begin | First full production checks inside the arena |
| April 28 | Vienna 2026 stage unveiled | Camera, lighting and stage scale become public |
| May 2 | Official artist rehearsals begin | Biggest pre-show odds movement window |
| May 7 | Big Five + host first rehearsals | France, Italy, Germany, UK and Austria enter the stage picture |
| May 10 | Turquoise Carpet and Opening Ceremony | Final publicity spike before show week |
| May 11 | Semi-Final 1 jury show | Last high-signal moment before SF1 live broadcast |
| May 12 | Semi-Final 1 live show | First 10 qualifiers revealed |
| May 13 | Semi-Final 2 jury show | Last high-signal moment before SF2 live broadcast |
| May 14 | Semi-Final 2 live show | Final 10 qualifiers revealed |
| May 15 | Grand Final jury show | Juries effectively make their final judgment |
| May 16 | Grand Final live show | Winner decided |
Official live shows are at 21:00 CEST on May 12, May 14 and May 16.
First Artist Rehearsals: What We Know
The first artist rehearsals begin with Semi-Final 1. The detailed rehearsal schedule published by Eurovision fan media places Sweden early on May 2 and Finland later the same day, with Greece also in the first batch. Denmark's first rehearsal falls in the Semi-Final 2 block on May 4.
Key first-rehearsal watchpoints:
Sweden: May 2, first SF1 batch, after Moldova.
Greece: May 2, first SF1 batch.
Finland: May 2, first SF1 batch, later in the day.
Denmark: May 4, Semi-Final 2 block.
Australia and Ukraine: immediately after Denmark in running-order terms, making that SF2 stretch especially important.
The exact minute-by-minute schedule can still be adjusted by production, so the smarter betting approach is not to chase every rehearsal slot. Watch the market reaction after each country has had its first full run-through.
Why Rehearsals Move Eurovision Odds
Before rehearsals, the market prices songs, national-final performances, artist reputation and pre-party reactions. During rehearsals, the market prices the actual Eurovision product:
live vocals in the arena,
camera plan,
staging concept,
lighting and props,
costume and choreography,
whether the song reads instantly on TV.
That is why rehearsal week can completely rewrite the odds. A song can look strong in a national final and still lose value if the camera plan is messy. A borderline qualifier can become safe if the staging suddenly looks expensive and easy to understand.
The Five Countries Most Exposed to Rehearsal Movement
Greece
Greece has already shortened hard, moving from 11.14 to 7.16 in the outright market after staging details became public. The May 2 rehearsal is the proof point. If the Fokas Evangelinos concept lands, Greece can tighten again. If it looks too busy, some of that late-April move can reverse. Read Greece odds analysis →
Sweden
Sweden is very safe to qualify at 1.02, but the outright has drifted to 22.86. Rehearsals need to answer the ceiling question: is *My System* just a polished finalist, or can it become a top-10 result? Read Sweden odds analysis →
Denmark
Denmark is now a direct challenger behind Finland and Greece at 7.17 outright, with 1.02 qualifier odds. The first rehearsal should show whether *Før Vi Går Hjem* has winner-level camera impact or simply a strong safe-finalist profile. Read Denmark odds analysis →
Portugal
Portugal sits almost exactly on the Semi-Final 1 cut line at 50.8% to qualify. That is the kind of entry where a clean jury-friendly rehearsal can move the price quickly.
Switzerland
Switzerland is just below the Semi-Final 2 line at 49.0%. With juries back, a strong vocal and tasteful staging can matter more than pre-party buzz.
Rehearsal Week Odds Checklist
When rehearsal clips and reports start landing, do not overreact to every fan ranking. Focus on five questions:
1. Did the camera concept make the song easier to understand?
2. Were vocals stable enough for juries?
3. Does the staging look expensive on TV, not just in the arena?
4. Did the song improve relative to direct semi-final rivals?
5. Did multiple bookmakers move in the same direction?
One bookmaker moving is noise. A whole market moving is information.
Best Markets to Watch During Rehearsals
The most reactive markets are usually:
Semi-final qualifier odds for entries around 40-65%.
Top 10 odds for countries with strong qualification paths but uncertain ceilings.
Outright winner odds for the top five contenders.
Televote and jury winner markets if a rehearsal strongly favors one side.
For most users, qualifier and Top 10 markets are more practical than outright winner bets. They convert rehearsal information into a lower-variance betting angle.
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Sources & Verification
For a wider market view, read our Eurovision 2026 predictions hub, Semi-Final 1 predictions, and Semi-Final 2 predictions.
Rehearsal-driven price moves show up live first — track them on the Eurovision odds page →.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Eurovision 2026 rehearsals start?
Technical rehearsals with stand-in performers began on April 24, the Vienna stage was unveiled on April 28, and official artist stage rehearsals start on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Why do Eurovision rehearsals affect betting odds?
Rehearsals are when staging, camera angles, vocals and arena impact become real. This is usually the biggest repricing window before the live shows, especially for bubble qualifiers and top-10 markets.
When is the Eurovision 2026 jury show?
The Semi-Final 1 jury show is scheduled for Monday, May 11 at 21:00 CEST. Semi-Final 2 has its jury show on Wednesday, May 13 at 21:00 CEST. The Grand Final jury show is on Friday, May 15 at 21:00 CEST.
Which rehearsals matter most for odds?
The first artist rehearsals from May 2 matter most for initial market movement. The jury shows on May 11, May 13 and May 15 matter most for serious late movement because jury-facing performances are effectively locked in.
Where can I track odds during Eurovision rehearsal week?
Use the WhatOdds Eurovision odds page to track live prices and movement, then compare your own ranking with the Eurovision scoreboard.
Read Next
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