Now that Malta’s Ira Losco has finally unveiled “Walk On Water”, the set list for the first semi-final is complete. The Maltese Eurovision veteran has been gaining momentum all week, with her odds steadily shortening. However, she’s still a long way behind the bookies’ favourite, Russia’s Sergey Lazarev. He’s bringing a healthy dose of slick pop and, if his official video is anything to go by, a very expensive stage-show.

Another victory for the motherland is far from guaranteed. The Balkans are a force once more, with both Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia returning to the contest. The former’s Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner and Jala stick largely with tradition, whilst the latter’s Nina Kraljic offers up a ballad that could easily have come from the Nordics. The Czech Republic’s Gabriela Guncíková will be vying to take the country to its first final, while Austria, the Netherlands and Iceland will all be hoping to bounce back after poor results last year. Contestants from Azerbaijan, Cyprus and beyond will do their best to outshine all of them.

Precisely who will qualify is anyone’s guess. But who do you want to see make it? You can listen to each of this year’s first semi-final contestants below (or by visiting our Contestants Page). Then vote for your favourites in our poll. You can vote for as many contestants as you like, but you can only vote ONE time, so make it count.

This poll closes on 9 May at midnight, just ahead of the first semi-final on 10 May. It’s up to you, Europe. Start voting now!

Eurovision 2016: SEMI-FINAL 1 CONTESTANTS

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Update #1 (19 March)

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223 Comments
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Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
7 years ago

Well done Ira!

eurofan
7 years ago

yeah malta on top thats what i call justice … well done … go malta go ira… you can do it ..12 points all the way ..

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
7 years ago

Omg Malta are now on top by 5 votes!

ESClover
ESClover
7 years ago

ira losco (malta) is gonna make it this year!! ESC 2017 from malta

Hayk
Hayk
7 years ago

Amazing , hot , beautiful , diva – Iveta , Armenia winner

Alliyah
Alliyah
7 years ago

Bosnia should win

Paddy
Paddy
7 years ago

I voted:
Armenia
Estonia
Finland
Hungary
Iceland
Czech Republic

Thomas Wiersma
Thomas Wiersma
7 years ago

12 points for THE NETHERLANDS!

Kaz
Kaz
7 years ago

My faves for Semi Final One (in no particular order)

Cyprus
Hungary
Armenia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Russia

Greetings from Australia

redarrow
7 years ago

ira losco malta 12 points

hhh
hhh
7 years ago

VOTING -http://tummiweb.com/scorewiz/rsvp/147379/UhGcs

RESULTS – http://tummiweb.com/scorewiz/scoreboard/view/147379/eurovision-2016-semi-final-1-voting

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

Prediction:

Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Croatia
Czech Republic
Iceland or Greece
Malta
Russia
Cyprus
Estonia

Bosnia, Armenia and Azerbaijan do not deserve to qualify, their songs are not interesting at all, but thanks to diaspora and other factors they will qualify at the expense of Western countries like Austria, Netherlands.

Babychops
Babychops
8 years ago

10 qualifiers in order

1, Azerbaijan
2, Estonia
3, Malta
4, Hungary
5, Netherlands
6, Austria
7, San Marino
8, Iceland
9, Cyprus
10, Bosnia

Peter
Peter
8 years ago

1. Russia <3 <3 <3
2. Hungary <3 <3
3. Armenia – Nice track, really hot! <3
4. Azerbaijan – Nice truck!
5. Czech Republic – Nice voice, good song
6. Cyprus – Wow, really heavy!
7. Croatia – Not bad, good artist
8. Iceland – Not bad, Interestning draft
9. Malta – good song
10. Austria – not bad

EUROVISION_SWEDEN
EUROVISION_SWEDEN
8 years ago

_MY TOP 10 FROM SEMI FINAL 1_

1) RUSSIA
2) CYPRUS
3) ARMENIA
4) HUNGARY
5) GREECE
6) MALTA
7) ESTONIA
8) AUSTRIA
9) AZERBAIJAN
10) CROATIA

Darren
Darren
8 years ago

I love Walk on water ! 12 points#

Croboy
Croboy
8 years ago

1. Croatia
2. Malta
3. Netherlands
4. Armenia
5. Czech Republic
6. Estonia
7. Austria
8. Hungary
9. Azerbaijan
10. Greece
—————–
11. Russia
12. Iceland
13. Cyprus
14. Finland
15. Bosnia & Herzegovina
16. Moldova
17. Montenegro
18. San Marino

2016
2016
8 years ago

Malta 2017

Freyah
Freyah
8 years ago

My Top 10 Qualifiers:
1. Iceland (<3 My No. 1 in the whole contest)
2. Croatia
3. Czech Republic
4. Armenia
5. Russia
6. Azerbaijan
7. Malta
8. Austria
9. Netherlands
10. Hungary

I'm sure we'll see Bosnia in the final, and Greece probably too. Bosnia I wouldn't be too fussed about, but Greece in no way deserves the final.

Ron
Ron
8 years ago

Armenia and Russia have the best entries. I have a feeling the organizers are going to make Armenia open the show AGAIN, but hopefully she will slay and win the whole thing. Other notable entries that should go through
1. Armenia/Russia
2. Russia/Armenia
3. Croatia
4. Azerbaijan
5. Malta
6. Estonia
7. Czech Republic
8. Hungary
9. Cyprus
10. Iceland

Chance
Chance
8 years ago

my top 10 in ABC order

Austria
Azerbaijan
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Finland
Iceland
Malta
Russia

Sal
Sal
8 years ago

I only want Malta, Croatia, Iceland, Armenia, Hungary and Czech Republic to qualify and then I’d be happy. Alongside them I’m sure Russia, Azerbaijan, Estonia could as well.

#WOW
#WOW
8 years ago

Ira can put Malta to a TOP 5 in the final….Brilliant song and video…Just #WOW

GEF
GEF
8 years ago

It will be a big crime if Czech Republic once more does not make it into the Grand Final. It is probably the most emotional song of ESC history, a very modern and intelligent song. And her voice is so beautifull. Unfortunately I am from Germany and may not vote for it. The CR has actually no country which may support them a little bit, maybe except for Austria and Hungary. There are quiet many Czech people living in Ireland but they are also in the other Semi Finals. It is also very sad if Cyprus won’t make it. This… Read more »

Longo
Longo
8 years ago

Love the singer from Armenia, she is so sexy, her voice is omg and song is great. I think she can win!!!

Davies
Davies
8 years ago

Regardless 1st semi, while listening to my ESC 2016 playlist, I got a feeling that Denmark, Switzerland, San Marino, Norway, Albania, Lithuania, Malta, Iceland, Australia, Azerbaijan,Israel, Poland, Germany, Belarus, Georgia, San Marino, UK, Romania, Monetenegro, Estonia, Czech Republic, Spain, Latvia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, Slovenia and Sweden are not going to do well. Or not as well as predicted. Not that I dislake these songs – some of them I even like very much. It is just that they are either outdated, either cliche, either boring, either do not stand out, either poor vocals, either poor lyrics,… Read more »

Yasi
Yasi
8 years ago

As long as Azerbaijan, Russia and Hungary qualify I’m okay with anyone.

Amela
Amela
8 years ago

Bosnia and Herzegovina! <3

hehehe xD
hehehe xD
8 years ago

For us in Croatia qualification means win because last time in 2009 we were in final

GlennSimons
GlennSimons
8 years ago

Why would anyone vote for Austria ? Come on, people. Let’s be real. It’s a trash.

Michal from Poland
Michal from Poland
8 years ago

Estonia should win, but Russia will win.

Vendydy
Vendydy
8 years ago

OMG love very much Armenia and Malta. Like Croatia.

Eurovision Shane ????
Eurovision Shane ????
8 years ago

Points from Ireland ???????? (Qualifiers)

12 Points – Malta ????????
Score – 10/10
________________

10 Points – Russia ????????
Score – 10/10
________________

8 Points – Azerbaijan ????????
Score – 9.3/10
________________

7 Pts – Austria ( Qualified ) ???? Love it
6 Pts – Croatia ( Qualified ) ???? Love it
5 Pts – Hungary ( Qualified ) ???? Meh.
4 Pts – Czech Republic ( Qualified ) ?? Growing
3 Pts – Iceland ( Qualified ) ?? Growing
2 Pts – Estonia ( Qualfied ) ???? Undecided
1 Pts – Cyprus ( Qualified ) ???? Dislike now

Murray
Murray
8 years ago

My Qualifies are This is in no particular order

Azerbaijan
Cyprus
Russia
Croatia
Malta
Iceland
Hungary
Czech Republic
Estonia
And Finland

Yasi
Yasi
8 years ago

@Stevie: Me neither! Just another overhyped song. Might be a Malta 2015-moment. #FanFavouriteFail

dado
dado
8 years ago

on ESC we have 5 strong community and i think they vote for next countries:
ex-soviet community: 1. russia 2. armenia 3. azerbajan
scandinavian community: 1.iceland, 2. russia 3. estonia
gay community: 1. hungary 2.austria 3. russia
balkan community: 1. croatia 2.bosnia&herzegovina 3.russia
west europe community: 1. malta 2. austria 3. russia

so:
1. russia
2. austria
3. armenia
4. iceland
5. azerbajan
6. hungary
7. croatia
8. malta
9. estonia
10. bosnia & herzegovina

ESCGermany
ESCGermany
8 years ago

Stevie,
I also don’t understad the love for Russia, but I get that people can like the song if they want to.
However, a song has to be ESC material, and Croatia has that, Russia just doesn’t (it’s a silly pop song)

Stevie
8 years ago

I simply do not understand the love for Croatia this year.

Paris
Paris
8 years ago

So, i love Armenia, Hungary and Malta. But i think that winner is Armenia, if she do her best on stage she will win.

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
8 years ago

I have this page bookmarked!!! I need to see the results everyday and it’s funny how Malta were first at the start and are now 4th…

Alexander
Alexander
8 years ago

I think Malta will do well if not win! Such a radio friendly song… this could launch Ira onto the mainstream charts!

Aria
8 years ago

ARMENIA – OMG. If her show and vocals will be as brilliant as her music video ( I think she will do her best) they can finally be in top 3.

MarcoZ
MarcoZ
8 years ago

I’m glad that some wiwi blogger love croatia….

hooky
hooky
8 years ago

Love the song and singer from Armenia so i vote for her and for Croatia

ChristopherUSA
ChristopherUSA
8 years ago

TOP TEN- SEMI FINAL ONE 1) RUSSIA– Impossible to resist (and I really wanted to.) But Sergey’s energy is infectious, and I can’t wait to see him perform. 2) AZERBAIJAN– That hook is fantastic. “Gonna Take a Miracle” — song’s got a retro 90’s vibe, but to me it still sounds fresh. I play it a lot. 3) CZECH REPUBLIC— That voice! And I love the personality, how she smiles in her video, which gives this “serious” song a refreshing burst of joy. 4) ICELAND– Captures the flavor and feeling of being in Iceland. The rhythm and beats sound like… Read more »

gunner2358
8 years ago

Isnt it a high time to post finally “Who shoul win Eurovision-2016” Poll now?

Hrayr Zohrabyan
Hrayr Zohrabyan
8 years ago

I vote for Armenia,because Iveta is wonderful and so beautiful ….. Her song is perfect …. I think that she will win …. #Iveta #LoveWave

Tryto
Tryto
8 years ago

Love The singer from Armenia and her song iv very good
Croatia not bad but i thing that croatian people vote hard here
And i like Russia – good song but i think it`s not winner
Estonia like this song very much