Fifteen countries will compete. But only ten will advance to the grand final. Welcome to Semi-Final 1 of Eurovision 2023.
The first show in this year’s contest is stacked. It includes Sweden’s Loreen and Finland’s Käärijä, who currently sit first and second on the odds table. A lot of fans think Loreen will win the jury vote in the grand final. Many others think Käärijä could take the public vote in the grand final. The first semi will be their first reckoning — albeit in a televote only system.
Also performing in this semi is Alessandra — who many of you will know as “SHE, Queen of the Kings.” The Norwegian star has already topped the Spotify Global Viral Top 50. Will the hype return on May 9?
Israel’s Noa Kirel and Czechia’s Vesna — also in the Top 10 with the bookies — are among the others that fans are watching.
Eurovision 2023: Semi-final one line-up
Running Order
During the semi-final allocation draw, the fifteen countries were drawn into the first half or second half. Producers are now deciding the precise running order based on making the most interesting show (considering things like visual flow) and also practicality (the time and difficulty of moving acts and their props on and off the stage).
First half
Croatia – Let 3
Ireland – Wild Youth
Latvia – Sudden Lights
Malta – The Busker
Norway – Alessandra
Portugal – Mimicat
Serbia – Luke Black
Second half
Azerbaijan – TuralTuranX
Czech Republic – Vesna
Finland – Käärijä
Israel – Noa Kirel
Moldova – Pasha Parfeni
Netherlands – Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper
Sweden – Loreen
Switzerland – Remo Forrer
Who should win semi-final one of Eurovision 2023?
But we want to know: Who is your winner? And which 10 countries do you want to see qualify for the final? Support your ten qualifiers by voting in the poll below. You can vote for as many countries as you want, but you can only submit your votes ONE time. Be sure to click the box next to each country you want to support before hitting submit.
So who did you vote for? Who are your ten qualifiers? Let us know in the comments box down below!
This semi is so much stronger than the second that it’s actually unfair.
I see Ireland and Azerbaijan as the only sure NQ. For Switzerland it is difficult to say without the staging, but also possible NQ since it is televote only. Croatia and Malta will surprise and qualify, I think. Therefore I have no idea who the other two NQ might be….it could be a total surprise.
I mostly agree with the results. The only country I see struggling is Latvia, for me its borderline qualifier.
I think Croatia has a chance to squeeze in instead of Latvia, considering how large Croatian diaspora is and they obviously love their song, judging by the comments.
I would love Latvia to qualify but Im not sure whether they will have enough televote support.
I think the following countries will qualify (no particular order):
Finland
Norway
Sweden
The Netherlands
Switzerland
Czech Republic
Serbia
Moldova
Portugal
Azerbaijan
I think Israel will be the shock non-qualifier.
Maybe Latvia instead of Azerbaijan.
Not gonna lie, I feel like we’re potentially seeing the top 5 of the entire final in this semis. This is a super strong draw.
No particular order, the ones which should qualify for me are
Israel – Malta – Portugal – Netherlands – Norway – Sweden – Czech Republic – Moldova -Serbia – Azerbaijan
(Actually I put Azerbaijan at the end cuz it’s -from this lot- the one that i care LEAST to qualify, but the other ones I didn’t include are worst YES, FINLAND IS WORST THAN AZERBAIJAN to me)
Finally someone with good taste
My qualifiers (in no particular order, but you can figure it out lol): Finland (irreverent, edgy and original, I love it when Finland brings something different to the table and ppl appreciate it) Latvia Serbia Moldova Czech Republic Portugal Malta Croatia Sweden (I like it despite starting to come off to me as a parody of Euphoria, but its overhyping has been off-putting and honestly there’s many better songs this year) Norway (I hate it, but it’d be delusional from me to say the wouldn’t qualify when ppl love it and only 5 countries aren’t making it through here) My… Read more »
Top 5:
1.Norway
2.Sweden
3.Latvia
4.Portugal
5.Finland
Reeeaally close to top 5: Czechia, Servia and Israel…and then 2 spots that i don’t care that much…
Amazing semi!
amazing top 5
Are Israel fans this annoying every year or is it specific to this shiksa?
Sweden or Finland will easily win the semi I think, whoever wins, the other will come second, and vice versa. In terms of qualifiers, I’m going to say: Sweden, Finland, Serbia, Norway, Czech Republic, Portugal, Moldova, Israel, Latvia, Croatia Israel and Norway wouldn’t be my personal qualifiers, but they have big fan bases so definitely say they’re in. Azerbaijan I’m saying is out, but they have, in my opinion, qualified with far worse in previous years, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they did, but right now I’m saying they’re out. Ireland is DOA but we would have comfortably qualified… Read more »
Agree with you, just that Azerbaijan qualified with juries help
voted for croatia,finland,czechia & moldova – other available stuff is boring.
I really hope Latvia and Malta qualify. I love them and will support them ????
Sweden 100 %
Tell that to Mika Newton, she will be happy
Why ?
Go and listen the song “V Plenu” by Mika Newton, you will understand why
Have you listen to Norway’s song. They have stolen the song from Klara Hammarströms song Run to the hill, but nobody say anything about that
I agree, therefore I wouldn’t miss Norway if it came to be a NQ
Ok, i have listen to the song now, and i dont still way i should listen to it. It’s not the same as Tattoo.
The same could never be, or it would be scandalous, just some of the most important part. But each one has its own opinion , and I stick with mine,
I usually separate the songs of the semis in 4 categories, sure qualifiers, borderline qualifiers, probable NQs and NQs. Borderline does not mean that these countries will qualify as 9th or 10ths, it just means that it is not certain that they will qualify, and on the other hand ‘probable NQs’ mean that these countries could eventually qualify, but it’s most probable that they won’t. Semi 1 (as things stand rn) seems quite easier to predict than semi 2. The songs I have labeled as sure qualifiers in semi 1 are (in random order) : Norway, Serbia, Israel, Moldova, the… Read more »
Its televoting only so I guess Croatia is a 100% sure qualifier
Or not
Malta will qualiy, Serbia won´t.
all the love latvia is getting gives me joy
All the love Latvia is getting gives me false hope which will lead to a disappointment it they end up not qualifying.
It actually gives a hope that people might really vote… but yes, you are also right that it can lead to a disappointment if they don’t qualify… ? But anyways, it’s nice to see how many people actually appreciate them.
Here’s how my SF1 qualifiers stand after 24 hours have passed since I made my latest top-15: *My complete TOP 15 of the ESC 2023 Semi-Final 1 (updated):* *MY QUALIFIERS:* *1. Finland – “Cha Cha Cha” (10/10)* 2. Serbia – “Samo Mi Se Spava” (10/10) 3. Portugal – “Ai Coração” (9.5/10) 4. Czechia – “My Sister’s Crown” (9.5/10) 5. Malta – “Dance (Our Own Party)” (9/10) (revamped) 6. Moldova – “Soarele ?i Luna” (8.5/10) 7. Netherlands – “Burning Daylight” (7.5/10) 8. Sweden – “Tattoo” (7.5/10) 9. Israel – “Unicorn” (7/10) 10. Latvia – “Aij?” (7/10) – – – – –… Read more »
Although Latvia had an internal selection by the broadcaster, I think the song is extraordinary and it would be a huge loss for the ESC to lose something so alternative and underground. What really makes ESC great is the diversity. As the Swedes & co. are trying to turn ESC into an American Song Contest / Billboard live show, it is more important than ever to keep the diversity at the front and centre of the ESC agenda. YES, “centre”, not “center”.
I agree Latvian song is so underrated
Latvia had a NF
I just hope that Finland’s staging won’t look like a circus, as it would put the people off and overshadow the song. Please Finland keep the right balance between being entertaining and laughable. Don’t mess this up.
Just copy and paste from UMK and they’re good.
There’s a danger to look like amateurish (find the dancers are too distracting), but if YLE are involve as less as possible about ideas instead artist and record company.
With a 100% televote, I think we can already discount the first four acts. Sadly.
the producers will basically eliminate a few acts just by arranging the running order
Unpopular opinion: I love Malta. Likely NQ but you never know
I also love Malta. I really hope both Malta and Latvia will qualify
At least one of them should and very likely will, as it is never the obvious 10 qualifiers picked by the fandom.
I currently feel that qualification is anyone’s game including Ireland and Azerbaijan and it will all come down to the staging of all songs
Serbia, Moldova, Croatia got my full support in this semi, but Norway also growing on me nicely
Feel Azerbaijan is a sure nq but nice of them giving some real music for a change
Who I predict to qualify (not want):
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Croatia
Serbia
Moldova
Czechia
Portugal
Israel
Malta
Latvia and the Netherlands are borderline, the rest are pretty much destined to NQ
The rest simply being Azerbaijan & Ireland LMAO
Who I want to qualify;
1. Finland
2. Israel
3. Sweden
4. Czechia
5. Netherlands
6. Portugal
7. Norway
8. Switzerland
9. Moldova
10. Latvia
Non qualifiers in this case:
11. Serbia
12. Azerbaijan
13. Ireland
14. Malta
15. Croatia
Who I think will qualify:
1. Sweden
2. Finland
3. Norway
4. Israel
5. Serbia
6. Portugal
7. Moldova
8. Czechia
9. Netherlands
10. Switzerland/Latvia
11. Latvia/Switzerland
12. Azerbaijan
13. Croatia
14. Malta
15. Ireland
Y’all please I need both Switzerland and Latvia in the final :'(
You cannot even imagine how much I agree with your qualifiers and your borderline dilemma. 🙁
*except I’d like Malta and Serbia in but tastes vary of course.
I already posted my prediction but here is my current list of semi final 1
1.Serbia 11/12
2.Finland 10,5/12
3.Portugal 10/12
4.Moldova 10/12
5.Malta 8,5/12
6.Sweden 8/12
7.Ireland 7,5/12
8.Czechia 7/12
9.Switzerland 6,5/12
10.Norway 6,5/12
11.Latvia 5,5/12
12.The Netherlands 5/12
13.Azerbaijan 4,5/12
14.Croatia 3/12
15.Israel 1/12
It’s funny how people who doesn’t share your taste end up downvoting you, instead of respecting you and your taste and support your opinion sharing. This might sound as an innocent problem, but this (social media attacks/downvote) is the reason why many people stay introvert in real life, and simply can’t fight for themselves. Be a human, let us no do this to each others.
i have a request i am a Malaysian fan for eurovision and since this is a public vote does this mean if i have a chance to vote? if so pls teach me how to vote (this is my fitst time use the app) bcos i been watching eurovision since 2021 and for first time i dont care who wins eurovision this year i just want latvia qualify so bad
Yes you can vote. You’ll be given a number to vote and I think. Don’t think the app will work.
A credit card is also necessary, which is maybe not good.
Yes that’s correct
What about the three-year-olds?
Their parents have 20 votes each.
thank you sm
I’m not sure we can teach you, because it is not the normal system. It’s never been done before, so just listen carefully to the hosts on the night. Or day.
thank you sm
It’s online voting for non-participating countries so it will probably be on a website.
X2 I’m from Mexico and I want Latvia to make it through to the final so bad! :'(
My current personal top:
My current predictions:
1. Sweden
2. Finland
3. Norway
4. Serbia
5. Israel
6. Czechia
7. Moldova
8. Croatia
9. Portugal
10. Netherlands
11. Latvia
12. Malta
13. Switzerland
14. Azerbaijan
15. Ireland
This prediction is quite realistic.
I try my best :3
I’d swap Latvia with the Netherlands, but I agree with your top 10 all in all
I agree 100% with your prediction. I think the battle for last spot in the final will be between Latvia and Croatia, and I can totally see Croatia squeeze in, judging by large support that Croatians from entire Europe are giving to their song.
I love Latvian song but unfortunately I think its not impactful enough to get enough votes.
people here truly believe israel won’t make it??!! LOL
she’s coming with BUDGET
San Marino came with BUDGET last year.
and with a song drunkenly written
Just like Israel’s song this year XD
I honestly think Israel will not qualify. I think the live performance will be very underwhelming. It’s not an easy song to sung. I don’t have much faith in Noa’s vocal abilities. The same I feel about the song and live performance of Azerbaijan.
Russia randomly appears on TV and announces: “We win or we nuke you!” HAHAHAHA (joke)
Looks like someone ate clown d*ck
The obvious: Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Norway, Serbia.
The very likely: Croatia, Moldova, Netherlands.
The “I hope so but may not”: Malta, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Latvia.
The “I hope not but may”: Israel, Portugal.
The No-Hopers: Ireland.
Fair.
Portugal and Israel are already in the final, actually. Very clear qualifiers.
No they’re not. Portugal I could live with but Israel is a chaotic mess that the general public will despise.
And yet you place Croatia as “The very likely “, LOL, or even Serbia as “The obvious” – really like this one ( not as much the singer itself)- when it is totally not obvious its qualification….
I can see Israel and Azerbaijan not qualifying with Malta and Latvia making it.
There is no way Israel will not pass at least 5 entries.
2014 says HI
Unicorn is a mess, people won’t like it
I really, really hope Latvia make it. I always hate when there’s about 7 or 8 telegraphed locks for the final and then 5 or 6 good songs that are all competing for the last 2 slots. Some great songs get punished by the draw.
Latvia is a jury friendly song but not instant enough for televote, sadly.
I do have a feeling that Latvia will grab that final spot in the final and get a good result in the final. I also believe there will be a shock non qualifier from the favourites. Czechia and Serbia for me seems to be the candidates.
I have a feeling Serbia might not get any points outside from their diaspora countries and Balkan friends (Croatia), but maybe I am wrong. Will see in May.
Mediterranean* friends, Croatia
Latvia, letsss goo!! We need you in the semifinals and more!! 🙂
So glad I was able to get tickets for this semifinal. Latvia is my personal favorite. Even in a weak year of entries, it’s the rest of the field against Sweden.
I really hate people saying this is a weak year and also overrating Sweden
Mimicat will be the 2023 winner. Right at the 1st rehearsal the surprise will be huge. And Loreen’s decline will begin there. Don’t ask how I know this. I think it’s a good idea that wiwis make a video about the song from Portugal… In May it will be late, they will have already missed the train and it will be worse than Salvador in the 23rd place of the wiwibloggs ranking in 2017.
Is my Winner
This was a shame !
Don’t know if winning but Latvia should be qualifying.
100% NQ: Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Switzerland
Doris is using her Crystal Ball again… Sis, everything is possible in this Semi…
Yes, but Switzerland’s entry is awful if we see the bigger picture
The Netherlands is going to the final, better accept it.
Croatia, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Israel. Don’t really care about the rest.
I’m enjoying the love for Latvia in these comments! Please I hope they go through!!!
Me too, I thought I was the only one loving it.
since it’s only a televoting thing, this semi is on fire
croatia, finland, sweden, czech, israel, moldova, norway and serbia are all televote magnets
this leaves very little room for the other acts. Hope Latvia makes it, that’s all I want
Czechia is not a televote magnet, the only time they got top 10 with televote is with “Lie to me”, while Croatia is alway either border qualifier or non qualifier with the televote. Israel is always hit or miss, either very good or very bad. Finland too. Sweden, Moldova, Serbia, and even Norway most of the time are definitely televote magnets.
this is based on what we have now, not in past results
Well, I think Norway and Sweden can do worse than we think they will with the televote too
What is “Czech”? Anyway, I like the song from Latvian and the song from Finnish. (See what I did there? LOL).
3 I really want to go through: Moldova, Portugal and Czechia
3 I wouldn’t miss at all: Croatia, Israel and Norway
Guys, there is so much love behind Latvia and its the ultimate ‘on the cusp’ possible qualifier this year. PLEASE don’t let it slip through the net. If you believe in this song and love it, like I do, please vote for it. It needs, and deserves, all the help it can get this year!
We need Latvia in the final
Croatia of course.
I’m hoping for Latvia to pull through. Afraid they will be lost in this semi … Luckily I can vote, coming from Sweden
PLEASE, I need Latvia in the final!
I think it’s safe to say that Sweden, Finland and Norway will definitely qualify. Then Czechia, Israel, Serbia and Portugal are probably starting with an advantage in an only-televoting format. I’m unsure about the other 3. Moldova has an interesting folk dance sound that will likely stand out enough to get them through. Croatia is marmite, which means it can go either way. And Switzerland and Netherlands have 2 well structured ballads and -provided that are well sung- should have decent chances to go through although the lack of juries will make things more difficult. I would like them to… Read more »
Unfortunately, I don’t think Portugal has any advantage with televote only, but here’s to hoping?
Why not? I can definitely see an audience that will like Portugal and could vote for it since it’s definitely distinctive and memorable. That said it’s not among my personal favourites but it’s definitely a grower.
I don’t agree with the last part, Netherlands is unremarkable and Switzerland is terrible
To be fair neither of the 2 are in my personal top 20, but imho at least one of the 2 should make it to the final to add to the variety of the show. If I could choose I would put Latvia above both Switzerland and Netherlands but I’m well aware that it’s too leftfield to be appreciated by most viewers especially in a fast paced semi like this one, while the other 2 are more accessible to larger audiences.