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"Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2, on Thursday, will feature 15 countries vying for the last 10 spots in Saturday's finale for the annual jamboree of sparkles, poptastic nonsense and voting for the least politically or traditionally opposed nations to their own...
Here's how to watch "Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for free.
"Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 airs on Thursday, May 14 live on BBC One at 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT) and is available to stream FOR FREE on BBC iPlayer.
• WATCH FREE — BBC iPlayer (U.K.) / Official Eurovision YouTube channel (Global)
• U.S. — Peacock
• Australia — SBS / SBS on-Demand
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free
Among the acts to take to the Wiener Stadthalle stage in Vienna’s 15th district are Armenia's Simón with "Paloma Rumba", which looks like all kinds of fun, and Alexandra Căpitănescu, of Romania with "Choke Me". The latter features a folk-metal vibe and a weird light show that looks like her intestines are on the outside.
Biggest of all, though, is Australia's entry, actual Delta Goodrem. Former "Neighbours" star, award-winning singer-songwriter, "The Voice Australia" judge and cancer survivor — yeah, that Delta Goodrem.
The U.K.'s entry is Sam Battle (once of Indie band Zibra) of Look Mum No Computer's "Eins, Zwei, Drei", which he will perform during Semi-final 2. He claims that counting to three in German (the chorus) gives him great pleasure. The U.K. gets a bye through to Saturday's final, so you will see him again.
As ever, there's a dose of geo-politics, too. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain are boycotting the event in protest at Israel's involvement in the war in Gaza. Israel were on of 10 countries to qualify from Semi-final 1 for Saturday's final.
Read on to find out how to watch "Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 online, on TV and from anywhere.
Can I watch 'Eurovision Song Contest 2026' Semi-final 2 for free?
Absolutely! For U.K. viewers, free-to-air BBC iPlayer will again be showing all the Eurovision trials and tribulations, from both semi-finals to Saturday's grand finale.
All you need is a TV license and be a U.K. resident to sign up with a free account.
For the first time, the official Eurovision YouTube channel will also be showing the event. If you're in a country that doesn't have a designated broadcaster, like Canada or New Zealand, then you watch til your heart's content.
Not at home right now? You’ll likely need a VPN to access BBC iPlayer or the Eurovision YouTube content just as you would at home. For this setup, we recommend NordVPN.
How to watch 'Eurovision 2026 - Semi-final 2' from anywhere
Thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), "Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 should be available to Brits no matter where they are. The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you find yourself. Our favorite is NordVPN.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.K. and want to view a U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list.
3. Sit back and watch the show. Head to BBC iPlayer to watch "Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 online and on-demand.
How to watch 'Eurovision Song Contest 2026' Semi-final 2 around the world
How to watch 'Eurovision Song Contest 2026' Semi-final 2 for FREE in the U.K.
"Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 airs on Thursday, May 14 live on BBC One at 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT) and will available to stream FOR FREE on BBC iPlayer.
If you need to catch up on Semi-final 1 first, BBC iPlayer also already carries which 10 countries qualified on Tuesday night.
You don't have to miss it if you are a Brit exiled abroad because you can unblock BBC iPlayer with a VPN. We'll show you how to do that below...
How to watch 'Eurovision Song Contest 2026' Semi-final 2 for FREE in the U.S.
"Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 airs on Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus live on Thursday, May 14 at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT..
Peacock Premium costs from $10.99 a month, but you can pick up Peacock for free when you sign up to Walmart Plus for a 30-day trial that costs $1.
If you don't have access to Peacock, you can also watch along on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.
However, if you are a Brit in the States for work or on vacation you can still catch the show for FREE by using a VPN such as NordVPN, choosing U.K. from the list and selecting BBC iPlayer.
How to watch 'Eurovision Song Contest 2026' Semi-final 2 for FREE in Canada
Although there is no broadcast partner in Canada, it is possible to stream "Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 on the Official Eurovision You Tube Channel for FREE.
However, if you are a Brit in the Great White North for work or on vacation you can also catch the show on on BBCiPlayer by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
How to watch 'Eurovision Song Contest 2026' Semi-final 2 for FREE in Australia
"Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 airs for FREE on SBS on-Demand on Thursday, May 14 at 5 a.m. AEST.
It is available to stream there and also on the Official Eurovision YouTube channel.
Away on vacation? Watch your regular streams as if you were Down Under by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
How to watch 'Eurovision Song Contest 2026' Semi-final 2 for FREE in New Zealand
Although there is no broadcast partner in New Zealand, it is possible to stream "Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 2 on the Official Eurovision You Tube Channel for FREE.
However, if you are a Brit currently there for work or vacation, you can also catch the show on BBCiPlayer by using a VPN such as NordVPN .
"Eurovision 2026 - Semi-final 2' - ACTS
01. Bulgaria: DARA - “Bangaranga”
02. Azerbaijan: JIVA - “Just Go”
03. Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu - “Choke Me”
04. Luxembourg: Eva Marija - “Mother Nature”
05. Czechia: Daniel Zizka - “CROSSROADS”
* France: Monroe - “Regarde!”
06. Armenia: SIMÓN - “Paloma Rumba”
07. Switzerland: Veronica Fusaro - “Alice”
08. Cyprus: Antigoni - “JALLA”
* Austria: COSMÓ - “Tanzschein”
09. Latvia: Atvara - “Ēnā”
10. Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund - “Før Vi Går Hjem”
11. Australia: Delta Goodrem - “Eclipse”
12. Ukraine: LELÉKA - “Ridnym”
* United Kingdom: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER - “Eins, Zwei, Drei”
13. Albania: Alis - “Nân”
14. Malta: AIDAN - “Bella”
15. Norway: JONAS LOVV - “YA YA YA”
* Guaranteed a spot in the final
Who competed in "Eurovision Song Contest 2026" Semi-final 1?
01. Moldova: Satoshi - “Viva, Moldova!”
02. Sweden: FELICIA - “My System”
03. Croatia: LELEK - “Andromeda”
04. Greece: Akylas - “Ferto”
05. Portugal: Bandidos do Cante - “Rosa”
06. Georgia: Bzikebi - “On Replay”
* Italy: Sal Da Vinci - “Per Sempre Sì”
07. Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen - “Liekinheitin”
08. Montenegro: Tamara Živković - “Nova Zora”
09. Estonia: Vanilla Ninja - “Too Epic To Be True”
10. Israel: Noam Bettan - “Michelle”
* Germany: Sarah Engels - “Fire”
11. Belgium: ESSYLA - “Dancing on the Ice”
12. Lithuania: Lion Ceccah - “Sólo Quiero Más”
13. San Marino: SENHIT - “Superstar”
14. Poland: ALICJA - “Pray”
15. Serbia: LAVINA - “Kraj Mene”
* Guaranteed a spot in the final
You can catch up on BBC iPlayer or on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.
What else can I watch on BBC iPlayer?
Lots – including "Race Across The World", "Hope Street", "Once Upon a Time in Space", "Half Man", "What We Do In The Shadows" and "Twenty Twelve".
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