You're reading: Eurovision: 26 vie for crown in Kyiv on May 13

With one day left to the grand final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, all 26 finalists are finally known. The two semi-finals, on May 9 and May 11, saw participants from 36 countries, but only 20 qualified for the final. The other six participants escaped competing and pre qualified for the final show — Ukraine as the winner of the last year’s Eurovision, and the so-called “Big Five” (Italy, Spain, UK, Germany and France) as co-founders of the contest.

The winners of each semi-final, as well as of the grand final, are being selected in a 50/50 vote of the jury and the TV audience. The TV audience votes after the televised performance. The grand final will start on May 13 at 10 p. m. Kyiv time.

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Country: Ukraine

Contestant: O. Torvald

Names: lead singer Zhenya Halych, guitarist Denys Miziuk, drummer Oleksandr Solokha, bass guitarist Mykyta Vasyliev, DJ and pianist Mykola Raida.

Age: 33, 35, 30, 28, –

Song: “Time”

Interesting fact: The name “O. Torvald” was inspired by all the mischief that the rock stars got in. In Russian, “otorvatsia” means “to party hard” and the made-up name “O. Torvald” sounds similar.

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Country: Italy

Contestant: Francesco Gabbani

Age: 34

Song: “Occidentali’s Karma”

Interesting fact: Francesco Gabbani is the only artist who won an award at the most popular Italian song contest and awards Sanremo Music Festival two years in a row.

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Country: United Kingdom

Contestant: Lucie Jones

Age: 25

Song: “Never Give Up On You”

Interesting fact: Lucie Jones is not only a singer but also an award winning actress who has worked in theatre for the last seven years. She’s toured the world with huge shows including Les Miserables, Ghost The Musical, Legally Blonde.

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Country: Spain

Contestant: Manel Navarro

Age: 21

Song: “Do It For Your Lover”

Interesting fact: Manel Navarro became a star being a teenager. He published videos of covers on famous songs on YouTube and was signed to Sony Music Spain after winning the Spanish competition Teen Star.

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Country: Germany

Contestant: Levina

Name: Isabella Levina Lueen

Age: 26

Song: “Perfect Life”

Interesting fact: Levina realized what her true passion is pretty early. She has started taking music classes in the age of nine and since then has never quit singing.

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Country: France

Contestant: Alma

Name: Alexandra Maquet

Age: 28

Song: “Requiem”

Interesting fact: Alma speaks four languages – English, Italian, Portuguese and French – due to living in the different countries – United States, Italy, Brazil, Belgium and France.

sweden

Country: Sweden

Contestant: Robin Bengtsson

Age: 27

Song: “I Can’t Go On’

Interesting fact: Robin Bengtsson is a happy father of a 3-year-old son William. One of his main goals in life is to be the best friends with his kid.

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Country: Australia

Contestant: Isaiah

Name: Isaiah Firebrace

Age: 17

Song: “Don’t Come Easy”

Interesting fact: Isaiah is only 17 but he’s already won The X Factor Australia and released a debut single, “It’s Gotta Be You”, that charted all over the world.

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Country: Belgium

Contestant: Blanche

Name: Ellie Delvaux

Age: 17

Song: “City Lights”

Interesting fact: Blanche didn’t plan to take part in Eurovision. She received an invitation to participate in Belgium selection while having a class. She made a decision to agree and her candidacy was approved the same day.

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Country: Azerbaijan

Contestant: Dihaj

Name: Diana Hajiyeva

Age: 27

Song: “Skeletons”

Interesting fact: Dihaj was born in Mariupol, a town in eastern Ukraine. She participated in Azerbaijan selection to represent the country in Eurovision 2011 but didn’t make it to the final.

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Country: Portugal

Contestant: Salvador Sobral

Age: 27

Song: “Amar Pelos Dois” (“Love For Two”)

Interesting fact: The song Salvador Sobral will perform was written by his elder sister Luisa. She is considered as one of the most important songwriters and singers of the new generation of Portuguese musicians.

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Country: Poland

Contestant: Kasia Moś

Age: 30

Song: “Flashlight”

Interesting fact: Kasia Mos was born in an artistic family, which determined her life. Her father Marek is a conductor, violinist, and director of the chamber orchestra AUKSO. Her mother Joanna also plays the violin. Her brother Mateusz is a violinist and composer, who has a debut album.

moldova

Country: Moldova

Contestant: Sunstroke Project

Names: lead singer Sergey Ialovitsky, saxophonist Segey Stepanov, violinist Anton Ragoza.

Age: 30, 32, 31

Song: “Hey Mamma”

Interesting fact: The band represented Moldova in Eurovision 2010 along with the singer Olia Tira. After that saxophonist Sergey Stepanov became a YouTube star better known as Epic Sax Guy. The video of him dancing and playing the sax during the performance has reached over 20 million views.

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Country: Greece

Contestant: Demy

Name: Dimitra Papadea

Age: 25

Song: “This is Love”

Interesting fact: Demy was a little music genius in the childhood. She started taking piano classes in the age of five before even going to school. She continues taking piano lessons in the adult life.

cyprus

Country: Cyprus

Contestant: Hovig

Name: Hovig Demirjian

Age: 28

Song: “Gravity”

Interesting fact: Hovig participated in Cyprus selection for Eurovision 2010. He made it to the final but eventually lost to the band Giorgos Alkaios & Friends, who took the eighth place in the grand final of the song contest.

armenia

Country: Armenia

Contestant: Artsvik

Name: Artsvik Harutyunyan

Age: 32

Song: “Fly With Me”

Interesting fact: Artsvik studied speech therapy and psychology at Moscow State Pedagogical University. Her participation in the Russian version of The Voice made her famous and determined the future as a professional singer.

bulgaria

Country: Bulgaria

Contestant: Kristian Kostov

Age: 17

Song: “Beautiful Mess”

Interesting fact: Kristian Kostov was born in Russia, where he also made his first steps as a professional musician. He participated in the Russian version of The Voice Kids and reached the final. Kostov took the fourth place in the vocal competition X Factor in Bulgaria.

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Country: Belarus

Contestant: Naviband

Names: guitarist Arciom Lukjanienka, vocalist Ksenia Zhuk

Age: 24, 25

Song: “Story of My Life”

Interesting fact: It is the first time when an entry in the Eurovision Song Contest will be performed in Belarusian language, which was defined by UNESCO as an endangered one – meaning it tends to disappear. The band wants to share with Europe their culture and the beauty of their national language.

croatia

Country: Croatia

Contestant: Jacques Houdek

Age: 36

Song: “My Friend”

Interesting fact: Jacques Houdek is one of the most successful singers among this year’s contestants. He is the mentor on The Voice of Croatia. He has released 13 albums which have been certified silver (five times), gold, platinum and diamond.

hungary

Country: Hungary

Contestant: Joci Pápai

Age: 35

Song: “Origo”

Interesting fact: Joci Papai’s music is a mixture of authentic Hungarian and gypsy styles, modern pop and electronic beats. He inherited the love to gypsy music from his father, who was the leader of a big gypsy orchestra.

denmark

Country: Denmark

Contestant: Anja

Name: Anja Nissen

Age: 21

Song: “Where I Am”

Interesting fact: Anja was born and raised in Australia. She won the third season of The Voice Australia in 2014. Anja has always dreamed to represent Denmark in Eurovision as she is Danish as well as her parents and relatives.

romania

Country: Romania

Contestant: Ilinca ft. Alex Florea

Names: Maria Ilinca Băcilă, Alexandru Ionuț Florea

Age: 18, 25

Song: “Yodel It!”

Interesting fact: Ilinca, who was told as a child that singing was not for her, learned yodeling completely on her own in just a week after she saw an inspiring yodeling performance on “America’s Got Talent.”

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Country: Israel

Contestant: IMRI

Name: Imri Ziv

Age: 25

Song: “I Feel Alive”

Interesting fact: Imri has loved music since the very young age. When he was two, Imri has already known the lyrics to Queen’s “We Are the Champions” and sang it in front of his family and friends on every possible occasion.

norway

Country: Norway

Contestant: JOWST

Names: vocalist Aleksander Walmann, sound engineer Joakim With Steen

Age: 31, 27

Song: “Grab the Moment”

Interesting fact: JOWST were considered to be the biggest underdogs in the national Norwegian selection and eventually won the competition. Bookies predict the band to reach the 25th place but the musicians enjoy being the dark horse again.

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Country: The Netherlands

Contestant: OG3NE

Names: Lisa, Amy and Shelley Vol

Age: 22, 21, 21

Song: “Lights and Shadows”

Interesting fact: All three members of the band are sisters. Amy and Shelley are twins. The name OG3NE represents their mother’s blood type O and the genes that tie the three sisters together.

austria

Country: Austria

Contestant: Nathan Trent

Age: 25

Song: “Running On Air”

Interesting fact: Nathan Trent started writing lyrics and music at the age of 11 and since then worked on improving his talent. He writes, composes and arranges his own songs, including his entry for the Eurovision 2017, “Running On Air”.