Greece’s Akylas Advances to the Eurovision Final with “Ferto”

Akylas of Greece performs during the archetypal semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) successful Vienna, Austria, 12 May 2026. Credit: EPA, HANNIBAL HANSCHKE via AMNA

Akylas, Greece’s typical to the Eurovision Song Contest, secured 1 of the 10 spots from the archetypal semi-final for Saturday’s Grand Final.

Performing “Ferto” successful Vienna connected Tuesday, the 27-year-old creator delivered a high-energy show and proved that the Greek delegation is not successful Austria for the experience.

This year’s introduction follows a classic, albeit maximalist, Eurovision recipe. It features an energetic, charismatic performer and a highly catchy track. The staging, designed by Fokas Evangelinos, is fast-paced and ambitious, featuring a poignant homage to Helena Paparizou’s winning 2005 performance, “My Number One.”

The countries that precocious to the Eurovision final

Finland besides secured a spot successful the final. Their entry, “Liekinheitin,” remains the bookmakers’ favourite to triumph the full contest. Along with Greece and Finland, the pursuing 8 countries besides advanced:

Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland.

In Saturday’s Grand Final, Akylas volition look the “Big 4” (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and France) and the big nation, Austria. They volition beryllium joined by the 10 qualifiers from Thursday’s 2nd Semi-Final, wherever Antigoni volition vie for Cyprus with the opus “Jalla.”

Vicky Leandros, a item if the opening night

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest opened with a moving introductory video and awesome signifier accumulation by the Austrian hosts. A standout infinitesimal was the quality of Vicky Leandros, who performed “L’amour est bleu”—the opus she famously performed successful Vienna for Luxembourg backmost successful 1967.