Greece's Akylas Named First Qualifier From Semi-Final One — Now Second Favourite to Win Eurovision

07:55 13/5/2026 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Greece's Akylas was the first act announced as a Grand Final qualifier at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna on Tuesday night, cementing his standing as the second favourite to win Saturday's final — trailing only Finland in the betting markets — after a visually arresting performance

of his track "Ferto" at the Wiener Stadthalle.

The 27-year-old artist, dressed in his signature orange ensemble and cat-ear headpiece, navigated an elaborate mirror tunnel and multi-room stage structure conceived as a "modern arcade game" by veteran director Fokas Evangelinos.

A scene featuring actress Parthena Chorozidou as a knitting character drew an immediate viral response online.

The act wove in a deliberate homage to Greece's last Eurovision victory — a "human lyre" sequence performed with dancer Konstantinos Makrypidis echoing Helena Paparizou's winning 2005 performance.

Behind the spectacle, "Ferto" carries a pointed message about greed and hyper-consumption, closing with a personal tribute from Mr. Akylas to his mother.

Greece joins Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland in the May 16 final. Portugal was the evening's most noted casualty, failing to advance. Belgium's qualification was the mild surprise of the night.

If Mr. Akylas wins Saturday, Greece would host Eurovision 2027 — a prospect that has animated both Greek media and tourism planners ahead of what would be the country's second hosting of the contest.

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Greece's Akylas was the first act announced as a Grand Final qualifier at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna on Tuesday night, cementing his standing as the second favourite to win Saturday's final — trailing only Finland in the betting markets — after a visually arresting performance of his track "Ferto" at the Wiener Stadthalle.

The 27-year-old artist, dressed in his signature orange ensemble and cat-ear headpiece, navigated an elaborate mirror tunnel and multi-room stage structure conceived as a "modern arcade game" by veteran director Fokas Evangelinos.

A scene featuring actress Parthena Chorozidou as a knitting character drew an immediate viral response online.

The act wove in a deliberate homage to Greece's last Eurovision victory — a "human lyre" sequence performed with dancer Konstantinos Makrypidis echoing Helena Paparizou's winning 2005 performance.

Behind the spectacle, "Ferto" carries a pointed message about greed and hyper-consumption, closing with a personal tribute from Mr. Akylas to his mother.

Greece joins Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland in the May 16 final. Portugal was the evening's most noted casualty, failing to advance. Belgium's qualification was the mild surprise of the night.

If Mr. Akylas wins Saturday, Greece would host Eurovision 2027 — a prospect that has animated both Greek media and tourism planners ahead of what would be the country's second hosting of the contest.

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Keywords
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Greeces Akylas Named First Qualifier From Semi-Final One — Now Second Favourite,Win Eurovision