Eurovision: the last ten finalists revealed tonight

And around 11:00 PM local time (9:00 PM GMT), we will know the names of the 26 winners who will remain in the running for the trophy of the greatest TV talent show in the world.

Israeli singer and October 7 survivor Yuval Raphael's performance was disrupted during a dress rehearsal on Thursday afternoon, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SSR), the show's official broadcaster, said in a statement.

"Six people, including a family, disrupted the dress rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles," the broadcaster said. These six people were "quickly" escorted out of the hall by security personnel.

The third and final rehearsal for the artists, technicians, and presenters began at 3:00 PM. They will all perform live at 9:00 PM (7:00 PM GMT). The results should be announced two hours later.

Australia, Montenegro, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Georgia, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Israel, Serbia and Finland remain in the running.

Switzerland as the host country and the "Big 5" who pay the most (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom) are automatically selected.

Bookmakers' statistics from betting places Austria, Israel and Finland among the top favorites for the second semi-final.

Malta, Australia, and Lithuania are also well placed. But it will be millions of viewers who will decide the artists' fate this Thursday.

Survivor

The incident in the hall is the second since the start of the Eurovision Song Contest to have been directed against the singer. The Israeli delegation filed a complaint on Sunday against a protester who made a throat-slitting sign towards the Israeli singer and her entourage during the presentation parade.

The 24-year-old will take to the high-tech stage of the Sankt Jakobshalle to perform "New Day Will Rise." The woman who only survived because she played dead under a pile of corpses during the Hamas massacre wants to send a universal message of "hope and solidarity."

Israel's participation has sparked criticism and protests, but has so far seen little turnout in Basel, despite the intensification of Israel's war in Gaza, which has already killed tens of thousands of people, and calls for its exclusion from Eurovision, including from reigning champion Nemo.

Two hundred people protested silently on Wednesday, and a few Palestinian flags and a banner denouncing "genocide" appeared during the artists' parade on Sunday. Another demonstration is planned for Saturday. Late Thursday afternoon, a demonstration in support of the Israeli singer was held, which only drew a few dozen people, AFP noted.

Love, doll, milkshakes and orgasm

Austria's JJ is the main rival of Sweden's KAJ to win the 2025 edition on Saturday.

His "Wasted Love" propels soprano highs between two ballad choruses before culminating in a techno surge. And it inevitably brings to mind "The Code," the song by Swiss artist Nemo, which won in 2024.

His ethereal, melancholic, and floating performance, which speaks of a time in his life when he "wasted too much love" without receiving any, is performed on stage in a magnificent black and white Harcourt studio.

Finnish Erika Vikman has love in spades.

She's the one who closes the show on Thursday, and the temperature is likely to rise several notches with her "Ich Komme," celebrating orgasm.

From Australia, where Eurovision is a huge hit, comes social media giant Go-Jo. He'll be performing first with "Milkshake Man," inspired by the glamorous vibe of the 1970s and featuring lyrics full of innuendo.

Ireland literally comes with a UFO. Emmy—a Norwegian—dedicates the song to Laika, a Soviet dog sacrificed to the conquest of space, against a backdrop of very 1980s keyboard music.

And then there's Laura Thorn and "La poupée mont le son" for Luxembourg. Move over, Serge Gainsbourg, France Gall, "Poupée de cire, poupée de son."

Laura Thorn is a thorn in the side of patriarchy: "New instructions, I can do everything without you, it's a different pattern, a different era. I'm speaking out." She hopes to repeat France Gall's feat at Eurovision 1965.

Albania, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Sweden and Ukraine qualified on Tuesday.