Rehearsals are now well and truly underway in the city of Tel Aviv, which will be hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Today sees the third day of rehearsals, with the first half of the second first semi-final evening taking to the impressive stage of Expo Tel Aviv.

Nine countries are all set to make their debut onstage, 10 days before their live performance at the second semi-final. Following their rehearsal, a Meet & Greet session will be coming next. These countries are ArmeniaIrelandMoldovaSwitzerlandLatviaRomaniaDenmarkSweden and Austria.

The very last rehearsing act of Day 3 is none other than Sweden, which is set to perform 8th at the second semi-final. Sweden has been achieving a Top 10 placing every year since 2011 (except from 2013). Is John Lundvik going to continue this blessed with good fortune course of the country in the contest?

Similar to Denmark, Sweden also rarely change their winning national final performance and costumes. John remains in his simple black t-shirt, which he wears tucked in to leather-look pleated trousers. His backing singers, known as “The Mamas”, have glammed up their outfits by adding silver glitter swirls all over their coordinating black outfits.

Gallery of Sweden’s first rehearsal


Eleanor (or Ellie), is 26 years old, is from Exeter in the UK. She combines motherhood with studying linguistics. Ellie was first allowed to stay up and watch the Eurovision Song Contest aged 5 in 1999, but really fell in love with it after the Athens 2006 contest. Big key changes and dramatic stage shows are an absolute must! Ellie has also written an A* academic dissertation on the cultural history of Eurovision.