Alicja Szemplinska already at Eurovision 2026 – it is known at which time she will perform

Alicja Szemplińska to represent Poland at Eurovision 2026

This year’s Eurovision 2026 is taking place in Vienna and Poland is competing for a place in the grand final. Our representative is 24-year-old Alicja Szemplinska, who will present the ballad ‘Pray’. The first semi-final of the competition begins on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 9 p.m. Poland will perform towards the end of the show – Alicja Szemplinska has been set as the fourteenth runner-up, i.e. the penultimate contestant of the evening. According to the schedule, she should appear on stage around 22:15.

This is good news for Eurovision fans. Performances towards the end of the semi-finals are often better remembered by viewers, and in Alicja’s case, the emotional nature of the song and her strong vocals, which already caught the attention of foreign commentators after rehearsals, could be an added advantage.

What time will Alicja Szemplinska perform at Eurovision 2026?

The most important piece of information for viewers is that Alicja Szemplinska will perform at around 10:15 p.m. The broadcast of the first semi-final of Eurovision 2026 starts at 9 p.m., but Poland will only appear at the end of the show. The singer will sing as the 14th participant in the first semi-final with the song “Pray”.

Before Poland, San Marino will appear on stage and after Alicja, Serbia will perform. This means that the excitement of the Polish viewers will grow almost until the very end of the semi-final.

Where to watch Poland’s performance at Eurovision 2026?

Alicja Szemplinska’s performance at Eurovision 2026 will be available to watch in several places. The broadcast of the first semi-final is available on TVP1, on the TVP VOD service and on the official Eurovision Song Contest channel on YouTube.

This will allow fans to follow the performance of the Polish representative both on TV and online. This is especially important, as the buzz around Alicja Szemplinska has really grown after the rehearsals.

Alicja Szemplinska and the song “Pray”. Does Poland have a chance to make the final?

Even before the start of the competition, not all experts gave Poland a good chance of advancing. However, the situation began to change after the press rehearsals. Foreign journalists drew attention above all to Alicja Szemplińska’s clear, strong vocals and the coherent setting of the performance. According to media reports, the staging is not supposed to overwhelm the song, but to enhance its emotional message.

This could be key, as ‘Pray’ is a ballad that relies on voice, tension and atmosphere. Alicja Szemplinska has been associated with very good vocal qualities since the beginning of her career, and Eurovision 2026 could be a watershed moment for her.

Who is Alicja Szemplinska? This is not her first Eurovision story

Alicja Szemplińska comes from Ciechanów and has been present on the Polish music scene for years. She became known to a wider audience through television programmes. She has won, among others, “The Voice of Poland” and “Szansa na sukces”. She had already been due to represent Poland at Eurovision – in 2020 she won the national qualifiers, but the contest in Rotterdam was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Alicja, Eurovision 2026 therefore has special significance. After years, she is returning to a dream that was once taken away from her by circumstances beyond her control. Now she will finally stand on the Eurovision stage and fight for the final as Poland’s representative.

Alicja Szemplinska has won the preselection for Eurovision 2026

In March 2026, Alicja Szemplinska won the Polish Eurovision qualifiers, winning 32 per cent of the viewers’ votes. It is thanks to this that she will go to Vienna with the song ‘Pray’.

For many fans, this was a symbolic return. The singer was already very close to the Eurovision stage once before, and now she has been given a second chance. Her performance in the semi-final may decide whether Poland will be in the final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.

Eurovision 2026: when is the final and how many countries are taking part?

The Eurovision Song Contest will run until 16 May 2026, when the grand final will take place. There are 35 countries taking part in this year’s competition.

Alicia Szemplinska must first get through the first semi-final. If she gets enough support from the audience, Poland will advance to the final and we will see her on stage again on Saturday night.

Will Alicja Szemplinska advance to the Eurovision final?

We won’t know until the voting is over, but the mood before the performance is getting better and better. After the last rehearsals, Alicja Szemplinska received positive feedback for her vocals, stage confidence and the setting of her performance. In the comments of foreign observers, there is a belief that Poland can realistically join the fight for the final.

One thing is certain: this evening will be special for Alicja Szemplińska. After years of waiting, she will finally perform at Eurovision, and Polish viewers will be keeping their fingers crossed for her advancement.