BASEL, Switzerland (AP) 鈥� The lineup for the grand final of the has been decided, with six countries eliminated after a semifinal on Thursday.
Performers from 16 countries sang their hearts out in , Switzerland for 10 spots in Saturday鈥檚 final, with the result decided by viewers鈥� votes.
Those who made the cut include classically trained Austrian countertenor JJ, a bookies鈥� favorite with his over-the-top pop-opera song 鈥淲asted Love," and , with her anthemic 鈥淣ew Day Will Rise."
Also voted through to the final was Malta鈥檚 Miriana Conte, whose campy, diva-esque song 鈥淪erving,鈥� performed on a set including a glitter ball and giant lips, is classic Eurovision.
Performers from Luxembourg, Denmark, Armenia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Greece also advanced to the final.
They will go up against contenders selected in Tuesday鈥檚 first semifinal including , representing Sweden with serenade to the sauna 鈥淏ara Bada Bastu鈥�; Dutch singer Claude with soulful ballad 鈥淐鈥檈st La Vie鈥�; and with 鈥淏ird of Pray."
Australia, Montenegro, Ireland, Georgia, Czechia and Serbia were eliminated on Thursday.
Eleven of the 37 acts who traveled to Basel have now been sent home, leaving 26 finalists. Twenty were picked by viewers鈥� votes, while six countries automatically qualify for the final: the host, Switzerland, and the 鈥淏ig Five鈥� who pay the most to the contest 鈥� France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.
Music fans across Europe and beyond have traveled to the northern Swiss city of Basel, which is hosting Eurovision because won last year鈥檚 contest in Sweden.
The contest, whose motto is 鈥渦nited by music,鈥� has been roiled for a second year by disputes over Israel鈥檚 participation. Dozens of former participants, including have called for Israel to be excluded over its conduct in the . Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests have both taken place in Basel this week.
A handful of protesters attempted to disrupt a rehearsal by Raphael earlier Thursday with 鈥渙versized flags and whistles鈥� and were escorted from the arena, contest organizers said.
Jill Lawless, The Associated Press
