Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra reach Eurovision 2022 final

Folk-rap group are favourites to win annual singing competition featuring 40 countries

Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine perform during the first semi-final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy. Reuters

Leading bookmakers on fan site Eurovisionworld have installed Kalush Orchestra as the runaway favourites at this year's competition. EPA

After their energetic performance, Kalush Orchestra thanked everyone for supporting Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. EPA

Hosts Italian television and radio presenter Alessandro Cattelan and singer Laura Pausini with Italian singers Blanco and Mahmood on stage. EPA

S10 from the Netherlands performs to clinch a place in the final. Reuters

Laura Pausini kisses co-host Mika during the first semi-final. Reuters

The international song contest has two semi-finals, this year being held at the PalaOlimpico indoor stadium. EPA

Italian singer Diodato performs during the first semi-final. EPA

Seventeen countries took part in the first semi-final. EPA

Ten countries advanced to the final at the end of the first semi-final, with seven countries with the lowest votes out of the competition. EPA

Maro from Portugal performs 'Saudade saudade'. EPA

Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord from Greece performs her song 'Die Together'. EPA

It was the end of the Eurovision journey for the seven countries who received the lowest votes — Albania, Latvia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark and Austria. EPA

Systur (Sigga, Beta and Ela­n) from Iceland perform their song 'Med Haekkandi Sol'. EPA

Lumix & Pia Maria from Austria perform their song 'Halo'. EPA

Intelligent Music Project from Bulgaria with the song 'Intentions'. EPA

Monika Liu from Lithuania with the song 'Sentimental'. EPA

Zdob si Zdub and Advahov Brothers from Moldova. Reuters

Semi-final hosts Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Lebanese-British singer Mika. EPA

A total of 18 countries will take the stage at the second semi-final on Thursday, where 10 will reach Saturday's final, which will feature performances from 25 countries. EPA

The PalaOlimpico indoor stadium in Turin, Italy. EPA

Intelligent Music Project from Bulgaria with the song 'Intentions'. EPA

Mia Dimsic from Croatia performs her song 'Guilty Pleasure'. EPA

Mia Dimsic from Croatia. Reuters

LPS (Last Pizza Slice) from Slovenia. EPA

Rosa Linn from Armenia performs her song 'Snap'. EPA

Ronela Hajati from Albania with the song 'Sekret'. EPA

Citi Zeni from Latvia with the song 'Eat Your Salad'. EPA

The semi-final featured some classic Eurovision-style performances, including Norway's Subwoolfer, who reached the final. EPA

Norway's Subwoolfer performed their song 'Give That Wolf A Banana' dressed in their signature all-black outfits featuring yellow wolf-head masks. EPA

Moldova's Zdob si Zdub and Advahov Brothers with the song 'Trenuletul'. EPA

Russia was barred by organisers the day after it invaded Ukraine in late February. Reuters

Reddi from Denmark with the song 'The Show'. EPA

Dancers perform during the first semi-final. Reuters

Favourites Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine celebrate reaching the final. AP

Italian television presenter Alessandro Cattelan, left, taps hands with her compatriot, singer Blanco, as Italian singers Mahmood and Laura Pausini look on during the first semi-final. AFP

Norway's Subwoolfer with the song 'Give That Wolf a Banana' perform during the first semi-final of the 66th annual song contest. EPA

Members of Ukraine's band 'Kalush Orchestra' celebrate their final qualification. AFP

Hosts Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Mika gesture on stage. Reuters

Italy's Diodato, centre. AP

Italy is hosting this year's competition after rock band Maneskin triumphed at the 2021 contest. The group will perform their new single 'Supermodel' at the final on Saturday. AFP

Intelligent Music Project from Bulgaria singing 'Intention'. AP

Citi Zeni from Latvia. Reuters

Competition favourites Ukraine has been voted through to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest after the first night of the semi-finals in Turin, Italy.

Folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra performed their rousing song Stefania dressed in elaborate outfits and were one of 10 acts to proceed to the next round on Tuesday.

A total of 17 countries performed on the night, with each participating country eligible to cast a vote. Lithuania, Switzerland, Armenia, Norway, Moldova, Iceland, Greece, Portugal and the Netherlands also reached the final. But it was the end of the Eurovision journey for the seven countries who received the lowest votes — Albania, Latvia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark and Austria.

Scroll through the gallery above for pictures from the first semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Ten more countries will progress to the final round after the second semi-final on Thursday. They will join the "big five" countries — France, Italy, Britain, Spain and Germany — who qualify automatically for the final as per Eurovision rules. They are so called owing to their financial contributions to the European Broadcasting Union, organisers of the competition.

Leading bookmakers on fan site Eurovisionworld have installed Kalush Orchestra as the runaway favourites at this year's competition, known for its glitz and kitsch, with 40 countries participating. Italy, represented by Egyptian-Italian singer Mahmood and rising pop star Blanco, is second favourite.

After their energetic performance on Tuesday, Kalush Orchestra thanked everyone for supporting Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Russia was barred by organisers the day after it invaded its neighbour in late February.

The semi-final featured some classic Eurovision-style performances, including Norway's Subwoolfer, who are one of the finalists. The pop group performed their song Give That Wolf A Banana dressed in their signature all-black outfits featuring yellow wolf-head masks.

Switzerland's Marius Bear also made the cut with his raw rendition of his track Boys Do Cry backdropped by simple lighting, while Iceland's act Systur, comprising three sisters, also progressed after performing their song Med haekkandi sol in a style reminiscent of Abba.

Moldova's representative Zdob si Zdub & Advahov Brothers, who were competing for a third time, secured a final berth after giving a quirky performance of their song Trenuletul, which combined rock and folk.

Also making the top 10 was the Netherlands's S10, who delivered a stripped-back rendition of her track De Diepte, and Lithuania's Monika Liu, who dazzled in a sparkly floor-length gown while giving a sultry performance of her song Sentimentai.

A total of 18 countries will take the stage at the second semi-final on Thursday with 10 countries advancing to Saturday's final, which will feature performances from 25 countries.

Italy is hosting this year's competition after rock band Maneskin triumphed at the 2021 contest. The group will perform during the ceremony, and are set to debut their new single Supermodel.