The moment came as SENHIT performed her track “Superstar,” with Boy George appearing toward the end of the performance to deliver a brief but memorable vocal feature. The staging leaned fully into spectacle, with the 64-year-old pop legend embracing a bold visual look that included a mirrored bowler hat and shimmering blue eye makeup.
His appearance had been confirmed months in advance, though many viewers were still surprised to see the “Karma Chameleon” singer representing San Marino in practice, if not in nationality. Eurovision rules allow artists to perform for countries other than their own, which made the collaboration entirely legitimate.
A “Fabulous” Experience Despite Missing the Final
Despite the buzz around the performance, San Marino did not advance to the Eurovision grand final, with only 10 countries progressing from the semi-final round.
Boy George later reflected on the experience through X, expressing disappointment but also appreciation for the opportunity. He wrote:
“If you voted for us, thank you so much, I was sad we didn't get through to the final but my[Eurovision] experience has been fabulousmy”
He continued:
“I wouldn't take a minute of it back. Thanks toSENHIT and the entire San Marino delegation. What a fun bunch.”
The singer also hinted that the collaboration is not over, revealing plans for another joint performance in Milan in July as part of his Culture Club tour activities.
SENHIT on Working with Boy George
SENHIT had previously spoken about the collaboration in an interview with Eurovisionfun, confirming that the pairing was carefully planned and enthusiastically agreed upon by both artists.
“This is something that was discussed with Boy George,” she said. “He’s in America touring right now. I will go to him next week to start talking about staging and all the things..
“He said absolutely I will be involved with you, and I will be on stage with you. So yeah, you will see him for sure.”
San Marino has a history of inviting high-profile international guests to boost its Eurovision entries, including US rapper Flo Rida, who featured on SENHIT’s 2021 song “Adrenalina.”
Mixed Semi-Final Atmosphere Amid Political Tensions
While much of the semi-final proceeded smoothly, the event was briefly disrupted during Israel’s entry by Noam Bettan, who performed the song “Michelle.” An audience member was heard repeatedly shouting “stop the genocide” during the performance.
The contest has faced heightened political scrutiny this year due to Israel’s ongoing participation amid the conflict in Gaza. The controversy contributed to wider tensions surrounding the event.
Several countries, including Spain, Italy, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, reportedly withdrew from the 2026 contest in protest.
Despite the disruption, Israel advanced to the final alongside other qualifiers.
Who Advanced to the Eurovision Final
Among those securing places in the grand final were Finland’s entry featuring Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, whose collaboration has made them early favourites for victory.
Greece also progressed with its entry by Akylas, whose energetic performance of “Ferto” earned strong audience support.
Looking ahead, the second semi-final will feature competing acts from Romania, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, alongside performances from the UK, France, and host nation Austria, as the contest builds toward Saturday’s grand final.