Today, the rehearsals for Eurovision 2026 continue in Vienna. Countries rehearsing on Day 3 include Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxembourg, Czechia, Armenia and Switzerland. The sixth to rehearse today is Armenia’s SIMÓN.
What did we learn about SIMÓN’s staging?
Armenia goes all-in on the concept, turning the stage into a chaotic office space. Stacks of paper and boxes quickly become part of the action, as the entire setup collapses into disorder, mirroring the idea of breaking free from routine.
From the very first moments, the performance is physical and unpredictable. He’s not just moving,he’s throwing himself into the choreography, with flips, lifts and constant motion driving the energy forward.
Styling also follows the narrative arc. The performance begins with a stylised take on office wear, reinforcing the theme. But as the act progresses, that image breaks down, both visually and symbolically, leading to a more revealing, stripped-back look that matches the idea of shedding the past.
Who is SIMÓN?
SIMÓN is the stage name of Simon Hovhannisyan, a singer-songwriter born in the Armenian town of Hrazdan. His passion for performing began at an early age, after he was inspired by the likes of Michael Jackson. He initially graduated with a degree in economics, but ultimately pursued a career in music and performing. He is now one of the most well-known dancers in the Armenian showbusiness scene. He has already dabbled in the Eurovision world, having finished second behind PARG at Depi Evratesil in 2025, only to return as an internally selected act for Armenia in 2026.
Armenia’s Eurovision Journey
In 2006, Armenia made their debut into the Eurovision Song Contest, where André represented the nation with his entry “Without Your Love”, placing 8th overall. Since their debut, Armenia has participated 16 times, 13 of which saw them make the Grand Final. Their best result, in 2008 and 2014, was 4th place; in 2008, Sirusho and “Qélé Qélé”, and in 2014, Aram MP3 with “Not Alone”.
In 2025, PARG represented Armenia with his song “Survivor”. He would go on to finish in 20th place, earning 72 points; 30 of which coming from the televote, while 42 came from the juries.
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News Source: EBU
Photo Credit: AMTV
Thomas James 
Rory Gannon