Georgia qualifies for Eurovision 2016 final

Georgia is through to the grand final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Georgia’s entry in the 2016 Eurovision contest, Nika Kocharov and the Young Georgian Lolitaz, were chosen to move on to the grand final of the international competition after performing in last night’s second semi-final.

After the group performed on stage in front of a live audience, it was revealed Nika Kocharov and the Young Georgian Lolitaz were among artists and bands from 10 countries to move on to the grand final after receiving the highest amount of votes in online polls and judges' ruling.

These 10 countries will now compete against 10 other countries selected after the first semi-final on May 10, as well as hosts Sweden and the competition’s "big five” nations, in the grand final event.

The grand final will take place tomorrow night, Saturday May 14, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Georgia’s lead singer Nika Kocharov (C) during the Eurovision 2016 semi-final on Thursday. Photo by Thomas Hanses/European Broadcasting Union.

Georgia’s entry Nika Kocharov and the Young Georgian Lolitaz made it through to the final after performing a rock song Midnight Gold.

The Georgian band's progress to the final gained wide online reaction from the contest's followers and the media:

Was #Georgia the shock result of the night? Recap on the #Eurovision qualifiers here https://t.co/ZwPkgfuS38pic.twitter.com/nMbmNqHOVw

— BBC Eurovision (@bbceurovision) 13 May 2016

Saturday's ultimate round will now feature 26 performers: 20 from the two semi-finals plus host country Sweden and the "big five” nations of the competition – Germany, Spain, Italy, France and the UK.

Georgia will perform number 23 in the list of finalists before voting decides the winner of Eurovision 2016.

The musical event, regarded by organisers as "Europe's favourite TV show", involves 42 representatives from the European Broadcasting Union, an alliance of public media outlets.

Nika Kocharov and the Young Georgian Lolitaz are the contest's entries from the Georgian Public Broadcaster after they were selected as the country's representatives last year.

The full list of finalists for this year's Eurovision Song Contest can be found here.

WatchNika Kocharov and the Young Georgian Lolitaz perform their contest song 'Midnight Gold' at the Eurovision Song Contest Semi-final below: