Eurovision is back, and it’s bigger than ever. The annual musical extravaganza, which showcases the best talent from across Europe and beyond, is heading to Sweden for its 69th edition. After the stunning victory of Loreen with her song Tattoo in Liverpool last year, the Swedish singer became the first woman and only the second person in history to win the contest twice. She also secured the honour of hosting the event in her home country, which has a long and proud tradition of Eurovision success.
But what is Eurovision, and why is it so popular? How can you watch it, and who are the contestants? Here’s everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
What is Eurovision, and how does it work?
Eurovision is a televised song competition that is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), a network of public service broadcasters from 56 countries. The contest started in 1956 as a way of promoting cultural exchange and cooperation among European nations after the Second World War. Since then, it has grown into a global phenomenon, attracting millions of viewers and fans every year.
The contest features singers and songs from each participating country, who compete for the votes of the public and professional juries. The songs must be original, no longer than three minutes, and performed live on stage. The singers and songs are chosen by different methods in each country, such as national finals, internal selections, or public votes.
The contest is divided into three shows: two semi-finals and a grand final. Each semi-final features 18 or 19 countries, and the top 10 from each qualify for the grand final. The host country and the “Big Five” countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) are automatically qualified for the grand final, as they are the biggest financial contributors to the EBU. The grand final features 26 countries, who perform their songs in a random order. The winner is decided by a combination of 50% public vote and 50% jury vote from each country. The country with the most points wins the contest and the right to host the next edition.
When and where is Eurovision 2024 taking place?
Eurovision 2024 is taking place in Malmö, the third-largest city in Sweden and the capital of the Skåne region. The city is located in the south of the country, across the Øresund Bridge from Copenhagen, Denmark. Malmö is a vibrant and multicultural city, with a rich history and culture, and a thriving music and arts scene.
This is the third time that Malmö is hosting Eurovision, after 1992 and 2013. The venue for the contest is the Malmö Arena, a modern and multifunctional arena that can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. The arena is located in the Hyllie district, near the Malmö Exhibition and Convention Centre and the Emporia shopping mall.
The dates for the contest are as follows:
First Semi-Final: Tuesday, 7 May 2024
Second Semi-Final: Thursday, 9 May 2024
Grand Final: Saturday, 11 May 2024
All shows will start at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT), and will last for about three hours. The shows will be broadcast live on TV and online by the EBU and its member broadcasters, as well as by some associate broadcasters from other countries, such as Australia, Canada, and the US.
Who are the contestants, and what are their songs?
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 features 37 countries, who have selected their singers and songs through various methods. Some countries have held national finals, where the public and/or a jury have voted for their favourite among several candidates. Some countries have opted for internal selections, where the broadcaster has chosen the singer and/or the song without a public vote. Some countries have used a combination of both methods, or have changed their plans due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The singers and songs for Eurovision 2024 are:
Albania: Anxhela Peristeri – Karma
Armenia: Athena Manoukian – Chains On You
Australia: Montaigne – Technicolour
Austria: Vincent Bueno – Amen
Azerbaijan: Efendi – Mata Hari
Belarus: Galasy ZMesta – Ya Nauchu Tebya
Belgium: Hooverphonic – The Wrong Place
Bulgaria: Victoria – Growing Up Is Getting Old
Croatia: Albina – Tick-Tock
Cyprus: Elena Tsagrinou – El Diablo
Czech Republic: Benny Cristo – Omaga
Denmark: Fyr & Flamme – Øve Os På Hinanden
Estonia: Uku Suviste – The Lucky One
Finland: Blind Channel – Dark Side
France: Barbara Pravi – Voilà
Georgia: Tornike Kipiani – You
Germany: Jendrik – I Don’t Feel Hate
Greece: Stefania – Last Dance
Iceland: Daði og Gagnamagnið – 10 Years
Ireland: Lesley Roy – Maps
Israel: Eden Alene – Set Me Free
Italy: Måneskin – Zitti E Buoni
Latvia: Samanta Tīna – The Moon Is Rising
Lithuania: The Roop – Discoteque
Malta: Destiny – Je Me Casse
Moldova: Natalia Gordienko – Sugar
Netherlands: Jeangu Macrooy – Birth Of A New Age
North Macedonia: Vasil – Here I Stand
Norway: TIX – Fallen Angel
Poland: RAFAŁ – The Ride
Portugal: The Black Mamba – Love Is On My Side
Romania: Roxen – Amnesia
Russia: Manizha – Russian Woman
San Marino: Senhit feat. Flo Rida – Adrenalina
Serbia: Hurricane – Loco Loco
Slovenia: Ana Soklič – Amen
Spain: Blas Cantó – Voy A Quedarme
Sweden: Tusse – Voices
Switzerland: Gjon’s Tears – Tout L’Univers
Ukraine: Go_A – Shum
United Kingdom: Olly Alexander – Dizzy
How can I watch and vote for Eurovision 2024?
You can watch Eurovision 2024 on TV or online, depending on your location and preference. In the UK, you can watch the contest on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with commentary by Graham Norton for the grand final, and Scott Mills and Rylan Clark-Neal for the semi-finals. You can also listen to the contest on BBC Radio 2, with commentary by Ken Bruce.
You can also watch the contest on the official Eurovision website, YouTube channel, or app, where you can access live streams, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and other exclusive content. You can also follow the contest on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, where you can interact with other fans and get the latest updates.
You can vote for your favourite songs in the semi-finals and the grand final, if you live in one of the participating countries. You can vote by phone, SMS, or via the official Eurovision app, which you can download for free from the App Store or Google Play. You can vote up to 20 times per show, but you cannot vote for your own country. The voting window opens after the last song has been performed, and closes 15 minutes later. The results of the public vote are then combined with the results of the jury vote, and the points are announced by the spokespersons of each country.
