Eurovision is back next week, with participants from 37 countries converging on Sweden, for the 2024 edition of the world’s biggest live music event.
Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city, will play host this year – the 68th edition of the contest, after previously hosting the 1992 and 2013 competitions.
Sweden has taken home the most victories (alongside Ireland) in Eurovision history, with seven since the annual competition began in 1956.
It is hosting the event for the seventh time, after the previous two in Malmö, three in Stockholm (1975, 2000 and 2016) and one (1985) in Gothenburg.
Read on for everything you need to know about how and when to watch Eurovision, all the countries taking part, the contestants and their songs.
When is Eurovision 2024?
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 kicks off at the 15,500-person capacity Malmö Arena with the first semi-final on Tuesday 7 May at 8pm UK time.
This is followed by the second semi-final, at 8pm on Thursday 9 May.
The Eurovision 2024 Grand Final will start at 8pm on Saturday 11 May.
How many countries are taking part?
In total, there are 37 countries in the mix this year. Fifteen of those will compete in the first semi-final and 16 in the second semi-final, with the top 10 from each progressing to the final.
Last year’s winner and this year’s host, Sweden, gets an automatic pass into the final, alongside the “Big Five” who rake in the biggest financial contribution to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU): the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany.
For the first time, these six countries will, however, perform their songs in full during the semi-finals – including the UK’s Olly Alexander, who will sing his song “Dizzy” during the first semi-final, on 7 May. These performances will be slotted in between the competing countries’ acts.
The Grand Final will feature 26 acts, including the Big Five who have been granted automatic berths since 2000.
Which countries are taking part?
Below is a list of the countries participating in each semi-final, and the six that have automatically qualified for the Grand Final, followed by the names of their respective contestants and the song they will be performing. The competing countries are listed in order of performance.
Semi-final one
- Cyprus: Silia Kapsis – Liar
- Serbia: Teya Dora – RAMONDA
- Lithuania: Silvester Belt – Luktelk
- Ireland: Bambie Thug – Doomsday Blue
- Ukraine: alyona alyona & Jerry Heil – Teresa & Maria
- Poland: LUNA – The Tower
- Croatia: Baby Lasagna – Rim Tim Tagi Dim
- Iceland: Hera Björk – Scared of Heights
- Slovenia: Raiven – Veronika
- Finland: Windows95man – No Rules!
- Moldova: Natalia Barbu – In The Middle
- Azerbaijan: Fahree feat. Ilkin Dovlatov – Özünlə Apar
- Australia: Electric Fields – One Milkali (One Blood)
- Portugal: Iolanda – Grito
- Luxembourg: Tali – Fighter
Semi-final two
- Malta: Sarah Bonnici – Loop
- Albania: Besa – Titan
- Greece: Marina Satti – ZARI
- Switzerland: Nemo – The Code
- Czechia: Aiko – Pedestal
- Austria: Kaleen – We Will Rave
- Denmark: Saba – SAND
- Armenia: Ladaniva – Jako
- Latvia: Dons – Hollow
- San Marino: Megara – 11:11
- Georgia: Nutsa Buzaladze – Firefighter
- Belgium: Mustii – Before The Party’s Over
- Estonia: 5Miinust x Puuluup – (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi
- Israel: Eden Golan – Hurricane
- Norway: Gåte – Ulveham
- Netherlands: Joost Klein – Europapa
Grand Final automatic qualifiers
- Sweden: Marcus & Martinus – Unforgettable
- United Kingdom: Olly Alexander – Dizzy
- France: Slimane – Mon amour
- Spain: Nebulossa – ZORRA
- Italy: Angelina Mango – La noia
- Germany: Isaak – Always On The Run
How do I vote for a Eurovision entry?
Viewers at home will determine the outcome of the two semi-finals, while the winner of the Grand Final will be determined by a combination of viewers’ votes and the decision of professional juries from each Eurovision nation.
You can vote for your favourite Eurovision song via their app, phone and SMS (via details on screen), or by going to www.esc.vote.
Votes can be cast after all songs have been performed in each of the live broadcasts of the Semi-Finals and Grand Final for a limited period of time.
You can only cast up to 20 votes.
How can I watch Eurovision on TV?
Eurovision is set to be broadcast in all 37 participating countries, including the UK.
Semi-finals one and two will be broadcast live starting at 8pm on Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 May on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with commentators Scott Mills and Rylan live from Malmö.
Richie Anderson is set to lead commentary on the airwaves for the first time, hosting UK coverage of the semi-finals on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
The Grand Final will be broadcast live on Saturday 11 May, with Graham Norton hosting the UK coverage on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, while Mills and Rylan are in charge on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
The event itself will be hosted in Malmö by Swedish comedian and actress Petra Mede, who takes that role for the third time, alongside Swedish-American actress Malin Åkerman.
Eurovision will also be streamed live on YouTube.
What has Olly Alexander said about representing the UK?
The Years & Years lead singer first announced he would represent the UK during the live final of Strictly Come Dancing in December.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman said: “Now Olly, you have some news for us, and, if it’s alright with you, could we have a drum roll please?”
The drums started before Alexander made the announcement: “I do Claudia, I can exclusively reveal I will be representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.
“What can I tell you? I’m planning it now, it’s going to be spectacular. I love Eurovision so, so, so much, I’m so excited, it’s going to be great.”
Since then, the BBC confirmed Alexander, 33, would perform “Dizzy”, written by himself and Danny L Harle – the brain behind hits by Dua Lipa, Chic and Charli XCX.
Alexander, originally from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, is no stranger to hits. Over the past decade with Years & Years, he has created two number-one albums and five top-10 UK singles.
He said “Dizzy” was about “an overwhelming feeling of love for somebody that’s so intense it turns your world upside down”. it has been tipped to help Alexander finish high up the Eurovision leaders’ board.
Posting on X the singer-songwriter said: “I’ve made a lot of new music with Danny and both of us love Eurovision, we sent a few songs for consideration hoping one of them would take us to Malmö and now here we are – finally !! its actually out !!! I’m so proud of this song and video
“I can’t wait to get going with this new chapter honestly i’m so excited !! thank you for supporting me and my gay dreams!! i’m ten years into a pop music career and boy i’m not done yet!”
Alexander has always maintained he is a big Eurovision star, saying his earliest memory of the competition was seeing Gina G perform “Ooh…Aah…Just A Little Bit” back when she represented the UK in 1996.
While “Dizzy” has not done much to impress critics – i said the song was “drearily orthodox” and at risk of boring Eurovision “to tears” – Alexander has also made headlines for his statements unrelated to music.
He has been outspoken over the Gaza-Israel war, coming under fire for signing a letter, along with 450 other queer artists, individuals and organisations, calling Israel an “apartheid regime” and condemning “Zionist propaganda” soon after the conflict began.
His team responded to public pressure by saying the artist did “not feel comfortable being silent”.
They added: “It [is] important to us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and communicate our heartfelt wish for peace, an immediate lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages. We stand united against all forms of hate, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.”
His team continued with a message of optimism and a reference to the “power of music”, adding: “We firmly believe in the unifying power of music, enabling people to transcend differences and foster meaningful conversations and connections.
“We want to [acknowledge]… the privilege of taking part in Eurovision.”
The BBC has since been forced to resist calls demanding Alexander be dropped from the competition.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism called the singer’s actions “appalling”. The Israeli embassy even intervened, claiming that what they referred to as Alexander’s “dehumanising language” made his participation in Eurovision a “cause for concern”.
In March, i revealed how Alexander would stay away from any political statements in the run-up to or during the Eurovision contest in Sweden.
A source said: “Olly has no intention of making any statements or posting anything on his socials regarding the current situation anytime soon. He just wants to focus on the contest itself.”
Since then, there have been claims Alexander would voluntarily pull out of Eurovision, in protest over Israel’s continued inclusion in the competition.
On X he said he had “taken a lot of time to deliberate” over the decision, but ultimately decided to participate in May.
“It is my current belief that removing myself from the contest wouldn’t bring us any closer to our shared goal,” he said.
While he “wholeheartedly” supported a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as a return of all the hostages held by Hamas, Alexander said Eurovision could be used as a way to “come together and call for peace”.
“I hope and pray that our calls are answered and there is an end to the atrocities we are seeing taking place in Gaza.”
In March, a group called Queers for Palestine wrote an open letter on Instagram, calling on Alexander to boycott this year’s song content.
The letter said: “We share the vision of queer joy and abundance you’ve offered through your music, and share your belief in collective liberation for all. In this spirit, we ask you to heed the Palestinian call to withdraw from Eurovision.”
The Years and Years frontman rejected this, saying he believed firmly in the “unifying power of music”.
