Semi-Final Allocation Draw

The Allocation Draw that determined which of the two Semi-Finals participating countries will compete in at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, took place on Tuesday 31 January live from St George's Hall in the Host City of Liverpool.

The Draw was streamed via the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the Draw on iPlayer.

Semi-Final Allocation Draw outcome:

First Semi-Final

Tuesday 9 May, 21:00 CET

First Half of Show

🇭🇷 Croatia – HRT
🇮🇪 Ireland – RTÉ
🇱🇻 Latvia – LTV
🇲🇹 Malta – PBS
🇳🇴 Norway – NRK
🇵🇹 Portugal – RTP
🇷🇸 Serbia – RTS

Second Half of Show

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan – İctimai
🇨🇿 Czechia - ČT
🇫🇮 Finland – YLE
🇮🇱 Israel – IPBC/Kan
🇲🇩 Moldova – TRM
🇳🇱 Netherlands – AVROTROS
🇸🇪 Sweden – SVT
🇨🇭 Switzerland – SRG / SSR
 

'Big 5' countries voting during First Semi-Final:

🇫🇷 France – FT
🇩🇪 Germany – ARD/NDR
🇮🇹 Italy – RAI

Second Semi-Final

Thursday 11 May, 21:00 CET

First Half of Show

🇦🇲 Armenia – AMPTV
🇧🇪 Belgium – VRT
🇨🇾 Cyprus – CyBC
🇩🇰 Denmark – DR
🇪🇪 Estonia – ERR
🇬🇷 Greece – ERT
🇮🇸 Iceland – RÚV
🇷🇴 Romania – TVR

Second Half of Show

🇦🇱 Albania – RTSH
🇦🇺 Australia – SBS 
🇦🇹 Austria – ORF
🇬🇪 Georgia – GPB
🇱🇹 Lithuania – LRT
🇵🇱 Poland – TVP
🇸🇲 San Marino – SMRTV
🇸🇮 Slovenia – RTVSLO

'Big 5' countries voting during Second Semi-Final:

🇪🇸 Spain – TVE
🇺🇦 Ukraine – UA:PBC (Current Champions)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom – BBC (Host Broadcaster)

What is the Allocation Draw? Simply put: there are too many countries to compete in one Grand Final alone, so the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) divides the participating nations between two Semi-Finals using an Allocation Draw.

The countries that will take part in the Semi-Finals are divided into pots based on their historic voting patterns and then chosen at random to compete in either the First or Second Semi-Final. 

This way, countries that traditionally award each other points are less likely to end up in the same Semi-Final, adding excitement to the live shows. The pots are approved by the Contest's Executive Supervisor on behalf of the EBU and the Chairman of the Reference Group, the Contest's governing body.

In addition, as the so-called ‘Big Five’ (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the Host Country automatically qualify for the Grand Final, the Allocation Draw also determines which Semi-Final those countries can vote in.

This year, both Ukraine and the United Kingdom automatically qualify for the Grand Final, as the United Kingdom is hosting the Contest on behalf of Ukraine who won in 2022.

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