Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest
Who can participate in the Eurovision Song Contest?
Participation in Eurovision is open to public service broadcasters that are members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
This includes those in nations across Europe and a few outside Europe, such as Israel and Australia, which are active EBU Members.
What is the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)?
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the world’s leading alliance of public service media (PSM). It has 113 Member organizations in 56 countries and an additional 31 Associates in Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas.
The EBU strives to secure a sustainable future for public service media. It provides Members with world-class content from news to sports and music, and builds on its founding ethos of solidarity and co-operation to create a centre for learning and sharing.
Who can become a member of the EBU?
Membership of the EBU is generally open to public service broadcasters that operate under the mandate of providing public service programming.
Membership is limited to broadcasting organizations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union, or are members of the Council of Europe.
Do all EBU Members participate every year?
No. Participation is voluntary. A total of 52 broadcasters have taken part in the Contest since 1956.
38 broadcasters will participate in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel.
Can non-European countries be represented?
Yes, as long as they are EBU Members and/or have been specially invited. For example, Australia has participated since 2015.
How does a broadcaster select its entry?
Each participating broadcaster is responsible for selecting its act and song.
This is often done through:
• National selection competitions, like Sweden’s Melodifestivalen or Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival.
• Internal selection, where a broadcaster directly chooses an artist and song.
Are there rules for the songs?
Yes, the Eurovision Song Contest has strict rules for entries:
• The song must be original and not publicly released before September 1 of the year prior to the contest.
• The maximum duration is 3 minutes.
• Lyrics and performances must avoid political, commercial, or offensive content.
Can songs be in any language?
Yes, songs can be performed in any language, including constructed languages or a mix of multiple languages.
Are there limits on the number of performers?
Yes, each performance can have a maximum of six people on stage, including singers, dancers, and instrumentalists.
How is the Eurovision Song Contest structured?
The Contest consists of:
1. Two Semi-Finals: Most participating countries compete here for a spot in the Grand Final.
2. Grand Final: The Top 10 entries from each Semi-Final and pre-qualified countries (the Big 5: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, as well as the host country) compete for the trophy.
Who pre-qualifies for the Grand Final?
• The “Big Five” countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. They automatically qualify as the biggest financial contributors to the event.
• The host country, which won the previous year’s contest.
How does voting work?
Voting in the Semi-Finals consists of:
Public Televote: Viewers from each participating country, and those watching around the world, vote for their favourites online or via SMS or phone call
Voting in the Grand Final consists of two parts:
1. Jury Voting: Professional juries made up of 5 music industry professionals in each country score the performances
2. Public Televote: Viewers from each participating country, and those watching around the world, vote for their favourites online or via SMS or phone call
Each participating country awards two sets of points (1–8, 10, and 12) based on jury and public votes.
In both the Semi-Finals and Grand Final, votes from all non-participating countries are added together to form a set of points equivalent to one country.
Can countries vote for themselves?
No, countries cannot vote for their own entries.
What happens if there’s a tie?
If two or more countries tie in points, the winner is determined based on which received the most points from the public televote.
How is the host country chosen?
The winner of the previous year’s Contest typically hosts the following year. However, if the winning country cannot host, another country may step in (as the United Kingdom did for Ukraine in 2023).
How does the Eurovision Song Contest ensure fairness?
The EBU monitors the Contest closely, using independent auditors to oversee voting. Strict rules prohibit political interference and bias.
Can previous winners compete again?
Yes, there’s no rule against returning artists. Some artists, like Johnny Logan (Ireland), have even won multiple times.
How can a new country take part in the Eurovision Song Contest?
A broadcaster must first become a member of the EBU. They then apply to participate and must adhere to the Contest’s rules and deadlines.
Could the U.S. or other non-EBU countries participate?
Currently, only EBU Members or specially invited Associates (like Australia) can take part in the competition.
