Guide to 2016 Eurovision parties

The main preview event taking place is Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam on the 9th of April, but there also events taking place in Riga, Moscow, Tel-Aviv, London and Athens during the month of April. Here is your guide to those events.

2nd April: Eurovision PreParty Riga 2016

Eurovision PreParty Riga is back for its third year. OGAE Latvia is inviting all Eurovision fans to come together to Riga this April.The main theme of the Preparty in Riga will be Sweden, as this year's Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Stockholm.

Anyone who attends the Eurovision Preparty Riga will feel like they are in Sweden. There will be an opportunity to try delicious Swedish cuisine, attend an exhibition and to watch a movie about Sweden.  Special guests will be Herrey's who won the contest for Sweden in 1984 with Diggi-Loo, Diggi-Ley, but the attention at the concert will be on this year’s Eurovision Song Contest participants.

Currently the following acts are confirmed.

• Belarus – Ivan
• Bosnia & Herzegovina – Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner & Jala
• Bulgaria – Poli Genova
• Estonia – Jüri Pootsmann
• Israel – Hovi Star
• Latvia – Justs
• Malta - Ira Losco
• Serbia – Sanja Vučić ZAA
• Spain – Barei
• Switzerland – Rykka

The concert will take place at Spikeri Concert Hall in Riga and begins at 20:00 local time (19:00 CET). Tickets can be purchased at the door or via the Eurovision Preparty Riga website.

3rd April: Moscow

12 artists have been confirmed so far as attending the Russian Eurovision PreParty in Moscow, which is co-organised with the Russian broadcaster RTR.

• Armenia – Iveta Mukuchyan
• Azerbaijan – Samra
• Belarus – Ivan
• Cyprus – Minus One
• Israel – Hovi Star
• FYR Macedonia – Kaliopi
• Malta – Ira Losco
• Moldova – Lidia Isac
• Romania - Ovidiu Anton
• Russia – Sergey Lazarev
• Spain – Barei
• Switzerland – Rykka

Further information can be found at vk.com/eurovisionsongcontest

12th April: Israel Calling Tel-Aviv

For the first time since Israel began participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, it will host artists and journalists from around the world for a three-day visit to Tel Aviv. The highlight of the visit will be a unique promo event, in which the artists will perform their entries for this year's Eurovision Song Contest. 

The artist's visit to Israel, which will take place April 11th to the 13th, was made possible thanks to the funding and support of Israel's Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tel Aviv Municipality, who recognize the importance of such an event, beginning with its influence on the inbound tourism to Israel, as well as its contribution to Israel's PR. It's also a great platform to show the world the beauty of Israel. 

During their visit, the artists will tour Tel Aviv and its attractive sites, dine in its finest restaurants, and participate in a special reception, where they will walk the red carpet to a gala event, hosted by Tel Aviv’s mayor, Mr. Ron Huldai, the ambassadors of the represented countries, VIP's and artists. A press conference for the foreign press will also be held. 

The highlight of this visit will occur on Tuesday, April 12th. A live show will take place in the beautiful Theatre Club (Ha'teatron), where the artists will perform their entries for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. Entrance to this event will be via private invitation only. A journalist from each participating country will also be attending the visit, in order to report to all of Europe about the events happening in Israel. 

This is the biggest Eurovision event taking place in Israel since the country hosted the contest in 1999.

Currently the following acts are confirmed.

• Austria - ZOË
• Belarus – Ivan
• Estonia - Jüri Pootsmann
• France – Amir
• Israel – Hovi Star
• Latvia – Justs
• Moldova – Lidia Isac
• Norway – Agnete
• Poland - Michał Szpak
• Romania - Ovidiu Anton
• Spain – Barei
• Slovenia - ManuElla
• Switzerland – Rykka
• United Kingdom – Joe and Jake

The event is initiated and produced by television producer Mrs. Tali Eshkoli, who already produced Israel’s biggest Eurovision national selection, Kdam Eurovision 2013, as well as documentary films and televised articles about the contest and the artists who represented Israel. Eshkoli is also the initiator of the collaboration between the Israel Broadcasting Authority and Keshet Media Group, resulting in having the popular TV show Rising Star as the Israeli national selection for Eurovision 2015 and 2016. Eshkoli also produces the famous Israel Party which occurs every year at the Eurovision Song Contest host city.

17th April: London Eurovision Party

The London Eurovision Party is now in its ninth year, and will once again return to the Café de Paris in the heart of the west end of London. The event is hosted by Nicki French (UK entrant in 2000) and Paddy O'Connell (former BBC Semi-Final commentator).

Currently the following acts are confirmed.

• Austria – ZOË
• Bulgaria - Poli Genova
• Croatia – Nina Kraljić 
• Cyprus – Minus One
• Iceland – Greta Salóme
• Italy – Francesca Michielin
• Latvia – Justs
• FYR Macedonia – Kaliopi
• Malta - Ira Losco
• Montenegro – Highway
• Norway – Agnete
• Poland – Michał Szpak
• Romania – Ovidiu Anton
• Spain – Barei
• United Kingdom – Joe and Jake

In addition there are several special guests who have participated previously in the contest, they are;

• Selma (Iceland 1999 and 2005)
• Eleftheria Elefteriou (Greece 2012)
• Aminata (Latvia 2015)

Tickets can be purchased on ticketweb, and the latest information can be found on the London Eurovision Party website.

18th April: Athens

At the Antivirus Magazine premises in Athens from 18:00 local time (17:00 CET), invited guests will be able to attend a cocktail party, full of Eurovision music and surprises. Currently the following 2016 act is confirmed.

• Russia -Sergey Lazarev

In addition, there is a special guest;

• Helena Paparizou (Greece 2005) Eurovision winner)

More acts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Guest lists are correct at the time of publication, but are subject to change. Eurovision.tv cannot accept any responsibility for these externally organised events.

Are you going to any of the preview events? Which artists are you looking forward to seeing? Tell us below?