Sweden’s Eurovision in Malmö is loading. We’ve gathered all the latest information, as well as all the countries that have announced participation so far. Let’s take a look at what we know so far, but also at the expected highlights of the season starting:
ALL ENGINES RUNNING
The Swedish organizers are already working feverishly for next May. The Competition’s core team was completed last week, with the participation of a familial name, Christer Björkman. The main thrust of SVT is to make a high-paced and exciting show that will not deviate too much from the three hour time limit.
Increasing the number of participating countries is the next concern of the organizers, aiming to have more countries than the 37 we had last year. Other issues that mainly concern the EBU are possible changes in the regulations, such as a review of the voting rules, with respect to the national juries, the possible ban of pre-recorded vocals, but also an explicit ban on the participation of songs produced by AI software. All the above topics were discussed at the Eurovision Song Contest Workshop that took place last Tuesday in Berlin, as well as new ways to increase the impact of the Contest internationally. Decisions will be made public over the course of the season.
Finally, something else that the EBU will work on in collaboration with the Municipality of Malmö is for the organization to follow the standards of Liverpool, so that the whole city can host enough people, in close collaboration with the Municipality of Copenhagen, but also to suxeed in making all attendees involved in concerts and events for the whole Eurovision week.
THE 35 COUNTRIES WE WILL SURELY SEE IN 2024
On September 15, the deadline forsubmitting participation in Eurovision 2024 passed. The number of countries that have officially confirmed their participation in the Contest is 35. However, it should be emphasized that this does not mean that all countries that submitted participation have made it public, as there is no such obligation. The next dates that will clarify the situation with the number of countries that will finally participate are:
- October 11, as until then a country can withdraw its participation without having any financial consequences. Some countries may have signed up now to meet the September 15 deadline, pulling out later, after assesing the situation.
- At the end of October the EBU will publish the final list of participating countries.
In the following list we summarize the 35 countries and what we know about their selection process (in the active links you can read more about each country):
🇸🇲 AGIOS MARINOS – national final Una voce per San Marino
🇦🇿 AZERBAIJAN – participation applications until 30/9 (the procedure has not been announced)
🇦🇱 ALBANIA – national final Festivali i Këngës 62
🇦🇹 AUSTRIA – internal assignment
🇧🇪 BELGIUM – assignment to Mustii (song will be released in February )
🇲🇰 NORTH MACEDONIA – just confirmed today – still unknown how it will choose a representative
🇫🇷 FRANCE – no official announcement about the process yet
🇩🇪 GERMANY – national final withnew format and name
🇬🇪 GEORGIA – no official announcement about the process yet
🇩🇰 DENMARK – Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2024 national final
🇨🇭 SWITZERLAND – internal artist assignment , pending song selection process
🇬🇷 GREECE – we expect news about the process from next month
🇪🇪 ESTONIA – national final Eesti Laul 2024 with new format
🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM – possibly internal selection
🇮🇪 IRELAND – national final with new format (details not announced)
🇮🇸 ICELAND – national final Söngvakeppnin 2024
🇪🇸 SPAIN – national final Benidorm Fest 2024 (February 3)
🇮🇱 ISRAEL – artist selection via ‘The next star’ , internal song selection
🇮🇹 ITALY – national final Festival di Sanremo 2024 (February 10, with format changes )
🇭🇷 CROATIA – DORA 2024 national final
🇨🇾 CYPRUS – internal assignment (as everything points to Silia Kapsis , pending official confirmation)
🇱🇹 LITHUANIA – no official announcement about the process yet
🇱🇻 LATVIA – Supernova 2024 national final
🇱🇺 LUXEMBOURG – Surprise return to include selection via national final (January 27)
🇲🇹 MALTA – MESC 2024 national final with new format
🇲🇩 MOLDOVA – no official announcement about the process yet
🇳🇴 NORWAY – national final Melodi Grand Prix 2024, with changes
🇳🇱 NETHERLANDS – although there have been thoughts of a national final, internal selection remains likely
🇺🇦 UKRAINE – national final Vidbir 2024 (February)
🇵🇹 PORTUGAL – national final Festival da Canção 2024
🇵🇱 POLAND – no official announcement about the process yet, more likely internal selection
🇷🇸 SERBIA – national final Pesma Za Evroviziu 2024
🇸🇮 SLOVENIA – although from an unofficial source, its participation is considered certain
🇸🇪 SWEDEN – national final Melodifestivalen 2024
🇫🇮 FINLAND – UMK24 national final
ERT will also slowly start the procedures. With our previous article from the beginning of the month, we informed you in detail about the thoughts and processes at ERT regarding the Eurovision project and given since then (and from much earlier) the participation our country. The developments will ‘run’ from next month and OGAE Greece will keep you informed, as always with validity.
Of the 35 confirmed entries to date, we see that 19 countries will select a song and artist through a national final, 5 by direct assignment (including Cyprus), one (Israel) will select an artist through a talent show and song internally , while 10 countries have not yet announced what they will do.
NATIONAL FINALS STEALING THE LIMELIGHT FROM THE MAIN COMPETITION
As watching Eurovision in person becomes more expensive, the interest in the ‘regional’ big events will grow. On the one hand the growing appeal of the competition and on the other the increasing professionalism of the national finals, have made fans now willing to travel and experience the national shows up close.
While until recently Sweden held the scepter for the best national final, in the last two years a new trend has emerged in southern Europe, making the Spanish final a popular destination for fans. Benidorm Fest, after the enormous success of Chanel, becomes established as the ‘Melodifestivalen of the South’ in the consciousness of Eurofans, for its freshness and sparkle, but mainly for the festive atmosphere in the city. Many people will travel to Benidorm this year to experience it up close, since the Spaniards are planning for a huge three-day event.
The case of the Finnish UMK is also noteworthy, also as this year UMK will grow and move to a huge arena to cope with the high demand for tickets. The success of Käärijä, as well as the exemplary organization of the process by YLE, have sharply increased the interest.
Germany has also announced a change in the format of its final this year, which has been renamed ” Das deutsche Finale 2024 “, aiming to attract not only the attention of the public but also a good song.
And of course, clearly for another year SVT’s Melodifestivalen of SVT will capture the fans’ attention, also due to the fact that Sweden is also the host country.
COUNTRIES PENDING CONFIRMATION
Some loose ends still remain to close the list of countries for 2024. Six additional countries may still be in Malmö, based on the best case scenario:
🇦🇲 ARMENIA
🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA
🇷🇴 ROMANIA
🇨🇿 CZECHIA
🇲🇪 MONTENEGRO
For Armenia, there is no information so far about its plans. We will probably see Armenia again this year in Eurovision.
It is equally likely that we will also see Australia in this year’s Eurovision. The case of the remote country is special, as it has participated in Eurovision until last year following a special invitation from the EBU with a five-year duration (2018-2023). Before that (2015-2017), the invitation was given on an annual basis. We are waiting for the new invitation from the EBU, which is practically a certainty.
On the contrary, the scenario for Romania is pessimistic, as the TVR channel is still waiting for the budget approval for Eurovision 2024 from the Minister of Finance. TVR itself cannot bear the burden of participation.
Czechia may have said via ČT that any decision on Eurovision will be made at the last minute (which has passed), but we expect good news, based on the positive assessment of the country’s participation in Liverpool.
Montenegro, as North Macedonia, is expected to return this year. Both Balkan countries did not take part in 2023 due to economic hardship. Nevertheless, the fact that they broadcast the 3 live Eurovision shows in May gives them the right, and also shows their intention, to return in 2024.
The participation of the Faroe Islands is the least likely for 2024, but it cannot be ruled out. The country – administratively part of Denmark – qualifies for its state channel to become a member of the EBU and has already submitted an application. It depends on the EBU now if it will be approved and how fast the process will ‘run’.
Therefore, based on what we know so far, the number of countries we will see at Eurovision 2024 can vary from 35 to 41, with a more likely number of countries 37-38 , more or less what we had last year.
THE COUNTRIES WE WILL NOT SEE IN 2024
The following countries will be permanently excluded from Eurovision 2024:
🇦🇩 ANDORRA
🇧🇦 BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
🇧🇬 BULGARIA
🇧🇾 BELARUS
🇲🇦 MOROCCO
🇲🇨 MONACO
🇭🇺 HUNGARY
🇷🇺 RUSSIA
🇸🇰 SLOVAKIA
🇹🇷 TURKEY
It is worth noting that Slovakia looks set to return in 2025 , as it confirmed its absence for this year at the same time as promising to return next year.
Just yesterday, the hopes of the friends of the Competition were gone and Monaco, which, although it now has the right to participate from September 1, decided that this year at least it will not participate.
However, neither will we see the debut in the Competition of the following countries. Despite strong rumours, none of their state-owned channels are full members of the EBU, which excludes them from participating in Eurovision:
🇰🇿 KAZAKHSTAN
🇽🇰 KOSSYOPEDIO
🇱🇮 LIECHTENSTEIN
Ogaegreece.com again this year will be watching Malmö news up close and will support the Greek Participation – stay with us!
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