Eurovision 2024: Big-5 and Sweden will perform in the Semi-finals
The EBU has just announced that the Big-5 and the host country, Sweden, will be performing live in the Semi-finals, regardless of already being qualified for the Final
It was back in 2000 that the concept of the Big-5 (back then the Big-4 without Italy) was introduced. Since then, it's allowed for a direct pass into the Eurovision Final, regardless of their placing in the previous year.
The list comprises France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The host country (at least if it matches the previous edition's winning country) also has a secured place in the Final.
Until now, those six qualified countries would be given a short spot during the Semi-finals where the representative would say a few words and present a short clip of their performance. There have been doubts about if this was fair for the pre-qualified countries, especially taking in consideration some of the Big-5 countries' poor results.
Those days are gone. The EBU, as well as SVT, have now announced that the pre-qualified countries will perform live during each Semi-final. This will not interfere with their place in the Final:
– We think that this change gives the Big-5 countries and the host country a fairer playing field in the Grand Final, as they now have the opportunity to perform "for real" on stage in the Semi-finals, explains Ebba Adielsson, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
The allocation will respect the draw already done in January:
Semi-final 1
- Germany
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
Semi-final 2
- France
- Italy
- Spain
The six pre-qualified countries will perform in between the competing countries’ songs in the Semi-finals.
Eurovision Song Contest 2024
The 68th Eurovision Song Contest takes place on 7, 9 and 11 May 2024. The contest will be held in Malmö, Sweden, and produced by Swedish broadcaster SVT.
- Location: Malmö, Sweden
- Participants: 37
- Semi-final 1: 7 May – 15 participants: The 10 best songs qualify for the Grand Final
- Semi-final 2: 9 May – 16 participants: The 10 best songs qualify for the Grand Final
- Grand Final: 11 May – 26 participants: Sweden, Big-5 (Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom), 10 best from Semi-Final 1, 10 best from Semi-Final
