The draw to determine the semi-final allocation per country has just taken place in Stockholm’s City Hall.
43 countries will take part this year, 6 of which are the pre-qualified countries.
The first draw determined which semi-final the pre-qualified countries will broadcast and eventually vote.
6 Pre-Qualified Countries
Semi-Final 1 Semi-Final 2
Sweden (Host Country) Germany
Spain United Kingdom
France Italy
18 countries have been allocated to the first semi-final and 19 countries to the second semi-final. The third draw determined in which half of the respective semi-final each country will perform.
First Semi-Final 10th May Second Semi-Final 12th May
Armenia First Half Australia First Half
Croatia First Half Belarus First Half
Finland First Half FYR Macedonia First Half
Greece First Half Ireland First Half
Hungary First Half Israel First Half
Moldova First Half Latvia First Half
Russia First Half Lithuania First Half
San Marino First Half Poland First Half
The Netherlands First Half Serbia First Half
Austria Second Half Switzerland First Half
Azerbaijan Second Half Albania Second Half
Bosnia & Herzegovina Second Half Belgium Second Half
Cyprus Second Half Bulgaria Second Half
Czech Republic Second Half Denmark Second Half
Estonia Second Half Georgia Second Half
Iceland Second Half Norway Second Half
Malta Second Half Romania Second Half
Montenegro Second Half Slovenia Second Half
Ukraine Second Half
At the request of the German Broadcaster ARD and following the approval of the reference group, Germany will broadcast and vote in the second semi-final. Israel will compete in the second semi-final since the first semi-final clashes with Israel’s Memorial Day.
Come Together
Even though the Eurovision Song Contest has had a logo since 2004 – the word Eurovision with a heart in the middle – every year the EBU encourages the host broadcaster to come up with a theme art that is specific to the event that year. The theme for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest is Come Together.
The Final of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place on Saturday 14th May 2016 at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
http://www.tvm.com.mt/Music News Malta Editor -- Mr Joseph Portelli
