We’ve talked about it in hushed tones up to now, but it’s finally arrived. Happy Super Saturday! Tonight sees Moldova, Hungary, Finland, Slovenia and Norway choose their acts for Eurovision 2016, while the search continues in Sweden and Lithuania.
It promises to be an intense night of cheering, weeping and hair-pulling — and that’s just when it comes to battling the buffering circle of doom on the livestreams. Dolly Style won’t be the only ones on a rollercoaster!
So now you’ve had ample warning, we advise you to study our programme guide below and draw your battle plans. Stock up on your favourite snacks and beverages and wait for the madness to begin. Moldova kicks things off at 18.40 CET and the action continues until Norway wraps up at 23:00 CET.
As ever, you can follow all the results on the wiwibloggs website and on our various social media platforms — including Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook.
P.S. There’s no sign of Loreen!
National Finals Schedule: 27 February 2016
Moldova: O melodie pentru Europa 2016 final (18.40 CET)
Over the course of two semi-finals earlier in the week, we saw 24 acts whittled down to 16. Tonight, that number becomes one as a combination of jury and public votes determines the winner. Lidia Isac and Doinita Gherman are amongst the fan favourites, topping our fan poll and Wiwi Jury respectively. The country’s Eurovision 2012 singer Pasha Parfeny will provide some additional entertainment, along with the dance troupe Space.
Live stream: TV M1 or Eurovision.tv
End time: 22:25 CET
Follow all our Moldova Eurovision 2016 news.
Hungary: A Dal 2016 final (19.40 CET)
We began with 30 acts six weeks ago, but only eight remain. Having topped both his heat and semi-final, Freddie enters tonight’s A Dal final as the hot favourite. But he faces strong competition from Petruska and Eurovision 2014 veteran Kállay Saunders. The winner will be decided across two stages of voting. The first will be 100% jury based and four acts will be eliminated. Control will then be handed over completely to the public, as they choose their representative for Eurovision 2016. Norway’s 2009 winner Alexander Rybak and reigning A Dal champion Boggie will perform during the interval.
Live stream: MTVA Live or Eurovision.tv
End time: 21:55 CET
Follow all our Hungary Eurovision 2016 news.
Finland: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2016 final (20:00 CET)
Since the first semi-final on 6 February, we’ve lost half of the 18 UMK 2016 acts. The remaining nine compete in this evening’s final. It’s shaping up to be a battle of the runners-up, with Mikael Saari and Saara Aalto dominating the polls. Both are well familiar with the pain of finishing second, and at least one will miss out on victory yet again. After last year’s experiment with a 90/10 televote-jury split, the voting returns to the 50/50 format. The jury will consist of a diverse range of people including YouTube stars, children and road-workers. Interval entertainment will come courtesy of UMK 2015 winners PKN and Eurovision 2006 champions Lordi.
Live stream: YLE or Eurovision.tv
End time: 22:15 CET
Follow all our Finland Eurovision 2016 news.
Slovenia: Evrovizijska Melodija 2016 final (20:00 CET)
Once again Slovenia has opted for a one-shot national final. Ten acts will compete, including former Eurovision stars Regina and Nusa Derenda. An expert panel will rate all ten performances and send two acts to the super-final. The winner will then be chosen by 100% televote. Last year’s winners Maraaya will drop by to premier their new single, while Junior Eurovision 2015’s bronze medallist Lina Kuduzovic will also perform.
Live stream: RTVSLO Live
End time: 22:00 CET
Follow all our Slovenia Eurovision 2016 news.
Lithuania: Eurovizijos episode 8 (20:00 CET)
The pace is finally beginning to pick up as we enter the eight week of Lithuania’s marathon Eurovision selection. The two streams have been merged, meaning that ten acts will compete in tonight’s show. Eight will progress to the semi-final with the result being determined by a mixture of jury and public vote. As the programme was recorded earlier in the week, we already know who the local jury are backing. Donny Montell, Aiste Pilvelyte and Erica Jennings occupy the top three spots, while Ruta Sciogolevaite seems to have fallen out of favour in fourth.
Live stream: LRT Live
End time: 22:10 CET
Follow all our Lithuania Eurovision 2016 news.
Sweden: Melodifestivalen semi-final 4 (20:00 CET)
We’ve reached the fourth and final semi-final in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen. As always, seven acts will perform with two heading straight to the final and two more going to next week’s second chance round. Sarah Dawn-Finer joins Gina Dirawi on hosting duties, while last year’s runner-up Jon Henrik Fjällgren returns for the intermission.
Live stream: SVT Play
End time: 21:30 CET
Follow all our Sweden Eurovision 2016 news.
Norway: Melodi Grand Prix final (20:55 CET)
Last but not least, it’s Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix. Ten acts will perform for the public’s vote, but only four will make it through to the Gold Final. The results will then be revealed region by region. A clear favourite has yet to emerge but the Hungry Hearts, Laila Samuels, Agnete and Suite 16 are all ranking high with fans. MGP 2015 winners Mørland and Debrah Scarlett will also be present.
Live stream: NRK TV or Eurovision.tv
End time: 23:00 CET
Follow all our Norway Eurovision 2016 news.
Which selections will you be watching? Let us know below.
I don’t get the Loreen part. You mean to say zero Loreen as if Loreen isn’t going to show up in any of these national finals or each and every countries’ participants here aren’t likely to surpass Loreen’s victorious status this year?
Gonna watch some Moldova, some Hungary and then Finland until Norway starts, I’ll watch Melfest and Slovenia later
https://youtu.be/xkTfMEdJdCk
Watching EMA tonight… GO GO GO sLOVEnia
How comes the Israeli semi finals aren’t mentioned ?
Norway: Hungry Hearts – Laika
Slovenia: Raiven – Crno bel
Finland: Saari – On it goes
Moldova: Doinita – Irresistible
Hungary: Kallay – Who we are
Latvia: Justs – Heartbeat
It would be Perfect that way !
I just watched the video of William and Deban listening for the first time to the snippets of the Slovenian songs, and it is HILARIOUS!!! You should have done all your reviews like that one!
I think I’ll watch it again! :))
@andrew
All the shows are live so they can’t really have subtitles.
Tomorrow is the Supernova final too!!!!! So excited.
Hungry Hearts for Norway, Freddy for Hungary and Donny Montell for Lithuania, pleease
Which of the shows have English subtitles? Couldn’t get them on SVT for Melodifestivalen!
Thanks to Wiwibloggs for this page. 🙂
I’ll start with Moldova and then do some Finland and Norway. Will watch Slovenia on playback. Should be a good night. x
I’ll watch Norway and Finland.
Does anyone really care about the Lithuanian one? Such a looong and complicated process, and, up until (and including) last year, they were never able to come up with a decent entry! So, why bother?! They should just pick the winner from a hat and be done with it!
Dios mio what to watch?
I think I’ll watch Norway, and if it becomes obvious the Hungry Hearts won’t make the superfinal, I’ll switch to MF and have UMK in another tab. Then of course Sunday will be all about Justs winning Supernova 🙂 #teamJusts
Sadly Sparrow, you’ll have to tune in on the night itself. RTVSLO were p-off after finding out the songs were leaked out extra early, so they decided “Right, y’all can’t be trusted, no radio presentation this year.”
Gonna watch Finland, Norway and Sweden. I’ll later watch Slovenia.
I give literally 0 f**ks about the Lithuanian final. No song has attracted me. But my main show is Supernova! Team Justs!!
Has Slovenia released the full songs yet?
I will watch: Hungary, Finland and Norway. Sunday: Laaaatvia !!
@irish esc
Me too! UMK is one of my favorite NFs
i will be watching finlands final