In just three days time, Eurovision host broadcaster ORF will stage the all important semi-final allocation draw inside the Vienna Rathaus (City Hall). Today it’s been confirmed that Andi Knoll, the man once rumoured to host this year’s contest, will co-host the draw alongside Kati Bellowitsch. The starting time is at 13:25 CET and you can watch it unfold live on Eurovision.tv.

Host Insignia Handover Ceremony

Before we get to all this, however, we start the day with the Host Insignia Handover Ceremony at 12:00 CET. The Mayor of Copenhagen will officially hand over the keys to Michael Haupl, the Mayor of Vienna, at City Hall. A grand ceremony will then take place in the presence of ORF’s General Director Alexander Wabretz and Jon Ola Sand, EBU Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest. Alexander Wabretz and the Mayor of Vienna will then begin a second countdown on the Eurovision Countdown Tower in Rathausplatz, this time ticking down the days towards the First Semi-Final.

Semi-Final Allocation Draw

33 countries will be divided into 5 groups based on past voting patterns, usually involving those that tend to award points to each other. 16 countries will compete in the First Semi-Final, with the other 17 in the Second Semi-Final.

After each country is randomly assigned a semi-final, a second random draw will determine whether the country will perform in the first half or the second half of the show.

The final part of the allocation draw will randomly allocate the Big 5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) and host country Austria to the semi-final where its viewers will vote.

Update: Due to a request from broadcaster ARD and approved by the Reference Group, Germany has now been allocated to vote in the Second Semi-Final. So three countries will vote in the First Semi-Final, with the other two joining Germany in the Second Semi-Final.

The full running order of the two semi-finals will once again be decided by the producers when all the songs are confirmed. This year’s 60th contest will take place at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, with the First Semi-Final on 19 May, the Second Semi-Final on 21 May and the Grand Final on 23 May.

Photo: ORF

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xxxxJosheey17xxxx
xxxxJosheey17xxxx
9 years ago

Time to get to know the REAL hosts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7iZmrT3k4o

JMH
JMH
9 years ago

Have you seen the promo for the draw? It’s fun to see some visuals from this year’s concept art. Is it the official theme we can hear in the background too? Looking forward to the draw!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvBDfZWT_20

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

Hi Alex and Xepher,

As long as Latvia are going to make fools of themselves, I will have lost all faith in Latvia to be honest with you. But then again, we lost all faith in Austria before the miracle of Conchita Wurst, our saviour. Same with Germany in 2010 but Lena is not much of a saviour like Conchita. 😀

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

I hope Ireland get a really good semi final this year. I hope: Denmark UK Norway Malta Netherlands Belgium Switzerland Sweden Austria Latvia Voting in our semi final. But while I hope for that, take note that Ireland had: UK Norway Switzerland Austria Lithuania Poland Finland In our semi final. But we still crashed out of a very easily passable semi final. That was down to a lacklustre song with lazy (borderline complacent) staging. The next day Kasey’s mentor Hazel Kaneswaran said the voting system was killing Ireland. Lady, the only thing separating Ireland from RTE in 2014 was the… Read more »

Xepher
Xepher
9 years ago

@Alex

Only if Latvia stops sending bad songs it wouldn’t be in bad positions 😛

LucyEAPercy
9 years ago

I hope Israel don’t get such a crap hand this time, I usually love their entries and they deserve to qualify some time, only of course if they keep up the high standard! Also want Ireland to qualify,

Timselvision
Timselvision
9 years ago

@Realist: whaha, as a Dutchie myself I wouldn’t mind sitting with Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and Belgium and UK and Germany as Big 5 countries in our semi :p I also want Norway and Austria in it, we’ll surely qualify then XD

And oh boy, I’m so excited for this XD A big part of this big event depends on this day 😀

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

Denmark did a much better job with the running order than Sweden did, but will someone please stop putting Latvia in death spots?

Maya G
Maya G
9 years ago

Damn, I hoped the Austrians would put a stop to producers determining the running order.

Realist
Realist
9 years ago

please god can we ( Ireland) get denmark,malta,sweden,netherlands,belgium in our semi and have germany and uk voting 😛 please!!! and be in the semi with 16 songs xD

Me...Lucy
9 years ago

I already said it,I’m not happy with this year’s hosts. I would prefer those two.

joey
joey
9 years ago

Again, I am 1000000000000% not agreeing to the producers deciding on the Running Draw!!!

Oostenrijk
Oostenrijk
9 years ago

Both of them will also host the ESC press conferences, ESC sideshows and the daily “ESC live” show on ORF. They are busy.

Branko
Branko
9 years ago

agree here with you!

Daniel
Daniel
9 years ago

Calum, I totally agree with you

Tommy
9 years ago

I was hoping Kati would be a host this year, but this will have to do!

Calum Macleod
Calum Macleod
9 years ago

Wow…the two people I wanted to host the contest end up hosting the allocation draw!