Fans of the Big Five countries and host country Sweden won’t have to wait for the grand final to see their full performances live on the Eurovision stage. In what is a first for the contest, each of the artists from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom will perform their acts live and in full during the semi-finals.
In previous years, viewers only saw a short clip of each of their rehearsals during the Semi-Finals. But this year in Malmö the artists will actually get to showcase their acts to viewers live alongside the competing acts. They’ll be integrated into the actual running order of the show, rather than being previewed as a group or tacked on toward the end.
In the Semi-Finals, the Big Five and Sweden will perform on the same night that they have been drawn to vote in:
Performing in Semi-Final 1
United Kingdom: Olly Alexander with “Dizzy”
Sweden: Marcus & Martinus with “Unforgettable”
Germany: Isaak with “Always on the Run”
Performing in Semi-Final 2:
France: Slimane with “Mon Amour”
Italy: Angelina Mango with “La noia”
Spain: Nebulossa with “Zorra”
Ebba Adielsson, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 proposed the changes. Here’s what she has to say about it all.
“We think that this change gives the Big Five 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. It is also a win for both the audience in the arena and the viewers at home, in that they get to see all the acts competing this year live before the Grand Final.”
Martin Österdahl, the Contest’s Executive Supervisor, sees it as a step forward.
“Finally we get to see Europe’s largest countries and the hosts perform their songs in full in the Semi-Finals meaning there’s even more entertainment for fans and viewers and, like all the qualifiers, the Big 5 and host country now get to perform their songs live twice on the Eurovision stage.”
What do you think about the change? Do you think it helps level the playing field? Are you excited we’ll get more songs in the semis? Let us know down below…
What they “sell”: Big 5 and Sweden Will Sing their songs in full at Semifinals.
What they really care about: Sweden Will Sing their song in full at the Semifinals.
Sweden giving a sh**t about Big 5 IS kinda hilarious.
Reading most of the comments I am realizing that most people do not know that without the financial help of the Big 5 the contest would surely be limited to 10/15 countries at most. I don’t think countries with weaker economies are willing to cover that expense. Thanks to them, countries with weaker economies can participate and that is why the Big 5 in the past made the decision to pay between themselves and the host country for the ticket and to be in solidarity with all the European public television stations that wanted to participate. Thanks Big 5.
I’m sorry…but the big 5 and the host country should NOT be mixed in the normal running order…this will just mess up the statistics we fans love to dive into for future to come, and most of all, just confuse the f out of the viewers! The best way to do it is to let all the competing acts perform, then show the recap of those and announce the voting, and THEN have the 3 prequalifiers perform , just before a short interval act (and preferably not a stupid “this is how we built the stage in 80 secondo video… Read more »
I don’t understand how the performance of the Big 5 can mess up the statistics.
Well if they put a big 5 in second spot of running order then we don’t know if it could have qualified from that spot or not…People love diving into the numbers and statistics from running order positions and the different halfs, but if we put songs that actually don’t compete in the running order this might affect the impression of the actual competing entries… if a big 5 is put 2nd in the running order, is it really 2nd or not as it isnt competing?
I don’t think they will compete in the semifinals, the festival presenters will simply announce participation but will clarify that you cannot vote for them.
I’m afraid it wasn’t to level the field but just to make the semifinals longer. Also, these acts will now stand out even more as unfair qualifiers. I don’t say the Big5 system is wrong, I just say that this will draw the attention to the Big5 issue even more, and Big5 countries will be seen as the ones to blame whenever some popular and possibly much better act doesn’t qualify.
I think most of us are unaware that the Big 5 exist and have the privilege of going to the grand final because they contribute 90% of the ticket and thanks to that the vast majority of more modest state television networks can participate in ESC. We have the case this year of Romania, which, even having only the expenditure of its participant, has declined participation in favor of the broadcast of the 2024 Olympic Games. Perhaps it would be fair if all countries contributed the same amount of money and that the countries The most modest ones that cannot… Read more »
Wish we’d had this in Liverpool because I only had tickets for the semis. Good move anyway, let’s hope the BBC don’t decide to block them out with more of their hilarious sketches featuring Clark & Mills.
Anyone know yet how they will be intergrated. We’ve had the first half second half draw. Will they be asked to draw a random number (ie 1-18/1-19) and then just slot in the appropriate half against that number in the running order?
Well if they absolutely have to include them in the running order, then put 2 of them in 2nd and 3rd running spot always…those are the 2 worst to qualify from anyways….
Let’s give it a try and see how it goes, if it doesn’t work well can always change it next year.
To level the playing field though, they should also have to qualify. 2 big 5s in one semi, 3 big 5s in the other, 12 qualifiers in one semi, 13 in the other. That’s the way to go. Always has been, always will be. Performing without any pressure to qualify is not leveling anything.
I think most of us are unaware that the Big 5 exist and have the privilege of going to the grand final because they contribute 90% of the ticket and thanks to that the vast majority of more modest state television networks can participate in ESC. We have the case this year of Romania, which, even having only the expenditure of its participant, has declined participation in favor of the broadcast of the 2024 Olympic Games. Perhaps it would be fair if all countries contributed the same amount of money and that the countries The most modest ones that cannot… Read more »
A welcomed move. However, I would have thought it would be better if the big 5 + host country perform their full songs as part of the interval act in their respective semi’s.
I think it’s more fair that they get less attention before the final.
They have already got an advantage of never being eliminated in any semi-final regardless of how they perform
Yeah, NO. Statistics have proven otherwise. The qualifiers from semis have a much bigger advantage than the prequalifiers…
I meant that since they get an advantage to go directly to the final regardless of how they send for song in Eurovision, it should be more fair if the big 5 countries get a disadvantage as well.
Many citizens of the Big 5 countries would agree with that. But what would happen to the vast majority of countries that cannot afford to participate in ESC without the financial help of the Big 5?
At the end of the day, viewing figures show that the semis don’t attract anywhere near as many numbers as the grand final. I don’t know anyone (non-ESC fan) who watches semis. So for vast majority, hearing them on the final will be their first time.
In my opinion they should not appear in the semi-finals at all. that will appear only in the final. There is no need to extend the semi-finals.
I am not mad that they get to perform their song in a semi finalist. Fair enough.
However, I do still think it’s unfair that they play by different rules. Their song doesn’t have to undergo a full 100% Televote before reaching the final and the others do.
Semi final*
Edit button wiwi! Edit button!!!
Yh but we pay extra to take away the fees a bit for other countries. Let’s give us some credit here
That’s why you get to go to the finals directly. I’m not complaining about that.
Without the financial help of the Big 5, the contest would surely be limited to 10/15 countries at most. I don’t think countries with weaker economies are willing to cover that expense.
Since number of participating countries has dropped, maybe time to let less countries advance to the final- 8 maybe???? If the total number is reduced to say 20, running order would have no major impact on the eventual leaderboard.
Talking about level playing field. Why is it every year Armenia and Azerbaijan after 6 months of preparation cant release their respective songs by the Eurovision deadline. 6 months! Isn’t it about time both these nations were disqualified for missing the deadline.
There’s two different deadlines I think. One to submit it to ebu. Which they should’ve done by now. And then another release deadline which is a little later.
I really like this change – first, being a fan, I’m always happy to have more performances in a show 🙂 but also because it seems quite obvious the autoqualifiers suffer from only getting one chance on stage. Putting them in with the running order seems strange though – it’s definitely going to confuse casual viewers that they randomly can’t vote for some songs, also it feels like an even bigger disadvantages for the songs at the start of the running order? I would say either do the AQs as the first three of the night, or VERY clearly announce… Read more »
OH I have been WAITING for this rule change for years! Bravo!
Better yet would be to let big 5 compete in Semis and let 12 songs qualify from each Semi… If you can’t make top 12 you don’t belong in final…
If they don’t go in the final few of their people will vote in Grand Final televote, that means less money for the Contest and higher taxes fro other countries that won’t afford them. Poorer countries without Big 5 can’t participate
This is one of the best changes to Eurovision in recent years.
I just wish that they performed after all the other acts, rather than being placed in the running order.
I like the idea of the Big 5 countries performing in the Semi-finals, BUT DO NOT add them to the running order, that’s a terrible idea!! At least let them perform after all the Semi-final acts have performed. This way the audience knows that now it’s time for the automatic qualifiers rather than thinking they’re also competing for the finals. Or maybe, If included in the running order, announce PROPERLY that the following act is an AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER. Maybe incorporate them at the breaks like when 5 songs have performed let the host announce the change that was implemented first… Read more »
The big 5 performances should ideally replace the interval act. It’s the weakest part of the show and this would be a relevant content to fill the time with.
This is long overdue, at least 15 years too late!
The automatic qualifiers always had the disadvantage that the normal viewer never gets the full song before the final. Sometimes, a song grows when you hear it twice or more and finally, they will be exposed in full on stage during the semifinals.
They could try and participate in the semis, bam no one has a disadvantage.
PREACH!
Personally I am sick of having to hear terrible entries from Germany im the final…year after year aftwr year.
Again, we pay extra to help the smaller countries, without us there won’t even be 37 countries
That’s correct but I see that most people don’t know it.
I’m happy to get two performances out of Angelina Mango.
Well, I would prefer the automatic finalists first to perform after all the semifinalists have performed, how about one opens the show before the first semifinalist, one performs in the middle between acts, and one performed after the last semifinalist?
Ideally, one opens the show, and then one each after the commercial breaks. Those are the worst slots, and the competing countries would be spared from getting them.
It’s a nice idea, but I think the producers really need those slots after commercial breaks because every year there are countries that turn up with some gigantic complicated prop that requires time to set up..
Can’t believe they didn’t think of doing this before. Why not have the big five and host country perform in full during the semis? It was felt weird that they got only relegated to snippets before the qualifiers.
Absolutely and completely behind this. Since 2004, we’ve only had two automatic qualifiers win – Greece in 2005 and Germany in 2010. The AQs clearly suffer from being heard only once, and I think this was always the only solution.
And Italy in 2021
D’oh! Knew I forgot one…
Sorry to be so stupid, but how were Greece automatic qualifiers.
There was a rule back then that if you finished in the top10, you’d automatically qualify next year. Greece came in 3rd in 2004, so it automatically qualified to the final in 2005.
Greece was 3rd in 2004 so the top 11 or top 12 from 2004 went straight to the final of 2005.
This has been along time coming. It’s only fair the juries and the audiences see these songs in full in the semi’s not 30second clip and then an interview. One step moving forward in fair play for each nation.
As an italian I’m so curious, can’t wait!
While it is great that the Big 5 get to perform live in the semi finals, their placement in between the participating songs is awkward and might be confusing for casual viewers. Imagine watching the show and after song #3 there is a song without a number that you like but cannot vote for. And after that they continue with #4?
Bellissima notizia ! Great news !
I honestly think it’s great but they shouldn’t incorporate it in the middle of the actual semi final contest which maybe confusing to some or it may take away thunder from a previous act or the act that will follow their performance . While the fans are voting it should be used at the end as a filler. I love the idea to showcase the big 5 but not in the middle of countries competing
Changes approved and welcome! That will add more “juice” to the contest. Well done, EBU!
This may hurt (or help maybe) some Semi-Finalists as they will perform before or after and that may influence the mood/energy/comparing etc for casual viewers.
I bet they thought about this … I think they’ll squeeze them in the just before the commercial breaks; so, I guess less talking and more music.
I think its nice seeing the Big 5 + host, performing their songs in the semies.
They get some more attention in this way for their entries.
We will see how this plays out?
So I guess thats also a way to compensate for all the female vocalists in the first half of the second semi final. So far only one male voices, so I bet that Slimane will perform in that half if they are supposed to perform in between the others
Excellent!! This gives buffer for the running order and makes it fuller as there is fewer countries in there. Also gets to test the engagement of them to put them in the final running order. Also gives the host country a chance to try an optimal spot before the pre-chosen spot in the final
You gotta appreciate the irony of calling this “leveling the playing field” when we’re talking about songs that get to skip first round of the competition, lol.
I was scrolling down waiting for a comment like this haha.
Never liked this Big 5 concept. It is a competition for God’s sake!?
Agreed. I think they should abolish the automatic qualifiers except the host country, and have a blanket entry fee for everyone else. Instead of the Big 5 paying either triple/quadruple what less populated nations pay, make every country pay a non-negoiable €200,000. It would mean that countries with smaller fees (eg. Ireland, Montenegro, Slovenia, San Marino and a few others) would have to get sponsors or just don’t enter, but hey, at least that would 100% make it fair for everyone then
I have always been wishing to see the big five perform their songs in the semis, but integrating them into the running could go very, very wrong. Some people will surely get confused about who they can or cannot vote for, and this confusion could also spread to the grand final. It makes much more sense if they just perform as part of the interval acts after the rest of the contestants and preferably even after the voting window has concluded.
Do the people in charge even know what a level playing field is. As it is now, the prequalifiers have to send a song that has to appeal to both juries and tele voters. The qualifiers however have to choose a song that has to appeal to juries and tele voters in the final, but in the semi they only have to convince the public. Really, who comes up with these ideas and thinks that these rules are in any way fair
You know the reason why this is? It is because SVT wants to give the most value to the viewers. ESC is not only a song contest it is an entertainment show aswell, and why not make the most of it?
I welcome the change, wished they’ve done it earlier.
Sweden will do anything to make their forgettable song into unforgettable nightmare, won’t they? Sweden, the public gave you… 15 points in total.
Yes ban Sweden, this is worse than all war crimes combined
You can dream about it but that does not make it true
calm down, xenophobic much …
And another xenophobe against Sweden spotted. Gosh you people never learn do you. The swedish entry is a perfectly competent song, performed excellently. Get over it.
good news
Actually leveling the playing field would be to get rid of the big five system and make them participate in the semi’s like any other country. Only the hosting/previous winning country should be automatically qualified.
Would be very risky because the majority of the audience comes from those countries. If one country of the big 5 fail to qualify, it would be a problem
Not if they send quality entries 😉
Why would that “be a problem”? Is it a problem if the country that pays the 6th highest fee* doesn’t qualify? How is the 5th country different? I’m of the opinion that this rule hurts the big 5 countries rather than helping them. If you send an entry that wouldn’t pass through semifinals, what’s the benefit of pre-qualification? All you get is the embarasment of the last place in the final, often with ridiculously low score, because you compete out of your league. And if you send anything that has a potential to do well in the finals, it will… Read more »
Well if they dont want to watch the final if they dont qualify for it, their interested for the show is really great. If the big 5 have such an interest in Eurovision they will watched the final no matter if they are there or not. So if they dont want to watch it if they re missing a final, well is the interest then there? If Germany or Spain misses a football tournament they will still show the matches, believe me. So for the audience in those countries the interest for Eurovision is really not great
Why would it be a problem? That would finally force most of them to send quality songs rather than songs that year after year ends up last.
The point with pre-qualification should be because you have so good songs they deserve to be there,and not cause you pay your way to be there
If they are so interested in ESC they will watch it even if they are not in final
My words exactly
It would be a problem for the show, not for the big 5 countries. The show of course needs the audience from the 5 biggest countries in Europe, and they can’t risk to lose them.
About time, but I would rather have them as interval act. A bit like when MGP had some pre-classified entries in 2021.
this is great actually! Great news.
Agree
I like that they will perform in semi-finals. I’m not sure about doing so in between other acts, though.
Agree, it could seem confusing to casual viewers. I think they should perform after the competing countries. But I guess we’ll see how it works out.
Sanremo vibes!
Once again something new is introduced when Sweden is to benefit of it. Tack ska du ha M. Ö.!
At least they won’t have an excuse anymore when they finish last in the final with zero points.
This is something very wise, I am sure there will be more audience in the semifinals from Big 5 countries if their artists do the entire performance. This, if well promoted, may increase the semifinals’ audience a lot.
Because being prequalified isn’t advantage enough. If they can perform in the semi, they also can take part in the competition.
Intrigued to see how they will be integrated into the running order. Curious to what it means? Like first competing songs, then one big 5 act and then another competing song? Voting also for them? So many questions, guess I have to wait for it. But a pretty good change
U dum*b?
There are 15ish songs in each Semi, they will put these 3 after a bunch of songs (after the 5th, 9th and 15th, for example).
And of course there will be ads after the 6th and the 11th song.
It’s like your first watching ESC or what?
wait so they will also be in the running order? that is a little bit weird, but I like that they will perform their song live
Think of it breaking the semi into 4 pieces, maybe they can remove the opening and closing act choices.