The annual singing contest is heading to Sweden, one year after Eurovision fans flocked to Liverpool for the hugely successful event held on behalf of Ukraine.
Singer Olly Alexander will represent the UK with his song 'Dizzy', which was released on streaming services on Friday.
Alexander will later join BBC Radio 2's Zoe Ball to officially launch the song and his Eurovision campaign.
Here's everything you need to know about Eurovision ahead of the 2024 competition.
What is the Eurovision Song Contest and which countries participate?
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual televised composition competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Songs must be original and no longer than 3 minutes in length. The lead vocal must be performed live, and only six singers and dancers can be on stage during the performance.
Most of the countries participating in Eurovision are European. But Australia joined exactly one year after being invited to perform in the 2015 contest as part of Eurovision's 60th anniversary celebrations.
However, Australia cannot host the event. Even if the winner were to win, he would still have to nominate a country to represent the European countries and host the contest.
Other non-European countries, including Israel, are allowed to participate because they are members of the EBU.
Where will the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest be held?
She became the first woman to win the contest twice, having won for Euphoria in 2012.
This year marks the third time that Eurovision has been held in Malmö, and the seventh time that it has been held in Sweden.
As 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Swedish group Abba's first Eurovision win at Waterloo, there has been speculation about the band's possible involvement.
When will the 2024 finals take place? How can I watch?
The grand final will be held at the Malmö Arena on Saturday 11th May.
The semi-finals will be held on Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th May.
Who is Olly Alexander from the UK? What is his song called?
Alexander is already known throughout Europe for hits such as “Desire,” “King,” and “If You're Over Me.”
He is also a BAFTA-nominated actor who played the lead role in Channel 4's hard-hitting AIDS drama It's A Sin.
His Eurovision entry 'Dizzy' was co-written with Danny L. Harle.
Why is Israel's entry into Eurovision so controversial?
According to Israel Hayom newspaper, the song refers to the victims of the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, with the lyrics saying, “They were all good kids in their own way.” It is said to be included.
Contest rules prohibit political messages to demonstrate neutrality.
The EBU, which organizes Eurovision, said it appreciated the song.
Separately, musicians from many participating countries called for Israel to suspend its activities due to the Gaza War.
In December, the Icelandic Composers and Lyricists Association issued a statement saying Israel's military action made participation incompatible with an event “characterized by joy and optimism.”
Eurovision organizers have so far resisted calls to exclude Israel, saying the situations in Ukraine and Gaza are different.
How is voting done?
The semi-finals will be decided entirely by public voting from competing countries and people around the world.
In the final, all countries that qualify will be awarded two sets of scores. One by expert judges and the other by fans.
You get points for each of your 10 favorite songs, but you can't vote for your own country's songs.
Their favorite act gets 12 points, their second most popular act gets 10 points, their third most popular act gets 8 points, their 10th most popular act gets 7 points, and so on. An act is awarded 1 point.
Eurovision was one of the first television competitions to allow viewers to vote.
Fans in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom began voting by telephone in 1997.
In 2023, the rest of the world will be able to vote, with points awarded to the 10 most popular songs worldwide.
How much does Eurovision cost?
Each participating broadcaster pays an admission fee to the EBU. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK pay the most, but the BBC does not publish their contributions.
BBC News reported that other countries were also asked to make additional payments following Russia's suspension. As a result, three countries withdrew from the 2023 contest.
It is thought it would have cost the BBC between £8m and £17m to stage the 2023 event in Liverpool. The UK government has pledged £10m for running costs, and Liverpool local authority has pledged £4m.
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