Let’s go behind the scenes of Eurovision. Why must songs stay under 3 minutes? Why only six performers on stage? And other explainations. Discover the rules behind the spectacle of the world’s most iconic song contest.
The Eurovision Song Contest evokes a world of intrigue with its song rules, and system of semi-finals, juries and votes that draw out the drama until a winner is crowned.
Here is a look at how the competition is put together, how artists are chosen and how the voting system works:
Organizers
The competition is organized by the European Broadcasting Union, the world's biggest public service media alliance.
Founded in 1950, the EBU has 113 member organizations in 56 countries, plus 31 associates in Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas.
Together they reach a potential audience of more than one billion people.
Hosts
Winners host the following year's competition. Switzerland won the right to host the 2025 edition after Swiss vocalist Nemo triumphed at Malmo in 2024 with The Code. Basel was selected to stage the event.
Who takes part?
Competitors are selected by EBU member broadcasters representing their countries.
The song and artist can be chosen through televised national selection shows, an internal process or a mixed method for songs and artists.
This year, 37 countries are taking part: 31 contests for the semi-finals, and 26 appear in the May 17 grand final.
Although outside Europe, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation is an EBU member. Israel first competed in 1973 and has won four times.
Australia's SBS is an associate member and has been invited to join in since 2015, with Eurovision popular Down Under.
And who doesn't?
Unhappy with voting changes, Turkey pulled out after 2012.
The Belarusian state broadcaster was suspended from the EBU in 2021 after repeatedly submitting songs disqualified for being overtly political.
The EBU's Russian members were suspended following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Vatican Radio is an EBU founding member but has never entered Eurovision.
The rules
Given there are 26 acts to get on and off the set, songs must be under three minutes long, and no more than six performers can be on stage.
The lead vocals must be live, performed to a pre-recorded backing track.
Songs must be original, and since 1999 can be in any language. The lyrics and performances must avoid political, commercial or offensive content.
Big Five
Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain form the so-called Big Five. The main financial backers of the competition are duly given guaranteed places in the final, along with the hosts.
The Big Four concept began in 2000, with Italy swelling the number in 2011.
Semi-finals replaced the previous relegation systems in 2004.
Eurovision fans debated whether direct entry to the final was a help or a hindrance: these countries have only won twice this century, and a semi-final airing helps artists gear up, and can build momentum with viewers.
Since last year, the Big Five and the hosts now get to perform at the semis too.
Semi-finals
The remaining participating countries are split into two semi-finals. Fifteen take part in Tuesday's first semi-final, with 16 nations in Thursday's second semi.
The top 10 from each semi-final go through to the May 17 final.
Audience televotes from those countries appearing in each semi-final decide who goes through. The scores are not given.
Voting in the final
All 37 participating countries get to vote in the final.
Two sets of points, with equal weight, come from each country.
One set is given by a jury of five music industry professionals, who vote in advance after watching the second dress rehearsal.
The other set is given on the night by viewers voting via telephone, text message or the official app.
Each gives a maximum 12 points to their favourite act, 10 to their second favourite, then 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 in declining order.
The rest of the world also has a viewer online vote, counting as an additional voting country.
Countries cannot vote for themselves.
Winner
Each country's jury votes are revealed in turn, with only the maximum 12 points recipient announced verbally.
Moving to the second stage, points awarded by all 38 audience votes are tallied up for each competitor. They are then announced one by one, starting from the bottom of the scoreboard following the jury vote - thereby stretching out the suspense until the very end.
The winner receives a trophy and gets to perform their song again.
Their country will have the right to host Eurovision 2026.
With AFP
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