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National selection refer to the process in which a participant broadcaster of the annual Eurovision Song Contest select the song and artist(s) that will represent its country in the contest. [1]
The two principal ways for broadcasters to select their entries are open selections (national finals) and closed selections (internal selections). [1] Since the introduction of semi-finals in the 2004 contest – due to the extensive amount of participants – and the rule of the "Big Five" countries (applied to the broadcasters from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), [2] [3] a wide range of broadcasters have often alternated between national finals and internal selections based on final placing at the previous contests.
National finals are the process in which the participant broadcaster of a country gives its national audience the opportunity to choose either the song, or the artist(s), or even both, that will represent them in the contest, often combining public televoting with the vote of an expert jury. [1]
These national finals (consisting of one or more shows) can be televised or non-televised, however, most of the time they are televised as prime-time television events. [1] On many occasions, the artist is selected internally and the audience chooses a song for them through a national final. Alternatively, the broadcaster can select a song and make the public choose the artist that will perform the song through a national final. [1]
Among the most well-known national finals is Melodifestivalen , organised by Sveriges Television (SVT) in Sweden, which features six live shows (four heats, a "Second Chance" show and a final in Stockholm) in different cities across the country. [6] In 2012, over an estimated four million people in Sweden watched the final, almost half of the Swedish population. [7] [8]
Another example of a long-running national final format is Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) organised by Yle in Finland; in 2018 and 2019, each participant wanting to represent Finland sent three songs to Yle, which would select the entrant, and the audience would then choose one song among the three that the selected entrant had presented to the broadcaster previously, through a televised final. [10] [11] [12] [13] In 2020, this format was abandoned in favour of a return to the open format seen between 2012 and 2017. [14] [15]
The broadcasters from Albania, Denmark, and Estonia (RTSH, DR, and ETV/ERR respectively) are the only participants that have always selected their entries via a national final. The broadcaster from Latvia (LTV) has selected all of its entries via a national final, except in 2021, when it internally selected its intended entrant for the cancelled 2020 contest. Yle has selected all of its songs via a national final, but in 2018 and 2019, the artist was chosen internally. The broadcasters from Yugoslavia (JRT) and Serbia and Montenegro (UJRT) also selected all of their entries via a national final during their existence.
Internal selections are the process in which the participant broadcaster of a country appoints a committee or expert panel to select either the song, or the artist(s), or even both, without holding a public vote. [1]
Even though the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) "strongly" encourages broadcasters to hold their own national finals, [1] participants from several countries such as Russia, [17] Azerbaijan [18] and Bulgaria [19] are among those that have opted for internal selections for most of their entries in the contest. Choosing this method is also a common strategy for broadcasters after having failed to qualify for the final on several occasions. [20] [21]
As of 2024, [update] broadcasters from fifty-two countries have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest at least once, and a record forty-three participated in 2008, 2011, and 2018. [22] [23] [24]
† | Inactive –countries which participated in the past but did not appear in the most recent contest, or will not appear in the upcoming contest |
◇ | Ineligible –countries whose broadcasters have been suspended from the European Broadcasting Union and are therefore ineligible to participate |
‡ | Former –countries which previously participated but no longer exist |
Country | Debut year | Latest entry | National final [lower-alpha 1] | Internal selection [lower-alpha 1] | Absent years | Broadcaster(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belgium | 1956 | 2024 | Eurosong
Total: 51 |
Total: 14 |
Total: 4 | VRT (Dutch) RTBF (French) [lower-alpha 3] |
France | 1956 | 2024 |
Destination Eurovision
Eurovision France, c'est vous qui décidez !
Total: 22 |
Total: 42 |
Total: 3 | RTF (1956–1964) ORTF (1965–1974) TF1 (1975–1981) A2F (1983–1992) France Télévisions (1993–present) |
Germany | 1956 | 2024 |
Total: 57 |
Total: 12 |
Total: 2 | HR (1956–1976) (ARD) BR (1977–1991) (ARD) MDR (1992–1995) (ARD) ARD/NDR (1996–present) |
Italy | 1956 | 2024 |
Total: 49 |
Total: 10 |
Total: 20 | RAI |
Luxembourg | 1956 | 2024 |
Luxembourg Song Contest
Total: 5 |
Total: 33 |
Total: 30 | RTL [lower-alpha 6] |
Switzerland | 1956 | 2024 | Concours Eurovision
Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow
Total: 38 |
Total: 18 |
Total: 5 | SRG SSR |
Netherlands | 1956 | 2024 |
Total: 48 |
Total: 15 |
Total: 5 | NTS (1956–1969) NOS (1970–2009) TROS (2010–2013) AVROTROS (2014–present) |
Austria | 1957 | 2024 |
Total: 16 |
Total: 40 |
Total: 12 | ORF |
Denmark | 1957 | 2024 |
Total: 53 | — |
Total: 16 | DR |
United Kingdom | 1957 | 2024 | Festival of British Popular Songs
The Great British Song Contest
Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You
Total: 57 |
Total: 10 |
Total: 2 | BBC |
Sweden | 1958 | 2024 |
Total: 62 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 4 | Sveriges Radiotjänst (1958) SR (1959–1979) SVT (1980–present) |
Monaco † | 1959 | 2006 | — |
Total: 24 |
Total: 42 | TMC |
Norway | 1960 | 2024 |
Total: 51 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 3 | NRK |
Finland | 1961 | 2024 | Euroviisukarsinta
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK)
Total: 48 |
Total: 2 |
Total: 7 | Yle |
Spain | 1961 | 2024 |
Operación Triunfo (OT)
Total: 29 |
Total: 38 |
Total: 1 | TVE (1961–2006) RTVE (2007–present) |
Yugoslavia ‡ | 1961 | 1992 |
Opatija Festival
Total: 28 | — |
Total: 5
| JRT |
Portugal | 1964 | 2024 |
Total: 54 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 6 | RTP |
Ireland | 1965 | 2024 | National Song Contest
Eurosong
Eurosong(as part of The Late Late Show )
Total: 52 |
Total: 6 |
Total: 3 | RTÉ |
Malta | 1971 | 2024 | Malta Song for Europe
Malta Eurovision Song Contest
Total: 35 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 18 | PBS |
Israel | 1973 | 2024 |
HaShir HaBa L'Eurovizion
HaShir Shelanu L'Eurovizion
Total: 35 |
Total: 20 |
Total: 6 | IBA (1973–2017) IPBC/Kan (2018–present) |
Greece | 1974 | 2024 |
Eurosong - A MAD Show
Total: 25 |
Total: 20 |
Total: 7 | ERT (1974–2013, 2016–present) NERIT (2014–2015) |
Turkey † | 1975 | 2012 |
Total: 29 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 16 | TRT |
Morocco † | 1980 | 1980 | — |
Total: 1 |
Total: 44 | SNRT |
Cyprus | 1981 | 2024 |
Total: 21 |
Total: 21 |
Total: 4 | CyBC |
Iceland | 1986 | 2024 |
Total: 29 |
Total: 7 |
Total: 3 | RÚV |
Bosnia and Herzegovina † | 1993 | 2016 | BH Eurosong
Total: 11 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 13 | BHRT |
Croatia | 1993 | 2024 | Dora
Total: 25 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 3 | HRT |
Estonia | 1994 [lower-alpha 8] | 2024 | Eurolaul
Total: 30 | — |
Total: 2 | ERR |
Hungary † | 1994 [lower-alpha 8] | 2019 |
Total: 13 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 14 | MTVA |
Romania † | 1994 [lower-alpha 8] | 2023 | Selecția Națională
Total: 26 |
Total: 2 |
Total: 7 | TVR |
Slovenia | 1993 | 2024 | Slovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije
Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA)
Total: 26 |
Total: 4 |
Total: 3 | RTVSLO |
Slovakia † | 1994 [lower-alpha 8] | 2012 |
Eurosong
Total: 3 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 24 | STV (1994–2010) RTVS (2011–2012) |
Lithuania | 1994 | 2024 |
Lietuvos Dainų Daina
Eurovizijos atranka
Pabandom iš naujo!
Eurovizija.LT
Total: 23 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 7 | LRT |
Poland | 1994 | 2024 |
Piosenka dla Europy
Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję
Total: 13 |
Total: 12 |
Total: 5 | TVP |
Russia ◇ | 1994 | 2021 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 18 |
Total: 8 | VGTRK (1994, 1996, 2008–2022) C1R (1995–2022) [lower-alpha 9] Channel One Ostankino |
North Macedonia [lower-alpha 11] | 1998 [lower-alpha 5] | 2022 |
Macedonian Selection
Nacionalen Evrosong
Za Evrosong
Total: 14 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 6 | MRT |
Latvia | 2000 | 2024 | Eirodziesma
Dziesma
Total: 23 |
Total: 1 |
Total: 1 | LTV |
Ukraine | 2003 | 2024 |
Total: 17 |
Total: 4 |
Total: 3 | Suspilne [lower-alpha 12] |
Albania | 2004 | 2024 |
Total: 20 | — |
Total: | RTSH |
Andorra † | 2004 | 2009 |
Total: 3 |
Total: 3 |
Total: 15 | RTVA |
Belarus ◇ | 2004 | 2019 | Eurofest
Natsionalny Otbor
Total: 15 |
Total: 3 |
Total: 5 | BTRC |
Serbia and Montenegro ‡ | 2004 | 2005 | Evropesma
Total: 3 | — |
Total: 1
| UJRT |
Bulgaria | 2005 | 2022 |
Total: 9 |
Total: 6 |
Total: 6 | BNT |
Moldova | 2005 | 2024 | O melodie pentru Europa
Finala națională
Etapa națională
Total: 17 |
Total: 3 |
Total: 1 | TRM |
Armenia | 2006 | 2024 |
Total: 9 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 3 | AMPTV |
Czechia [lower-alpha 13] | 2007 | 2024 | Eurosong
Eurovision Song CZ
Total: 8 |
Total: 5 |
Total: 6 | ČT |
Georgia | 2007 | 2024 |
Total: 11 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 2 | GPB |
Montenegro | 2007 | 2022 | MontenegroSong
Montevizija
Total: 4 |
Total: 8 |
Total: 6 | RTCG |
Serbia | 2007 | 2024 |
Internally selected composers
Beosong
Total: 12 |
Total: 4 |
Total: 2 | RTS |
Azerbaijan | 2008 | 2024 | Land of Fire
Milli Seçim Turu
Böyük Səhnə
Total: 6 |
Total: 12 |
Total: 1 | İTV |
San Marino | 2008 | 2024 | 1in360
Digital Battle
Una voce per San Marino
Total: 4 |
Total: 11 |
Total: 3 | SMRTV |
Australia | 2015 | 2024 | Eurovision – Australia Decides
Total: 3 |
Total: 7 |
Total: 1 | SBS |
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Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song "Addicted to You" written by Maki Kolehmainen, Janina Frostell and Tracy Lipp. The song was performed by Laura. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after a one-year absence following their relegation from 2001 as one of the bottom six countries in the 2000 contest. Yle organised the national final Euroviisut 2002 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2002 contest in Tallinn, Estonia. Twelve entries were selected to compete in the national final on 26 January 2002 where votes from six regional juries first selected the top six to advance to a second round. In the second round, votes from the public selected "Addicted to You" performed by Laura as the winner with 70,580 votes.
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Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu is an annual music contest organised by the Finnish public broadcaster Yle. It made its debut in 2012 as the Finnish selection format for the Eurovision Song Contest, replacing the previous Finnish Eurovision selection Suomen euroviisukarsinta which had been held since 1961.
Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Aina mun pitää" written and performed by the band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2015 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2015 contest in Vienna, Austria. 18 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of three semi-finals and a final, taking place in February 2015. Six entries competed in each semi-final and the top three from each semi-final, as selected solely by a public vote, advanced to the final. Nine entries competed in the final on 28 February where the combination of votes from eight jury groups representing different factions of Finnish society and votes from the public selected "Aina mun pitää" performed by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät as the winner.
"Aina mun pitää" is a song by Finnish punk rock band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät. The song won Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) 2015 and represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.
Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Sing It Away" written by Sandhja Kuivalainen, Milos Rosas, Heikki Korhonen, Petri Matara and Markus Savijoki. The song was performed by Sandhja. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2016 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. 18 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of three semi-finals and a final, taking place in February 2016. Six entries competed in each semi-final and the top three from each semi-final, as selected solely by a public vote, advanced to the final. Nine entries competed in the final on 27 February where the 50/50 combination of votes from ten jury groups representing different factions of Finnish society and votes from the public selected "Sing It Away" performed by Sandhja as the winner.
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Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Monsters" written by Saara Aalto, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb and Ki Fitzgerald. The song was performed by Saara Aalto, who was internally selected by the Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) in November 2017 to represent the nation at the 2018 contest in Lisbon, Portugal. The national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2018 was organised in order to select the song that Aalto would perform. Three songs were selected to compete in the national final on 3 March 2018 where the 50/50 combination of votes from eight international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Monsters" as the winning song.
Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Look Away" written and performed by Ville Virtanen under the stage name Darude and Sebastian Rejman. Darude and Sebastian Rejman were internally selected by the Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) in January 2019 to represent the nation at the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel. The national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu2019 was organised in order to select the song that Darude and Rejman would perform. Three songs were selected to compete in the national final on 2 March 2019 where the 50/50 combination of votes from eight international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Look Away" as the winning song.
Finland originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Looking Back" written by Joonas Angeria, Whitney Phillips, Connor McDonough, Riley McDonough and Toby McDonough. The song was performed by Aksel Kankaanranta. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2020 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Six entries were selected to compete in the national final on 7 March 2020 where the 50/50 combination of votes from eight international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Looking Back" performed by Aksel Kankaanranta as the winner.
Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Dark Side" written by Aleksi Kaunisvesi, Joonas Porko, Joel Hokka, Niko Moilanen and Olli Matela. The song was performed by the band Blind Channel. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2021 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Seven entries were selected to compete in the national final on 20 February 2021 where the combination of votes from seven international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Dark Side" performed by Blind Channel as the winner.
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Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom, with the song "Cha Cha Cha" performed by Käärijä. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu2023 in order to select the Finnish entry for the contest. Seven entries were selected to compete in the national final on 25 February 2023, where the combination of votes from seven international jury groups and votes from the public selected the winner.
Media related to Eurovision Song Contest selection events at Wikimedia Commons