Finalists in the semi-finals and a longer vote – major changes for the Malmö 2024

Finalists in the semi-finals and longer voting – SVT have announced a number of changes being introduced in 2024 to make the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö even more exciting.

On March 11, 2024, Swedish public broadcaster SVT announced that viewers of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals will now have an extra entertainment element added to their broadcasts – three to be precise.

Finalists in the semi-finals

For the very first time, the artists from the Big Five countries – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – and host nation Sweden will each perform their entries in full live during the Semi-Finals.

In previous years, just a short clip of each of their rehearsals was played during the Semi-Finals. Now, the Big Five and Sweden will be able to step onto the Eurovision stage and showcase their entries to viewers live alongside the competing acts.

In the Semi-Finals, the Big Five and Sweden will be performing on the same night that they have been drawn to vote in, in a draw that took place back in January. And you won’t have to wait for the interval to see the songs – the three additional performances in each Semi-Final will be slotted in between the competing countries’ acts.

Extended voting in the Semi-Finals and Grand Final

But SVT went further: another new feature of Malmö 2024 is the extension of the voting window for the Grand Final.

On Saturday 11 May, voting will open just before the first song is performed. Viewers at home will be able to cast their votes as the songs are performed, rather than waiting until all entries have been presented, as has been the case since public voting was introduced in 1997 (except in 2010 and 2011 when voting also began at the start of the show).

Additionally, fans in non-participating countries (Rest of The World) will now have nearly 24 hours to vote for their favourite songs before each of the live shows begin. Online voting will open for the Rest of The World immediately after the second dress rehearsal for each Semi-Final and Grand Final has finished the previous night, and will stay open until the live shows begin.

Executive Producer Ebba Adielsson expands on this change:

“Voting in the final has previously opened when all 26 entries have finished singing. Instead, we want to provide the opportunity to engage the viewers from the start – if you see something you like, you should be able to vote immediately. You can also, of course, wait until the recap at the end, as in previous years.

SVT has positive experience with this voting procedure in ‘Melodifestivalen’ (Sweden’s national final). In addition, there are viewers in other parts of the world who want to vote and we want to give them a better opportunity to participate in the result. Now they don’t have to set an alarm clock in the middle of the night.”

Martin Österdahl adds:

“By the time voting opens for the Grand Final every participating song will have been performed on stage so viewers will have had the chance to see all the acts competing to win this year’s show. The Eurovision Song Contest is always evolving and with more performances and chances to vote it promises to be the most exciting edition yet!”

There’ll be another big change for Malmö 2024 announced soon….but some things are staying the same.

Some things seem eternal…

National juries in each participating country will still only vote in the Grand Final (making up nearly 50% of the final result with just over 50% coming from public votes) – and the Top 10 qualifiers from each Semi-Final will be decided by public votes alone.

There’ll be no change in the presentation of the results in both the Semi-Finals and Grand Final too.

The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmö, Sweden on Tuesday 7 May (First Semi-Final), Thursday 9 May (Second Semi-Final) and Saturday 11 May (Grand Final) 2024.

Source: Eurovision.tv / OurVision International
Illustration: Eurovision Song Contest – Malmö 2024 (SVT / EBU)