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Participation & Eligibility

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This document outlines the key regulations and criteria governing participation and eligibility in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), as established by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

You can find the full regulations on the EBU website.

THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT!

1. Eligibility of Participating Broadcasters​

The Eurovision Song Contest is a competition primarily for public service broadcasters who are active members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

  • EBU Membership: Only public service broadcasters that are active members of the EBU are eligible to participate. The EBU is the world's leading alliance of public service media, with member organizations primarily in countries within the European Broadcasting Area, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union, or those that are members of the Council of Europe.
  • Non-European Countries: While the contest is primarily European, non-European countries can participate if their national broadcaster is an active EBU member or if they receive a special invitation. A notable example is Australia, which has participated since 2015.
  • Voluntary Participation: Participation in the ESC is voluntary. Not all eligible EBU members choose to compete every year.

2. Selection of Entries (Song and Artist)​

Each participating broadcaster is solely responsible for selecting the artist and song that will represent their country in the Eurovision Song Contest. There are typically three common methods employed for this selection:

  • Televised National Selection: This involves the broadcaster organizing a public, televised competition (often referred to as a "mini-Eurovision") where multiple artists and songs compete, and the public (and sometimes a jury) votes to choose the entry. Examples include Sweden's Melodifestivalen and Italy's Festival di Sanremo.
  • Internal Selection: The broadcaster directly selects an artist and a song without public involvement. This method often involves inviting submissions or approaching record labels and individual artists.
  • Mixed Format: A hybrid approach where, for instance, the broadcaster internally selects the artist, but the song is chosen through a public vote, or vice versa. Broadcasters typically have until mid-March of the contest year to finalize their chosen song and artist.

3. Artist Eligibility Criteria​

Specific rules apply to the artists performing in the contest:

  • Age Limit: All contestants and artists performing on stage must be at least 16 years old on the day of the Grand Final. This rule was introduced in 1990.
  • Maximum Performers: A maximum of six individuals (including lead singers, backing vocalists, dancers, and instrumentalists) are permitted on stage during any single performance.
  • No Dual Representation: An artist or contestant cannot represent more than one country in the Eurovision Song Contest in a given year.
  • Live Vocals: All lead vocals must be performed live on stage. While backing tracks are used for instrumentation, no pitch-correction (e.g., Auto-tuning) is allowed for live vocals, and performers are not permitted to lip-sync.
  • No Live Instruments (Plugged): Generally, plugging in instruments to play live on stage is not allowed.

4. Song Eligibility Criteria​

The songs submitted for the Eurovision Song Contest must adhere to several strict requirements:

  • Originality: The song (both lyrics and music composition) must be entirely original. It cannot be a cover version, nor can it sample or incorporate significant portions of other artists' previously released works.
  • Release Date: The song must not have been commercially released or publicly performed, in part or in full, before September 1 of the year prior to the contest. The EBU Executive Supervisor has the authority to assess any prior disclosure and determine if it gives an unfair advantage, potentially denying participation.
  • Duration: The maximum allowed duration for each song is three minutes. Any song exceeding this limit will be deemed ineligible.
  • Language: There are no restrictions on the language in which a song can be performed. Songs can be in any language, including constructed languages or a mix of multiple languages.
  • Content Restrictions: Lyrics and performances must strictly avoid any political, commercial, or offensive content. The EBU rigorously enforces this rule, and violations can lead to disqualification. For example, songs with perceived political references have been disqualified in the past.

5. Contest Structure and Qualification​

The Eurovision Song Contest consists of three live shows: two Semi-Finals and a Grand Final.

  • Semi-Finals: Most participating countries compete in one of the two Semi-Finals. The top 10 highest-scoring entries from each Semi-Final, determined solely by public televote, qualify for the Grand Final.
  • Grand Final Qualifiers:
    • The "Big Five": France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom automatically qualify for the Grand Final. This is due to their status as the largest financial contributors to the EBU.
    • Host Country: The country that won the previous year's contest and is therefore hosting the current edition also automatically qualifies for the Grand Final.

6. Penalties and Disqualification​

A breach of the official rules can lead to various consequences, ranging from formal warnings and financial penalties to severe sanctions. The most significant sanction is exclusion from participation in the contest for up to three consecutive years. The EBU and its independent observers closely monitor all aspects of the contest to ensure fairness and adherence to the rules.