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Performer Requirements

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This document details the specific rules and criteria that all performers participating in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) must adhere to, as stipulated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). These regulations are crucial to ensure fairness, safety, and the overall integrity of the competition.

You can find the full regulations on the EBU website.

THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT!

1. Age Limit​

To ensure the well-being and appropriate participation of all artists, an age restriction is in place.

  • Minimum Age: All contestants and artists performing on stage must be at least 16 years old on the day of the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest. This rule was officially introduced in 1990 following concerns about the age of some participants in previous contests.

2. Maximum Number of Performers​

There is a strict limit on the total number of individuals allowed on stage during a performance.

  • Six Performers Maximum: A maximum of six individuals are permitted on stage for any single performance. This includes all lead singers, backing vocalists, dancers, and any instrumentalists who are part of the stage act.
  • Stage Presence: This rule ensures a manageable and visually coherent stage presentation for all entries.

3. Country Representation​

Rules are in place to prevent artists from representing multiple nations in the same year.

  • Single Country Representation: An artist or contestant is strictly prohibited from representing more than one country in the Eurovision Song Contest in a given year. This ensures that each country's entry is distinct and solely tied to its chosen representative.

4. Live Performance Elements​

The authenticity of the live performance is a core principle of the Eurovision Song Contest.

  • Live Lead Vocals: All lead vocals must be performed live on stage during the actual performance. This is a fundamental aspect of the competition, emphasizing vocal talent.
  • No Pitch-Correction Software: The use of pitch-correction software (such as Auto-tune) for live vocals is strictly forbidden. This rule ensures that the vocal performance heard by the audience is the authentic, unassisted voice of the artist.
  • No Lip-Syncing: Performers are explicitly prohibited from lip-syncing in any way that creates the impression they are singing live when they are not. This maintains the integrity of the live performance aspect of the contest.
  • Backing Tracks for Instrumentation: While lead vocals must be live, recorded backing tracks are used for instrumental accompaniment.
  • No Plugged Live Instruments: Generally, plugging in and playing live instruments on stage is not permitted. The instrumental component of the song is typically part of the pre-recorded backing track.

5. Prohibited Stage Elements and Political Displays​

Certain elements are proscribed from inclusion on stage, serving to maintain focus upon the musical performance, ensure safety, and uphold the Contest's inherently apolitical stance.

  • Prohibition of Live Animals: The presence of live animals upon the stage as an integral component of any performance is strictly prohibited.
  • Restrictions Pertaining to Flag Display by Performers: In strict adherence to the Contest's apolitical character and for the express purposes of visual clarity and impartial representation, performers and their accompanying delegations are rigorously enjoined from exhibiting any flags or symbolic representations other than the official national flag of the sovereign state which they are duly representing. This aforementioned prohibition explicitly encompasses, but is not exhaustively limited to, the following:
    • Flags not formally recognized as official national flags of participating countries.
    • Flags bearing political, commercial, or otherwise offensive messages.
    • Flags emblematic of non-participating entities or territorial jurisdictions (e.g., the Palestinian flag).
    • Flags signifying social or identity movements (e.g., Pride flags).
  • Adherence to Political Neutrality: The Eurovision Song Contest is unequivocally designated as a non-political event. Consequently, the dissemination of political messages, symbols, or any related conduct (inclusive of actions, statements, or symbolic gestures) is subject to stringent control and shall not be countenanced upon the stage or within any official functions associated with the Contest.
  • Sanctions for Non-Compliance: Any contravention of these stipulated regulations pertaining to flag display or other proscribed elements may precipitate the confiscation of offending articles, the removal of involved parties from the venue, and the imposition of supplementary sanctions as determined by the European Broadcasting Union. Strict adherence to these performer requirements is deemed indispensable for all artists and their respective delegations participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, thereby contributing to the cultivation of a fair, secure, and high-quality entertainment spectacle.