What Is Eurovision? A Guide For Confused Americans

Topline

This Saturday, hundreds of millions of Europeans are expected to tune in to watch the Eurovision Song Contest, an annual tradition that consumes the region in an enthusiastic fervor culminating in a high-energy musical extravaganza so utterly bizarre in nature that it leaves the rest of the world scratching its head.

Verka Serduchka represented Ukraine at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest.

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Key Facts

As a basic concept, Eurovision is an annual song contest where the countries of Europe—alongside, confusingly, several non-European countries like Israel and Australia—duke it out with often extravagant, political or utterly unexplainable productions.

There are three live shows in the contest—two semi-finals and one grand finale—and countries select entries themselves, with national processes ranging from drawn out selection contests to public voting to selection by industry experts.

26 countries make it to the grand final: 10 from each semi-final and six who qualify automatically, which includes the previous year’s winner as well as Spain, France, Italy, Germany and the U.K., the broadcaster’s big financial backers collectively known as the “Big Five.”

The outcome of the semi-finals are decided by a public vote from participating countries (viewers cannot vote for their own country) and the grand finale is decided from a combination of jury voting (each country has a panel of professionals that ranks acts) and public vote, with 2023’s contest including public votes from the rest of the world for the very first time.

The British city of Liverpool is hosting this year’s contest on behalf of last year’s winner Ukraine, which is unable to host the event due to Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham will co-host the contest alongside British singer Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina.

Key Background

Eurovision is the world’s largest musical event and a serious cultural force in the region. The Nordic countries are particularly fond of Eurovision, with 95% of viewers in Iceland tuning in to watch a 2016 final that it had not even qualified for, while in host country Sweden, 85% of viewers tuned in that year. The contest has helped launch the careers of some of the world’s biggest stars, including past winners ABBA, who won for Sweden in 1974, and Céline Dion, who took the crown for Switzerland in 1988 (singers do not have to be from the country they represent). Other notable acts to compete in the contest include Olivia Newton-John, Julio Iglesias, Flo Rida and Bonnie Tyler. While the competition, now in its 67th year, is known for bringing countries together, the purportedly apolitical contest has been the cause of a number of high profile political controversies. Ukraine’s 2007 entry, a disco ball-clad drag queen named Verka Serduchka, sparked controversy in Russia, for instance, and Iceland’s 2019 act was booed for unfurling Palestinian flags at the final in Tel Aviv.

Further Viewing

Peacock is streaming all three days of Eurovision 2023. Streaming for the grand finale begins at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT on Saturday. Americans can also vote for the very first time. People can vote for their favorite act using the dedicated app or online.

Big Number

161 million. That’s how many viewers tuned in to watch the three live Eurovision shows in Turin, Italy, last year, according to the European Broadcasting Union. In 13 out of 34 markets measured, the contest claimed more than half of the viewing share, overwhelmingly led by the Nordics. In Iceland, for example, Eurovision garnered more than 96% of viewing share, followed by Norway (89%), Sweden (81%) and Finland (72%)

What To Watch For

Sweden is the overwhelming favorite among bookmakers to win the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. The Scandinavian country is represented by singer Loreen, singing ‘Tattoo,’ who is returning to Eurovision after winning the contest in 2012 with her hit song ‘Euphoria.’ Victory for Sweden would see the country tie with Ireland—which has won seven times—for the most Eurovision wins. Bookies also give good odds to the likes of Finland, Ukraine, France, Spain and Israel.

Surprising Fact

Many Americans experienced Eurovision for the first time through Netflix’s pandemic hit Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. The film was one of Ferrell’s most successful in years and included numerous cameos from Eurovision favorites including recent winners like Loreen, Alex Ryback, Jamala, Conchita Wurst and Netta.