Top artists from 39 countries – two more than last year – will compete at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Cyprus, Czech Republic and Serbia are returning to the contest. With an odd number of participants, the EBU also had to decide how many countries would be taking part in the first and second Semi-Final, according to Eurovision Song Contest’s official webpage.
The winner of the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest will be representing one of the following 39 countries:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- FYR Macedonia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
With an odd number of participants, the EBU also had to decide how many countries would be taking part in the first and second Semi-Final.
The intensity of the competition will increase along the way, as 16 countries will take part in the first Semi-Final on the 19th of May, and 17 countries will take part in the second Semi-Final on the 21st of May.
On the 26th of January, 2015, a draw will determine which countries will take part in which of the two Semi-Finals. The event, hosted by ORF in Vienna, will be streamed via Eurovision.tv, so you can follow the proceedings live.
From each Semi-Final, ten countries will proceed to the Final on the 23rd of May, joining the so-called ‘Big Five’ – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – and host nation Austria.
Ukrainian broadcaster NTU has unfortunately decided not to take part this year due to the challenges the country faces. Turkey’s broadcaster TRT decided not to return, after their last participation in 2012.
