A successor for Loreen is being sought – the Swede won the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in 2023. This year a total of 37 nations are competing. Who will sing for Germany, when will the grand final take place? All important information about this year’s competition can be found here.
When and where does the ESC take place?
The final in Malmö takes place on May 11, 2024 from 9 p.m across the stage. The semi-finals will also take place at the same time on May 7th and 9th. All events will be held in the Malmö Arena, which can accommodate around 15,000 spectators.
ESC 2024 live on TV
In Germany, NDR is leading the Eurovision Song Contest. The two semi-finals can be seen freely in the ARD media library, the final is shown live on ARD. The station begins reporting at 8:15 p.m. Barbara Schöneberger takes over the moderation and for the first time SRF 1 and ORF 1 will show the “Pre” and “Aftershow” together at 8:15 p.m. and 1 a.m. Every event is also available in the live stream eurovision.tv to see.
- Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 9 p.m.: ESC semi-finals 1, One, ARD media library and eurovision.tv
- Thursday, May 9, 2024, 9 p.m.: ESC semi-finals 2, One, ARD media library and eurovision.tv
- Saturday, May 11, 2024, 9 p.m.: ESC final, Das Erste, ORF 1, SRF 1, ARD-Mediathek and eurovision.tv
Order and participants in the first semi-final, May 7th
- 1. Cyprus: Silia Kapsis – “Liar”
- 2. Serbia: Teya Dora – “Ramonda”
- 3. Lithuania: New Year’s Eve Belt – “Luktelk”
- 4. Ireland: Bambie Thug – “Doomsday Blue”
- 5.Ukraine: Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil – “Teresa & Maria”
- 6. Poland: Luna – “The Tower”
- 7. Croatia: Baby Lasagna – “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”
- 8. Iceland: Hera Björk – “Scared of Heights”
- 9. Slovenia: Raiven – “Veronika”
- 10. Finland: Windows95man – “No rules”
- 11. Moldova: Natalia Barbu – “In The Middle”
- 12. Azerbaijan: Fahree feat. Ilkin Dovlatov – “Özünlə Apar”
- 13. Australia: Electric Fields – “One Milkali (One Blood)”
- 14. Portugal: Iolanda – “Grito”
- 15. Luxembourg: Tali – “Fighter”
Order and participants in the second semi-final, May 9th
- 1. Malta: Sarah Bonnici – “Loop”
- 2. Albania: Besa Kokëdhima – “Titan”
- 3. Greece: Marina Satti – “Zari”
- 4. Switzerland: Nemo – “The Code”
- 5. Czech Republic: Aiko – “Pedestal”
- 6. Austria: Kaleen – “We Will Rave”
- 7. Denmark: Saba – “Sand”
- 8. Armenia: Ladaniva – “Jako”
- 9. Latvia: Don’s – “Hollow”
- 10. San Marino: Megara – “11:11”
- 11. Georgia: Nutsa Buzaladze – “Fire Fighter”
- 12. Belgium: Mustii – “Before the Party’s Over!“
- 13. Estonia: 5miinust & Puuluup – “(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi”
- 14. Israel: Eden Golan – “Hurricane”
- 15. Norway: Gate – “Ulveham”
- 16. Netherlands: Joost Klein – “Europe”
Finalists, May 11th
The five largest television broadcasters from Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy and Spain have already qualified for the final, as have hosts Sweden. For the first time, the singers are allowed to perform in the semi-finals so that the songs are as well known as those of the other nations.
- Germany: Isaak – “Always On The Run” (1st semi-final)
- Great Britain: Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” (1st semi-final)
- Sweden: Marcus & Martinus – “Unforgettable” (1st semi-final)
- France: Slimane – “Mon amour” (2nd semi-final)
- Italy: Angelina Mango – “La noia” (2nd semi-final)
- Spain: Nebulossa – “Zorra” (2nd semi-final)
Who will represent Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest?
Isaac won the German preliminary round. The 28-year-old will perform his song “Always On The Run” in Malmö. He beat Max Mutzke (20 points) with 24 points. “That was my goal: to go on stage and just be completely with myself. And I do what I am and who I am – and I don’t try to please people,” he said after his success.
Isaak Guderian lives in Espelkamp in North Rhine-Westphalia and has already appeared in casting formats such as X Factor or Show your talent on. “Music is the only refuge where I can be who I am,” says the father of two. “Everything is allowed here. No drawers, no system, no order. Pure emotions, a playground that isn’t just for children. And everyone can understand it – whether it’s in their language or not.”
Who comments on ARD?
Thorsten Schorn will moderate the ESC 2024.
(Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa)
Peter Urban is an ESC legend. But the ARD commentator ended his career in Liverpool in 2023. Him this year Thorsten Schorn replace, as NDR announced on April 9th. “I was fascinated by the ESC as a child,” said the 48-year-old. “When Germany won with ‘A Little Peace’ in 1982, I was six and was as happy as if we had become football world champions. It is a great honor and pleasure for me to succeed Peter Urban as ESC commentator.”
Schorn is a passionate radio presenter (WDR, previously 1Live) and was awarded the German Radio Prize in the “Best Presenter” category in 2015. But the Cologne native also knows his way around entertainment. In 2020 he was the director of “Because they don’t know what’s happening” (RTL) and, together with Thomas Gottschalk, Günther Jauch and Barbara Schöneberger, received the German Television Award in the “Best Moderation/Individual Achievement in Entertainment” category. His voice can also be heard almost daily on the TV show “Shopping Queen”.
Who will moderate the ESC 2024?
This year two presenters will serve as hosts. Petra Mede53, and Malin Akerman, 45, lead the show. Moderator Mede was already working as a host in 2013 when she and her co-host Måns Zelmerlöw impressed with the show “Love, Love, Peace, Peace”.
Åkerman is an actress and has appeared in films such as “After 7 Days”, “27 Dresses” as well as “Rampage – Big Meets Bigger” and “Watchmen”. What’s curious for Åkerman is that she will be celebrating her birthday with the ESC audience. The Swedish-American actress turns 46 on May 12th.
What will be different in 2024?
For the first time, the countries that have already qualified for the final are allowed to perform their songs in the semi-final shows. “We think it’s fairer,” says ESC manager Ebba Adielsson. “You now have the opportunity to be on stage ‘for real’. That’s also a benefit for the audience.”
In part, these songs had a disadvantage in that they were not that familiar to the audience. Viewers may have voted for the songs that were better known from the semi-finals.
How are the points awarded?
Each participating country awards one to twelve points for the entries in the final. Since 2016, a jury per country and the audience have voted by telephone. This means that a contribution can receive a maximum of 24 points from one country. In the semi-finals, only the audience’s points count.
There was another innovation in 2023. For the first time, viewers from countries that do not take part in the ESC, such as the USA, Brazil or Turkey, were also allowed to vote. These results were grouped into the “Rest of the World” category.