Ten countries advanced to the final after the first semifinal
In the long tradition of Europe's grandest musical gathering, Malmö Arena became a threshold on the evening of May 7th — a place where ten nations crossed from aspiration into certainty. Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland, and Luxembourg each earned passage to the Eurovision 2024 final, joining the six nations whose standing in the contest grants them automatic entry. The semifinal structure, a kind of continental sorting ritual, continues its work before the grand finale on May 11th brings the full field together in pursuit of a single prize.
- Twenty-six nations entered the first semifinal's orbit, but only ten could survive the cut — the stakes sharpening with every performance on the Malmö stage.
- The Big Five and host Sweden watched from a position of privilege, their automatic qualification a reminder that Eurovision's rules carry the weight of history and finance as much as melody.
- Germany's Isaak, Sweden's Marcus & Martinus, and the UK's Olly Alexander performed as previews rather than competitors — a ceremonial gesture before the real reckoning arrives.
- Spain's Nebulossa and their entry 'Zorra' wait in the wings, set to perform during the second semifinal on May 9th before the final field is locked.
- With ten qualifiers confirmed and the second semifinal still to come, the architecture of the contest is nearly complete — the grand finale on May 11th drawing closer with each passing round.
The Malmö Arena opened its first night of sorting on May 7th, as Eurovision 2024's initial semifinal sent ten countries forward to the grand final scheduled for May 11th. Serbia's Teya Dora, Portugal's Iolanda, Slovenia's Raiven, Ukraine's Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil, Lithuania's Silvester Belt, Finland's Windows95man, Cyprus's Silia Kapsis, Croatia's Baby Lasagna, Ireland's Bambie Thug, and Luxembourg's Tali all advanced — each performance a bid for a place in the continent's most-watched musical contest.
Eurovision's structure has always carried a quiet hierarchy. The so-called Big Five — France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain — along with host nation Sweden, hold automatic berths in the final, their semifinal exemption a reflection of both financial contribution and historical weight. On the night of May 7th, Germany's Isaak, Sweden's Marcus & Martinus, and the UK's Olly Alexander took the stage not as competitors but as previews, offering audiences a first look at what they would bring to the finale.
Spain's moment comes later. Nebulossa will perform their entry 'Zorra' during the second semifinal on May 9th, a courtesy appearance before the full field assembles for the May 11th finale. That second semifinal will also determine which remaining countries join the ten already qualified, completing the lineup that will compete for the crystal microphone. The rhythm of elimination and advancement continues — Eurovision's oldest ritual, still unfolding.
The Malmö Arena in Sweden had already begun its work of sorting the continent's musical ambitions. On the evening of May 7th, ten countries took the stage in the first semifinal of Eurovision 2024, each hoping to secure a place in the final scheduled for May 11th. The competition had narrowed the field—a necessary culling before the grand ceremony that would determine Europe's song of the year.
Serbia arrived with Teya Dora's 'Ramonda,' Portugal with Iolanda's 'Grito,' and Slovenia sent Raiven to perform 'Veronika.' Ukraine's entry came by way of Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil singing 'Teresa & Maria,' while Silvester Belt represented Lithuania with 'Luktelk.' Finland's Windows95man brought 'No Rules!' to the stage, Cyprus offered Silia Kapsis with 'Liar,' and Croatia's Baby Lasagna performed 'Rim Tim Tagi Dim.' Ireland's Bambie Thug sang 'Doomsday Blue,' and Luxemburgo rounded out the ten with Tali's 'Fighter.' All ten advanced to the final.
Eurovisión operates under a system that grants certain nations automatic passage. The so-called Big Five—France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain—bypass the semifinals entirely, their historical weight and financial contributions to the contest securing them spots at the final table. Sweden, as the host nation and the country whose Loreen won the previous year with 'Tattoo,' also receives this privilege. These six countries did not compete in the first semifinal but were permitted to perform their songs as a kind of preview, a courtesy appearance before the real stakes began on May 11th.
Among those Big Five nations, Germany's Isaak, Sweden's Marcus & Martinus, and the United Kingdom's Olly Alexander took the Malmö stage on May 7th to show what they would bring to the final. Spain's moment would come two days later, during the second semifinal on May 9th, when Nebulossa would perform their entry 'Zorra' before the same audience and the watching millions beyond.
The structure of Eurovision—with its two semifinals feeding into a single grand final—creates a rhythm of elimination and advancement that has defined the contest since its inception. The second semifinal would determine which additional countries would join the ten qualifiers from the first round and the six automatic entries, all competing for the crystal microphone on May 11th. By then, the field would be set, and the real contest would begin.
Citações Notáveis
Sweden earned automatic qualification as host nation after winning Eurovision 2023 with Loreen's 'Tattoo'— Eurovision 2024 rules
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does Eurovision split the competition into two semifinals instead of just having everyone compete at once?
It's partly practical—you can't fit forty-odd countries into a single broadcast without it running all night—but it's also about drama. The semifinals are where most countries actually have to earn their place. It creates this tension: will your song be strong enough to survive the vote?
And the Big Five plus Sweden just skip all that?
Exactly. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK—they're the financial backbone of the whole operation. They've been there since the beginning or they contribute heavily. Sweden gets in because they won last year. It's a trade-off: they don't have to compete, but they also can't surprise anyone by winning their semifinal. Everyone knows they're going to the final.
So when Spain performs on May 9th, they're not actually competing for a spot?
Right. Nebulossa with 'Zorra' will sing, but it's a formality. They're already in the final. The second semifinal is really about the other countries fighting for the remaining slots.
Does that feel unfair to the countries that have to compete?
It's the system everyone signed up for. But yes, there's always been grumbling about it. The smaller nations see it as the cost of doing business in a European institution.
What happens after May 9th?
Then you have your full lineup for May 11th. All the qualifiers from both semifinals, all six automatic entries, and the host country—they all perform, and then the voting happens. That's when the real competition begins.