The Eurovision Song Contest brings nations together through the power of music. Fans from over 80 countries are travelling to Sweden for the event this year, with hype slowly building for the big event.
There are going to be some major changes too. Those tuning in to Eurovision 2024, will notice that this year, artists from the Big Five countries (including France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK, along with host nation Sweden) are going to be performing their song entries live during the semi-final. In previous years, a clip of the rehearsals was played, so those who have tickets to the event are in for something extra special this time around.
This year, the event is being held in Malmö, after Sweden’s win in 2023. They stole the show with Loreen’s hit song Tattoo.
Voting Changes for Eurovision 2024
Another addition to this year would be the voting window extension during the Grand Final. On May 11th, voting will open before the first song. People also have the option to vote as songs are performed, rather than having to wait until everyone has been. For those who like to bet on the event, the Eurovision betting odds will be updated live during the show to reflect the changes. Those who want to calculate their potential return can use a betting calculator. Switzerland are currently the favourite with odds at 9/5 with Croatia coming in second with odds of 10/3.
If you’re casting your vote from a non-participating country, then you will also have 24 hours to vote for the winner. Online voting will open immediately after the second dress rehearsal for the Semi-Final and the Grand Final and will remain open until the live show begins. There will be a recap of all the songs at the end of the show as usual, so fans who want to wait to cast their vote will have the opportunity to watch a refresher clip of all the entries.
Plenty of Things for Travellers in Malmö
Karin Karlsson who is the managing director of Eurovision has said that there are people from 186 nations living within the city, so Malmö is truly a window to the rest of the world. The event is being held between the 4th of May and the 11th, with tickets purchasable from Ticketmaster Sweden. There are going to be lots of events held in the area for people travelling to the country, with Friisgatan set to become Eurovision Street. This is a lively street with a number of small performance areas. Malmö Central Station is going to be hosting performances and you also have the option to hear some of the songs from Joyride, a forthcoming production that is based on the music of Roxette. Robin S, who is the icon who performed Show Me Love, is also taking to the Euphoria Stage.
Of course, no Swedish music event would be complete without a bit of Abba, and that’s why you’re going to have the chance to attend An Evening With, which showcases their music. There’s going to be secret guests, with the band joined by Paul Rey and Titiyo. If you’re set to be in Sweden for the contest, it’s shaping up to be an exciting time.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
