Tali Golerant performing Fighter representing Luxembourg, first Semi-Final at Eurovision 2024; Credit: Screen captured from live performance via YouTube

This year's Eurovision Song Contest is the competition's 68th edition, taking place in Malmö, Sweden, with Luxembourg qualifying in the first semi-final on Tuesday 7 May 2024, after a 31-year-long hiatus.

The contest is being held at the Malmö Arena, and consists of two semi-finals on Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 May, and a final on Saturday 11 May 2024. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT), the live shows' presenters are Swedish comedian Petra Mede and Hollywood actress Malin Åkerman. 37 countries are participating - with Luxembourg returning for the first time since 1993 and Romania opting out this year.

Israel's participation was met with criticism among Eurovision participants and fans, due to the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war; due to protests and petitions calling for its removal, organisers strengthened the security measures for the event.

On Tuesday evening, the running order for the first semi-final was as follows (listed by nation, artist and song name):

  • Cyprus: Silia Kapsis - Liar
  • Serbia: TEYA DORA - RAMONDA
  • Lithuania: Silvester Belt - Luktelk
  • Ireland: Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue
  • United Kingdom: Olly Alexander - Dizzy
  • Ukraine: alyona alyona & Jerry Heil - Teresa & Maria
  • Poland: LUNA - The Tower
  • Croatia: Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim
  • Iceland: Hera Björk - Scared of Heights
  • Germany: ISAAK - Always on the Run
  • Slovenia: Raiven - Veronika
  • Finland: Windows95man - No Rules!
  • Moldova: Natalia Barbu - In the Middle
  • Sweden: Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable
  • Azerbaijan: FAHREE feat. Ilkin Dovlatov - Özünlə Apar
  • Australia: Electric Fields - One Milkali (One Blood)
  • Portugal: iolanda - Grito
  • Luxembourg: TALI – Fighter

The first countries in the semi-final who qualified for the final were: Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Luxembourg.

Serbia's moody, soulful and mournful ballad sung by TEYA DORA, Ramonda, qualified first. Secondly, Portugal's iolanda convinced the viewers with her powerful voice and impressive vocals amidst stark, black and white visuals. Thirdly, Slovenian singer Raiven interpreted the song "Veronika" with high energy amidst a striking water-animated stage.

Ukraine had alyona alyona and Jerry Heil performing a power ballad with beautifully complementary vocals, a catchy melody and surprising elements such as rap and visually compelling outfits (somewhere between a princess gown and hint of armour, shine and elegance combined with a martial aesthetic).
Lithuania's Silvester Belt performed a high-energy, electronic dance in blue and red – “Luktelk” had melodic elements but was perhaps among the heaviest on the beats among all the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Finland's humorous performance had Windows95man's emerging with no trousers on from a giant cracking egg while singing the song "No Rules!". Cyprus' Silia Kapsis delivered a high-energy, smooth and dancerly performance with "Liar".

Croatia's Baby Lasagna wowed the audience with a memorable rock anthem, high-energy, with creative, playful costumes seemingly inspired by traditional national clothing. Last but not least, Ireland's Bambie Thug performed a highly unsettling electro-metal piece with elaborate costumes and makeup reminiscent of a supernatural horror film aesthetic. Luxembourg's TALI was announced last in a tense moment for the Grand Duchy's Eurovision lovers; in this performance, "Fighter" was performed with a slightly softer side showing. TALI's voice shines brighter in the semi-finals, though she brings the same energy that convinced the voters the last time around.

The semi-final results were determined through televotes. The televote took place during the live broadcast of the show. The fifteen participating countries, as well as Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom, were voting in this semi-final.

Another ten countries will qualify on Thursday out of sixteen to perform. Yesterday’s ten successful qualifiers will join the qualifiers from the second semi-final. As the biggest donors to the EBU, the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy already have secured their spots in the final on Saturday along with host country's Sweden's contestant Marcus & Martinus.