How To Watch Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Watch Eurovision Song Contest 2024: Preview
12 months on from Loreen’s remarkable win in Liverpool, the spectacle and sequins of the Eurovision Song Contest is back. Reigning champions Sweden play host this year, with artists from 37 countries – all the way from Albania to the United Kingdom – converging on the city of Malmö to see who will be crowned the 2024 Eurovision winner.
First up comes the two semi-finals, to whittle down the competing nations to just 26. We already know six of the finalists, as they comprise the so-called ‘Big Five’ (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) and hosts Sweden, with 10 more making it through from each heat. They take place on Tuesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 9.
And then it’s on to the Grand Final, to see who will win the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. With a lineage that includes Celine Dion’s win back in 1988, Switzerland’s entry is hotly tipped to be celebrating wildly come Saturday night. The Code by singer/rapper Nemo is the kind of catchy LGBTQIA+ anthem that should play well with juries and home voters alike.
But there will be some serious competition from the UK’s Years & Years singer Olly Alexander, Croatia’s wonderfully named Baby Lasagna, the Netherlands’ YouTube sensation Joost Klein, and Italian diva Angelina Mango.
The truth is, though, that you never know with Eurovision. There may just be another Lordi or Conchita Wurst out there who wow the crowds at the semi-finals and take a groundswell of support into the Grand Final on Saturday, May 11.
What we can be certain of, is how you can watch Eurovision Song Contest live streams online, no matter where you are – including your best free options. Plus, you can keep reading for information on this year’s favorites, host city and a full list of the 37 acts for 2024.
Watch Eurovision Song Contest 2024 online in the UK
As ever, the whole of the Eurovision Song Contest will be shown on free-to-air TV Channel BBC One. The final starts at 8pm BST on Saturday, May 11, but don’t forget you can also tune into the two semi-final shows on May 7 and 9 at 8pm BST, too.
BBC One is a free-to-air channel, though you’ll need a valid TV licence. You can also watch an online Eurovision live stream through BBC iPlayer across a number of devices, as well as being the place to watch on catch-up.
It’s free to sign up for a BBC account. All you need is an email address and a UK postcode (e.g. W12 7RJ). You should also have a valid TV licence.
The superbly sardonic Graham Norton will be the UK commentator for the Grand Final, with Scott Mills and Rylan covering the two semi-finals.
Away from the UK? Use a VPN using the instructions below to access BBC iPlayer like you would at home…
How to watch Eurovision Song Contest from anywhere
If you’re a UK citizen on vacation or working overseas, you can still watch Eurovision just as you would at home – there’s no need to miss out on Graham Norton’s withering commentary!
While BBC iPlayer is for licence fee-paying Brits and blocks access from IP addresses outside of the UK, there’s a handy piece of software called a VPN which can change your IP address to make it look like you’re accessing streaming services from any country in the world.
For example, UK citizens in the States can subscribe to a VPN, join a UK-based server and tune into all the programmes on BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world, just like you would back home.
How To Use A VPN To Unblock Streaming Services:
1. Choose your ideal VPN and install – our go-to recommendation for unblocking is NordVPN, costing from just $3.69 a month with its 2-year plan
2. Connect to a server – for BBC iPlayer, for example, you’ll want to connect to a server located in the UK
3. Stream away! – login to your streaming service – BBC iPlayer in this instance – and stream Eurovision like you were in your home country
How to watch Eurovision Song Contest in free Australia
Represented this year by duo Electric Fields, Aussies can watch all of the Eurovision action for free on SBS. You’ll have a very early start of 5am AEST for both semi-final shows (Wednesday, May 8 and Friday, May 10) as well as the Grand Final on Sunday, May 12.
Note that Electric Fields will perform in the the first semi-final on Wednesday.
You can also watch live and on catch-up on the free SBS On Demand streaming service.
Happen to be out of the country and want to access your free home stream? Use a VPN to watch SBS On Demand from anywhere.
How to watch Eurovision Song Contest in the US
NBC owned streaming service Peacock will be broadcasting the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in the US, allowing Americans to take in the spectacle across all lives shows, including the two semi-finals on Tuesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 9, as well as the Grand Final on Saturday, May 11. All will air live at 3pm ET / 12pm PT.
Peacock subscriptions start from just $5.99 a month, with the option to go commercial free from $11.99 a month. You can also get 12 months for the price of 10 by opting for the annual plan.
A Brit abroad in the States? Use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer for free from abroad.
Can I watch Eurovision in Canada?
Unfortunately, there is no official Eurovision Song Contest broadcaster north of the border in Canada.
However, Americans residing in Canada can always port themselves back home with a VPN to access their Peacock TV account.
Eurovision Song Contest 2024 FAQs
What Country Will Host Eurovision 2024??
Sweden’s third city of Malmö will host Eurovision 2024, after Stockholm-born singer Loreen won for a second time in 2023 with her song Tattoo.
Which Country Is Most Likely To Win Eurovision 2024?
The early odds suggest the Swiss entry, Nemo, is the favorite to win the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. The non-binary singer-cum-rapper is entering with a song called The Code, which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community. Switzerland won the first ever Eurovision in 1956, and was famously represented by Celine Dion in 1988.
Croatia’s Baby Lasagna, Italy’s Angelina Mango and the Netherlands’ Joost Klein are also expected to do well, while it wouldn’t be a surprise if the UK’s Olly Alexander and Ukraine representatives alyona alyona & Jerry Heil also scored high.
Is Eurovision 2024 Going To Be Streamed On YouTube?
The official Eurovision website says that: “All live shows are also available to watch on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel (if available in your region).”
Will ABBA Perform At Eurovision 2024?
It was hoped by many that the coincidence of Sweden hosting Eurovision 2024 and ABBA celebrating 50 years since their win for Waterloo, would prompt the popular act to perform.
However, Benny Andersson from the group told the BBC last year: “No. No way. I don’t want to. And if I don’t want to, they [the other members] won’t go. It’s the same for all four of us – someone says, ‘no’, it’s a no.”
Eurovision 2024 Participating Artists And Countries
Semi-final 1
- Australia: Electric Fields with One Milkali (One Blood)
- Azerbaijan: FAHREE feat. Ilkin Dovlatov with Özünlə Apar
- Croatia: Baby Lasagna with Rim Tim Tagi Dim
- Cyprus: Silia Kapsis with Liar
- Finland: Windows95man with No Rules!
- Iceland: Hera Björk with Scared of Heights
- Ireland: Bambie Thug with Doomsday Blue
- Lithuania: Silvester Belt with Luktelk
- Luxembourg: TALI with Fighter
- Moldova: Natalia Barbu with In The Middle
- Poland: LUNA with The Tower
- Portugal: iolanda with Grito
- Serbia: TEYA DORA with RAMONDA
- Slovenia: Raiven with Veronika
- Ukraine: alyona alyona & Jerry Heil with Teresa & Maria
Semi-final 2
- Albania: BESA with TITAN
- Armenia: LADANIVA with Jako
- Austria: Kaleen with We Will Rave
- Belgium: Mustii with Before the Party’s Over
- Czechia: Aiko with Pedestal
- Denmark: SABA with SAND
- Estonia: 5MIINUST x Puuluup with (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi
- Georgia: Nutsa Buzaladze with Firefighter
- Greece: Marina Satti with ZARI
- Israel: Eden Golan with Hurricane
- Latvia: Dons with Hollow
- Malta: Sarah Bonnici with Loop
- Netherlands: Joost Klein with Europapa
- Norway: Gåte with Ulveham
- San Marino: MEGARA with 11:11
- Switzerland: Nemo with The Code
Grand Final
- France: Slimane with Mon amour
- Germany: ISAAK with Always On The Run
- Italy: Angelina Mango with La noia
- Spain: Nebulossa with ZORRA
- Sweden: Marcus & Martinus with Unforgettable
- United Kingdom: Olly Alexander with Dizzy