On Tuesday, 28 January 2025, the allocation draw for the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 took place at Basel’s iconic City Hall in Switzerland.
This draw determined which countries will perform in each semi-final and in which half of the show they will appear.
Semi-Final Distribution
A total of 37 countries will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The first semi-final will feature 15 countries, while the second semi-final will have 16 participants. This distribution means that an additional country will be eliminated in the second semi-final.
Direct Finalists
As usual, the ‘Big Five’ countries—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom—along with the host country, Switzerland, are automatically qualified for the grand final on Saturday, 17 May 2025.
The semi-final allocation draw is a significant event in the lead-up to the Eurovision Song Contest, as it sets the path to the final for the participating countries. Fans and participants are now eagerly anticipating the shows in May to see who will qualify for the grand final.
Here are the results of the allocation draw:
Semi-Final 1, First Half: Estonia, Iceland, Ukraine, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden
Semi-Final 1, Second Half: Albania, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, Netherlands, Norway, San Marino
Pre-qualified countries voting in Semi-Final 1: Italy, Spain, and Switzerland
Semi-Final 2, First Half: Armenia, Australia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Austria
Semi-Final 2, Second Half: Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malta, Serbia, Czechia
Pre-qualified countries voting in Semi-Final 2: Germany, France, United Kingdom
Based on the latest information from the Semi-Final Allocation Draw held on 28 January 2025 in Basel, here is the updated list of participating countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, including their assigned semi-final and the half of the show they will perform in:
| Country | Semi-Final | Half |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | First | Second |
| Armenia | Second | First |
| Australia | Second | First |
| Austria | Second | First |
| Azerbaijan | First | Second |
| Belgium | First | Second |
| Croatia | First | Second |
| Cyprus | First | Second |
| Czechia | Second | Second |
| Denmark | Second | Second |
| Estonia | First | First |
| Finland | Second | Second |
| Georgia | Second | Second |
| Greece | Second | First |
| Iceland | First | First |
| Ireland | Second | First |
| Israel | Second | Second |
| Latvia | Second | First |
| Lithuania | Second | First |
| Luxembourg | Second | Second |
| Malta | Second | Second |
| Montenegro | Second | First |
| Netherlands | First | Second |
| Norway | First | Second |
| Poland | First | First |
| Portugal | First | First |
| San Marino | First | Second |
| Serbia | Second | Second |
| Slovenia | First | First |
| Sweden | First | First |
| Ukraine | First | First |
The ‘Big Five’ countries—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom—along with the host nation, Switzerland, are automatically qualified for the Grand Final. The specific running order for the semi-finals will be decided by the producers at a later time.