Credits
Written by
Marcus Klier
Published
20/Aug 2005 at 00:42
Source(s)
esctoday.com
News
A summary
Athens 2006: What is already known?
Only three months have passed since the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, but many countries have already launched information about their appearance in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest which will take place on 18th and 20th of May 2006 in Athens, Greece.
National finals in 2006
In northern Europe, National finals are still popular. The largest of all - Melodifestivalen in Sweden - has already announced the dates of their selection. The final will be held on 18 March. It's rumoured that Magnus from Alcazar as well as Jessica and Magnus, who formed the duo Fame in 2003, this time as solo artists.
Denmark has also announced their dates for their final, which will be on 11th February. The songs are allowed to be performed in any language. Finland will have semifinals and a final, which will take place exactly a month after the Danish final - on 11 March.
It's the turn of the Dutch speaking Flemmish part of Belgium to organize the national final for the country in 2006. Before the final, there will be a series of semifinals. The show will be hosted by Bart Peeters in February. As for their neighbours, the Netherlands, then only a final will be organised, hosted by Paul de Leeuw.
As for Ireland then the casting show You're a star will no longer choose the singer to participate in the contest as in recent years. It is also known that the winner of the latest edition of the Albanian Pop Idol show, Erti Hizmo has won a ticket for the Albanian national final in 2006, like Anjeza Shahini did in 2004.
Internal selections getting more popular
Probably due to the good results last years by artists chosen internally there has been an increase in that area. So far 3 countries have announced that they will choose their representatives this way. Starting with Turkey having three candidates for Athens: Nil, Izel and Sefarad. Turkey used this selection method in 2003 when they won the Eurovision Song Contest and finished 5th the following year with a similar selection method.
The Greek broadcaster ERT wanted to ask Despina Vandi according to MAD. The result of the proposal is not known. The selection will be similar to last year when the singer was chosen by ERT and the audience had the choice between several songs. Switzerland will use the a similar format too because of their last year's success with the Estonian girl-band Vanilla Ninja.
Phil Bosco, Head of Delegation of Monaco, has told esctoday.com that they will be represented in Athens but no official information about their selection process has been released.
But not all countries that have taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest will do that next year. Austria withdrew from the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest after a bad result in 2004 and 2005. Still, presumably 40 countries, together with the possible newcomers Armenia and Georgia, will be allowed to take part in the 51st Eurovision Song Contest.
Related polls
- 1st elimination show in the UK: Your favourite?
- 1st semi final in Iceland: Your favourite?
- Turkey decided: do you like Düm tek tek
- Albania decided: do you like Më mërr në ëndërr?
- Albanian selection concluded: did you like the Festivali i kenges 47?
- Finland: best entry so far?
- Denmark: best entry so far?
- Belgium: best entry 1980-2008?
- Belgium: best entry 1956-1979?
- Austria: best entry so far?
- Albania: best entry so far?
- Which kind of national selection finds the best song for Eurovision?
Go directly to the reactions
Recent news about Austria
Austria: ORF on the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 77
Austria : Global Kryner to release Live in Luxembourg 9
Austria: Self-appointed ambassador Alf Poier presents Satsang 19
Austria: No return to Eurovision in 2009 78
Austria & Monaco back in 2009? 67
Recent news about Bulgaria
Bulgaria: All Be a star semi finalists online 63
Bulgaria: The final nine semi finalists are revealed 10
Bulgaria: the results of the third quarter final 6
Live: third quarter final in Bulgaria 1
Tonight: Bulgaria - 3rd quarter final 2
Recent news about Denmark
Denmark: DR reveals Melodi Grand Prix finalists 19
Denmark: Birthe Kjær returns to Melodi Grand Prix 24
Denmark: national selection will be bigger than expected 8
France: Malene Mortensen live in Paris 12
Denmark: 684 songs submitted for national final 33
Recent news about Georgia
EBU brought Georgia back to Eurovision 65
Georgia returns to the Eurovision Song Contest 58
Georgia wins Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008 213
Georgia will not participate in Moscow Eurovision 180
Day 4: Georgia, Hungary and Malta 116
Recent news about Germany
Germany: No national final for 2009 57
OGAE Germany: Annual club meeting with Eurovision stars 1
Germany: Lights out for Texas Lightning 17
Germany: Live show with Eurovision hits and voting 5
Germany: Johnny Logan and Katrina Leskanich in a Big Party 2
Recent news about Greece
[UPD]Sakis and Jelena on Serbian Operacija Trijumf 100
Greece: Anna Vissi returns with new album 18
Moldova: Sergyo, Natalia Gordienko and the Eurovision 4
Greece: Sakis Rouvas' new album and single 29
Serbia: Zeljko Joksimovic song released in Greece soon 8
Recent news about Ireland
Ireland: Eimear Quinn sings carols for Christmas 6
Ireland: RTÉ publishes rules for Eurosong 2009 10
Ireland: Open selection for Eurovision 2009 15
Exclusive: Ireland to make announcement tomorrow 26
Ireland: Johnny Logan for Eurovision 2009? 108
Recent news about Sweden
Petra Mede to host Melodifestivalen 12
Sweden: Melodifestivalen host to be revealed 13
Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2009 the full line up... 26
Sweden: [UPD]E.M.D. the last Melodifestivalen wildcard 16
Malta: Kevin Borg wins Swedish Idol 2008 44
Recent news about Switzerland
Switzerland: Francine Jordi tops Swiss singles charts 10
Switzerland: Geo Voumard dies at the age of 87 4
Switzerland: DJ Bobos vampires still alive 64
Switzerland: SF call for songs 41
"Cline" won Eurovision... with a song in English 32
Recent news about The Netherlands
Netherlands: [UPD] De Toppers reveal song titles 17
Netherlands: De Toppers songs revealed today 5
The Netherlands: Eurovision party in Den Bosch! 0
Netherlands: De Toppers down to six songs 13
330 Eurovision submissions in The Netherlands 5
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