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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Annabel Nugent

Eurovision 2022: When is the final and how to watch it

AFP via Getty Images

The Eurovision Song Contest is back with the grand final on Saturday, 14th of May, broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8pm.

After Italian rock band Maneskin won in 2021, this year’s event will be hosted by Italy, with 26 artists flocking to Turin to represent their countries in the grand final. This year’s UK entry will be Sam Ryder. Find out more about the musician here.

Everything you need to know about the Eurovision 2022 schedule

Semi-final one kicked things off on Tuesday (10 May) with 17 countries battling it out to make it to the grand final.

The countries that made it through in the first semi-final were Armenia, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and Ukraine.

The qualifiers in the second semi-final, which took place on Thursday were Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Sweden.

In February, it was announced that the European Broadcasting Union had barred Russia from participating.

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra will compete at Eurovision (Maxim Fesenko)

“The decision reflects concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year’s contest would bring the competition into disrepute,” said the EBU, who had earlier announced they had no plans to prevent Russia from taking part before backtracking on their statement.

France, the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy are part of a group known as the “big five” who automatically qualify for the grand final on Saturday (14 May) and therefore do not need to compete in the semi-finals.

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