Why Eurovision 2024 'big five' of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK automatically qualify for final

Eurovision is back for another year with millions of people across the globe expected to tune in. The competition kicks off on Tuesday with the first semi-final, followed by the second on Thursday and the grand final on Saturday night.

This year 37 countries are competing in the 68th contest - with only 26 qualifying for Saturday's final. However, from these 26, six countries do not need to take part in either semi-final and automatically get to take part at the weekend.

The first country that automatically qualifies this year is Sweden. As they won the 2023 contest in Liverpool with Loren and her song Tattoo they get a free pass into the final as they are hosting the competition at Malmo Arena.

READ MORE: When and where Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is taking place

France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK also get to compete in Saturday's final without having to qualify. This is because these are the group of countries that make the biggest financial contributions to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) which owns and operates Eurovision.

As a result in 2000, a rule was created that allowed them direct entry into the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. This means they will also get to sing in the final without having to qualify in the semi-final.

The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 9, with the final on Saturday, May 11. All three live programmes - both Semi Finals and the Grand Final - will once again be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2024.