The number of competing countries at the forthcoming 2016 Eurovision Song Contest has been reduced from 43 to 42 after Romania has been barred to participate in the competition.

Earlier today the EBU announced that TVR, the Romanian national broadcaster was no more elegible to participate at the forthcoming 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, due to the withdrawal of its EBU membership. The initial number of participants at the 2016 ESC was 43, but after today’s announcement it has been brought down to 42.

A total of 36 countries will now battle in the Semi-finals scheduled to be held on 10 and 12 May. 18 coutries will compete in each semi-final. The BIG 5 (France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain) and host country Sweden are pre-qualified to compete in the grand final on Saturday 14 May.

 

The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 10, 12 and 14 May at the Globe Arena in Stockholm.