SRF, the Swiss- German speaking national broadcaster has confirmed to ESCToday that Switzerland will compete in the forthcoming 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.
Thus Switzerland is the 14th country to confirm its participation at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest scheduled to be held on 10, 12 and 14 May at the Globe Arena in Stockholm.
Switzerland will yet again select its Eurovision entry and act for 2016 via a national selection. SRF, RTR, RTS and RSI will once more collaborate and search for the best act to defend the Swiss colours in Stockholm. SRF has published the rules and regulations for its national selection.
Artists wishing to enter the SRF Eurovision internet selection can do so by uploading their entry and video on SRF’s digital platfom from 28 September- 26 October. A total of 10 acts will be shorlisted from the SRF/RTR digital platform and will pass on to the 2nd phase of the selection- the live audition.
At the live audition the 10 candidates from SRF/RTR will meet 6 acts selected by RTS and 3 acts selected by RSI. All 19 acts will showcase their talent enfront of an expert jury. The expert jury will select 6 candidates for the next phase ( 3 from SRF/RTR, 2 from RTS and 1 from RSI).
The 2016 Swiss national final is scheduled to be held on Saturday 13 February at Kreuzlingen where a total of 6 acts ( 3 SRF/RTR , 2 RTS and 1 RSI) will battle for the golden ticket to Stockholm. The 2016 Swiss Eurovision entry will be determined via a 50/50 jury televoting deliberation.
In 2014 Switzerland opted for a national selection in order to select its Eurovision entry for Vienna. Melanie Rene represented Switzerland at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest with her entry Time to shine. Despite an extraordinary performance she failed to qualify to the grand final.
Switzerland is one of the founder countries of the Eurovision Song Contest and it is the country that hosted the very first edition of the competition in 1956. The Swiss have the won the event twice; in 1956 with Lys Assia and in 1988 with Celine Dion.