The EBU has announced today that the BIG 5 countries and the host country Sweden will perform during the semifinals of the forthcoming 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.

This one of the new changes that will be implemented at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest. The decision was taken last week during the Reference Group meeting in Berlin. We will see the BIG 5 ( Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France)+ host country Sweden perform at the semifinals.

To avoid the need to extend the length of the Semfinals, shortened clips of the BIG 5 and host country stage performances will be shown, recorded during the previous night’s  Jury Semifinal (dress rehearsal).

Hence these 6 countries will have to travel to Stockholm a few days earlier and will be included in the semifinal rehearsals. The BIG 5 and Sweden will remain pre-qualified to compete in the grand final.

The BIG 5 and the 2016 host country will perform in the semifinal they’ll be alloted in. Germany has been allocated to perform and vote in the Second Semifinal on 12 May. The allocation of the semifinals will be determined by a draw early next year.

EBU’s Mr. Jon Ola Sand is very pleased with the decision:

It will look so much better to show the Big Five and the host country on the Eurovision Song Contest stage, performing their act as it will be in the Grand Final. More rehearsal time means better performances and a better TV show, since the production crew has more time to get acquainted with the act.

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

Stay tuned to ESCToday for the latest news on the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.