When an artist wants to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, they have to go through a national selection in the country, they will represent. These selections are often organised by the national broadcaster themselves. Some broadcasters will choose their participant in a closed forum, this is called an internal selection. Other countries use big TV shows with public voting to decide who will represent them at the Eurovision Song Contest. In some countries, it’s one big show and in other countries they will have many heats and/or semi-finals before they get to the final.
National selection 2022 overview
Below you find a quick overview of the latest news regarding the selections for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest. The contest will be held in Italy following Måneskin’s victory in May 2021.
Click on me to read about the preparations for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest
In alphabetical order (Not yet complete, but we are working on it):
🇦🇱 Albania: Albania to select through Festivali i Këngës
As tradition, Albania will use their Festivali i Këngës format. The exact dates are not yet known, but it’s expected to be in December 2021 as usual.
🇦🇺 Australia: National final Australia Decides on the 26th of February
From down under, we will see the national final Australia Decides take place on the 26th of February.
🇨🇿 Czech Republic: Most likely an online selection of ESCZ 2022
Czech Republic will use ESCZ to select their 2022 entry. Despite pressure from the local fans, there’s not much hope for a televised national final. It’s expected that it will once again be an online competition, which will take place in January 2022.
🇩🇰 Denmark: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix final on the 5th of March 2022
The Danish final will take place in the city of Herning. Just like 2021, 8 songs will compete. Tina Müller og Martin Brygmann will host the show in which the winner will represent Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest.
🇪🇪 Estonia: Eesti Laul expanded for 2022 selection
A total of 40 competitors will take place in the 2022 Eesti Laul selection, instead of the usual 24. The shows will begin in November 2021 with four quarter-finals before we continue in 2022 with semi-finals and a final. As always, the winner will represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest.
🇫🇮 Finland: UMK to select Finnish Eurovision representative in February 2022
From the 1st to the 6th of September, Finnish broadcaster YLE accepted potential songs for their national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK). One show will select the winner in February 2022.
🇫🇷 France: Eurovision France: C’est vous qui décidez returns for 2022 selection
For their 2022 Eurovision selection, France will use their national final format. Until the 24th of October, the submission window is open to send in songs.
🇳🇴 Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2022 to take place in January and February – Submission window open until 15th of August
Norwegian broadcaster NRK want to prioritise Norwegian music, and strongly encourage that all songs minimum have one Norwegian songwriter on it. Once again, their Melodi Grand Prix selection will consist of preliminary heats and a final. Songs can be submitted up until the 15th of August 2021. The broadcaster will, in addition, also approach people in the music industry themselves.
🇷🇸 Serbia: Beovizija to select Serbian Eurovision participant in February 2022
The submission window opens in June 2021 and close in Mid-November. In February 2022, Serbian broadcaster RTS will host Beovizija 2022 to decide who will represent Serbia at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.
🇸🇪 Sweden: There’s no Melodifestivalen 2022 news just yet
We are still waiting for the first news regarding the Swedish national selection. Per tradition, they will select their entry via Melodifestivalen. The series of shows usually include four preliminary heats, one second chance heat and finally a grand final. Among fans, this show which is also called Melfest and Mello, is rated as one of the highlights of the national final season.
🇳🇱 The Netherlands: A committee to select Dutch 2022 entry – open song submission
Until the 31st of August, Dutch artists can submit their potential Eurovision entries. Maximum three per artists. A special committee, which includes 2021 Eurovision host Jan Smit and former Dutch commentator Cornald Maas, will select the artist and song. Broadcaster AVROTROS says that they are hoping for an artist with a personal story, in any genre.