Eurovision National Selection Contest Dates – A List

Starting next Thursday with Estonia’s semi-finals, we dive head first into Eurovision Song Contest national selection season. I have a tracking spreadsheet and a calendar, but both are chaotic, so I decided to simplify things with an old-school list.

UPDATED: January 12, 2023 to add Germany’s national selection date.

Most of the countries hosting a national selection process have announced the dates. We still have a handful of holdouts (I’m looking at you Moldova). Nine countries have chosen the boring internal selection path. And two countries (Ukraine and Albania) are playing the role of Iowa and New Hampshire and have already hosted their selection contests (Europeans, that’s a US Presidential Election analogy).

By putting this list together, we discover that February 11 is shaping up to be Super Saturday. In US election terms, that would be like Super Tuesday – except for pop music. Yep, we run our election process like Eurovision in the United States. Eurovision Song Contest representatives from at least seven countries will be chosen that day. 37 countries are competing in Liverpool this May, which would give us roughly half of the competitors. So block out your calendars and get ready for Eurovisamania.

(please note: these dates are when the event will take place in the United States

January

12: Estonia: Eesti Laul 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 1

13: Malta: MESC 2023 – QUARTER-FINAL 1

14: Belgium: Eurosong 2023 – FINAL

14: Estonia: Eesti Laul 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 2

14: Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – HEAT 1

20: Malta: MESC 2023 – QUARTER-FINAL 2

21: Lithuania: Pabandom iš naujo 2023 – HEAT 1

21: Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – HEAT 2

27: Malta: MESC 2023 – QUARTER-FINAL 3

28: Lithuania: Pabandom iš naujo 2023 – HEAT 2

28: Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – HEAT 3

30: Czech Republic: ESCZ 2023 – FINAL

31: Spain: Benidorm Fest 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 1

February

2: Spain: Benidorm Fest 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 2

3 (pending): Ireland: Eurosong 2023 – FINAL

3: Malta: MESC 2023 – QUARTER-FINAL 4

4: Latvia: Supernova 2023 – SEMI-FINAL

4: Lithuania: Pabandom iš naujo 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 1

4: Norway: Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – FINAL

4: Spain: Benidorm Fest 2023 – FINAL

4: Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2023 – HEAT 1

7: Italy: Sanremo 2023 – Night 1 (14 Songs)

8: Italy: Sanremo 2023 – Night 2 (14 Songs)

9: Italy: Sanremo 2023 – Night 3 (all 28 songs)

9: Malta: MESC 2023 – SEMI-FINAL

10: Italy: Sanremo 2023 – Night 4 (28 covers of previous Eurovision songs)

11: Croatia: Dora 2023 – FINAL

11: Denmark: Melodi Grand Prix 2023 – FINAL

11: Italy: Sanremo 2023 – FINAL

11: Estonia: Eesti Laul 2023 – FINAL

11: Latvia: Supernova 2023 – FINAL

11: Lithuania: Pabandom iš naujo 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 2

11: Malta: MESC 2023 – FINAL

11: Romania: Selecția Națională 2023 – FINAL

11: Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2023 – HEAT 2

18: Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 1

18: Lithuania: Pabandom iš naujo 2023 – FINAL

18: Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2023 – HEAT 3

25: Finland: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2023 – FINAL

25: Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 2

25: Portugal: Festival da Canção 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 1

25: Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2023 – HEAT 4

25: San Marino: Una Voce per San Marino – FINAL

26: Poland: Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję – FINAL

March

1: Serbia: Pesma za Evroviziju 23 – SEMI-FINAL 1

2: Serbia: Pesma za Evroviziju 23 – SEMI-FINAL 2

3: Germany:  Unser Lied für Liverpool – FINAL

4: Iceland: Söngvakeppnin 2023 – FINAL

4: Portugal: Festival da Canção 2023 – SEMI-FINAL 2

4: Serbia: Pesma za Evroviziju 23 – FINAL

4: Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2023 – SEMI-FINAL

11: Portugal: Festival da Canção 2023 – FINAL

11: Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2023 – FINAL

Unannounced Dates or Unknown Selection Process

Georgia: The Voice Georgia – FINAL (in progress)

Moldova: National Selection

Complete or Internal Selections

Albania – Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje

Australia – Artist Unannounced

Austria – Artist Unannounced

Cyprus – Andrew Lambrou :: Song Unannounced

France – La Zarra :: Song Unannounced

Greece – Artist Unannounced

Israel – Noa Kirel :: Song Unannounced

Netherlands – Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper :: Song Unannounced

Slovenia: Joker Out :: Song Unannounced

Switzerland – Artist Unannounced

Ukraine – Tvorchii :: Heart of Steel

United Kingdom – Artist Unannounced