Countries of 2016

[lavieenrose]

I think we could potentially have the highest number of participants to date.
It's pretty safe to say that Moldova, Russia, Armenia, Albania and Serbia will participate, buffing the number up to 40.
San Marino, Portugal, Montenegro and Croatia are all possible participants as well, making it 44.
And if for some godforsaken reason Slovakia decides to return alongside Australia, that makes 46 participants.

I reckon there'll be at least 1 withdraw though.

I'd put Portugal in the upper category since they've already started talking about FdC, which means we have even more insurance in re the perennial goal of 40!

 

[Leydan]

I thought the maximum number of participants was 45?

 

[Krishoes]

I thought the maximum number of participants was 45?

According to this source it seems it's 46

 

[Leydan]

According to this source it seems it's 46

oh, well 46 then.

 

[Ritararita]

What exactly would happen in case when more than 46 countries would have been interested in participation?

 

[DanielLuis]

It was 45 because the maximum was 20 participants in each semi-final plus the big 4 and the host. As we now have a big 5 the limit is 46.
I guess if there is ever more than 46 countries wanting to participate, they'll introduce again a relegation system or something like that, which they used in the 90s and early 00s.

 

[A-lister]

It was 45 because the maximum was 20 participants in each semi-final plus the big 4 and the host. As we now have a big 5 the limit is 46.
I guess if there is ever more than 46 countries wanting to participate, they'll introduce again a relegation system or something like that, which they used in the 90s and early 00s.

Watch them pick Australia over some European countries if they will stick to their limit rule... oOX ... they already gave them special treatment so


Anyways I'm very happy to see , , , returning for now (let's just cross our fingers that they'll do it officially in the end)...

It would also be really cool to see and back aswell and hopefully , , , , , , , would announce their participations soon aswell... this would mean that for a change all European countries (except for some micro-states plus ) would take part and we'd have a record of countries!!!

With some European countries out, Eurovision simply never feels fully complete!

 

[lilka]

Still no official news from ...

 

[Leydan]

It was 45 because the maximum was 20 participants in each semi-final plus the big 4 and the host. As we now have a big 5 the limit is 46.
I guess if there is ever more than 46 countries wanting to participate, they'll introduce again a relegation system or something like that, which they used in the 90s and early 00s.

That will likely find San Marino being binned off then.

 

[ClassifiedCat]

Still no official news from ...

On their website they said they'd be going in for 2016. Of course, technically no country has officially confirmed as these are provisional participants.

 

[esc87fan]

Still no official news from ...

Poland can into 2016
http://eurovoix.com/2015/09/09/poland-eurovision-2016-participation-confirmed/

 

[lilka]

Poland can into 2016
http://eurovoix.com/2015/09/09/poland-eurovision-2016-participation-confirmed/

I saw this note, but it's nothing official.

 

[blue00eyes]

I'm sure we're in

 

[lilka]

I'm sure we're in

I was, now I'm not.

 

[lavieenrose]

No one else confirmed today.

OMG DISASTER.

 

[DanielLuis]

I have high hopes that no country will withdraw this year. I hope so as well. We could really be heading into a record breaking year

 

[Kaz]

That will likely find San Marino being binned off then.

Though, they have one saving grace..

 

[EDC0708]

Regarding the reintroduction of a relegation system, I believe there has been one technically in place since 2004 (with the exception of 2007 when the EBU increased the maximum number to 42 instead of 40 to let everyone take part, otherwise Czech Republic and Georgia would have had to wait an extra year to debut), I think it is based on how many times the broadcaster has participated in previous contests, rather than results. It could also depend on whether Australia is continuing to participate, and if they continue as an automatic finalist or as a semi finalist, with seven automatic finalists, that could put the maximum number up to 47, with 20 countries allowed in each semi.

This was in the rules for the 2014 contest:
"If more than 45 countries apply to participate in the ESC, the Reference Group shall decide which countries shall have priority to participate. One criterion may be to give priority to countries which have participated the most often in the five previous editions of the ESC. The remaining countries shall be placed on a waiting list and shall be notified accordingly. If a place becomes available in one of the Semi-Finals the Reference Group shall decide, preferably through a draw, which Member shall have the right to participate."

 

[tuorem]

This was in the rules for the 2014 contest:
"If more than 45 countries apply to participate in the ESC, the Reference Group shall decide which countries shall have priority to participate. One criterion may be to give priority to countries which have participated the most often in the five previous editions of the ESC. The remaining countries shall be placed on a waiting list and shall be notified accordingly. If a place becomes available in one of the Semi-Finals the Reference Group shall decide, preferably through a draw, which Member shall have the right to participate."

I don't get this, where do they draw the line? Does it only apply to countries that are late to confirm their participation? Otherwise, it could mean a country like Czech Republic that participated a couple of times - and that confirmed already - would eventually be rejected because it's full house and older participants prevail? That's awful to countries that are relatively "new" to the contest.

 

[Chorizo]

I think they could just allow more countries in the semis, if ever necessary. I doesn't really matter if there are 20, 21 or 22 countries and the semis are just two hours long, so the runtime could be easily extended.