How are the countries chosen to participate in Eurovision?

Eurovision is an annual international music competition that is organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The contest is open to countries that are members of the EBU, which is an alliance of public service media organizations. The EBU was founded in 1950 and currently has over 100 members, including countries in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

To participate in Eurovision, a country must first be a member of the EBU. Once a country is a member, they can then choose to participate in Eurovision by submitting an application to the EBU. The application process typically begins several months before the contest, and the EBU sets a deadline for countries to submit their entries.

Each participating country must then select a performer and song to represent them in the competition. The selection process varies from country to country and can involve public votes, jury votes, or a combination of the two. Once the entries have been selected, they are performed live at the contest, which is typically held in May.