STOCKHOLM (AP) 鈥 The southern Swedish city of Malmo will host the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in the same venue that housed the colorful and eclectic music competition in 2012, the Swedish organizers said Friday.
The 68th edition will be held at the Malmo Arena, and the live televised final has been set for May 11, with semi-finals on May 7 and May 9.
Sweden鈥檚 third largest city 鈥 which also hosted the event in 1992 and 2012 鈥 was picked in what organizers called called a 鈥渟trong bid process鈥 examining venues, accommodations for visitors, infrastructure and other factors.
鈥淢almo was eventually chosen as it met all the criteria," said executive producer Ebba Adielsson at Sweden's public broadcaster SVT.
In May, Sweden won this year's contest in Liverpool, England, with the power ballad 鈥淭attoo鈥 by , who also won the 2012 Eurovision. The host country usually is the winner of the previous year鈥檚 event, but 2022 runner-up on behalf of the winner, Ukraine.
Loreen was only the second person to take the pop crown twice. Ireland鈥檚 Johnny Logan was the first double winner, in the 1980s.
Loreen's 2023 win was Sweden鈥檚 seventh victory, matching Ireland鈥檚 record. The Scandinavian country has won seven times and has staged the competition three times in Stockholm 鈥 in 1975, 2000 and 2016, twice in Malmo, and once in Goteborg in 1985.
Swedish supergroup ABBA shot to fame by winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with 鈥淲aterloo.鈥
Launched in 1956 to foster unity after World War II, Eurovision evolved over the years from a bland ballad-fest to a campy, feelgood extravaganza. It has grown from seven countries to as many as 40, including non-European nations such as Israel and far-away Australia.
Participating countries send acts who are selected through national competitions or by broadcasters. Six countries automatically qualify: last year鈥檚 winner and the 鈥淏ig Five鈥 who pay the most to the contest -- France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Britain.
Malmo sits 615 kilometers (about 380 miles) south of Stockholm and across from the Danish capital of Copenhagen with which it is linked by a tunnel and bridge.
