Channel 10 reports that the semi-final allocation draw for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 to take place on January 28.

The Semi-Final Allocation Draw and Host City Insignia Handover Ceremony will take place on January 28 according to Channel 10. The Israeli broadcaster revealed that the draw will take place at the Beit Ha’Ir in Tel Aviv, which was formally the City Hall.

Both events mark the moment at which Tel Aviv will be officially the host city of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. The Host City Insignia Handover sees the previous years host city, handover a symbolic set of insignia’s from one city to the other.

How does the Semi-Final Allocation Draw work?

The Semi-Final Allocation Draw consists of two parts. In the first part, the six pre-qualified countries (France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the host country, Israel) will each be allocated which semi-final they must broadcast and vote in.

In the second part, the remaining countries will be allocated which of the two semi-finals they will perform in. X number of countries will take part in Semi-Final 1 and X number countries will take part in Semi-Final 2. The semi-finalists have been allocated into six pots based on historical voting patterns.

Tel Aviv will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in the Expo Tel Aviv (International Convention Centre) on May 14, 16 and 18 2019. fter receiving bids from several cities across Israel, the final two remaining candidate cities were Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. KAN recommended Tel Aviv to the Reference Group.

Tickets for the contest will be available by the end of the year. While Tel Aviv has never hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, the “Israel Calling” Party has been held in the city since 2016. Acts from 25 participating countries took part in this year’s event.

Source: Channel 10