Candidates for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 (ESC) in Malmö, Sweden have been finalized about two months before the competition.
On Saturday, co-hosts Sweden and Portugal chose their entries. The host nations gain automatic entry into the final contest on May 11.
The so-called "Big Five" nations - Germany, Britain, Spain, France and Italy - are also guaranteed a place in the final because of their ESC sponsorship.
While the ESC is a self-proclaimed "apolitical" event, the attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and others and the subsequent war in Gaza is affecting the competition.
Israel's participation in the ESC has led to criticism and threats of boycott in some countries, with some artists calling for Israel to be excluded from the ESC because of the war.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) initially said the lyrics in the Israeli entry were too political and asked that they be rewritten. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also favoured a rewrite.
The Israeli broadcaster Kan initially announced that it did not want to edit the text, but then reversed its decision. Otherwise, this would have cost Israel its participation in the ESC.
Croatia is seen as one of the favourites this year. International betting agencies rate the chances of artist Baby Lasagna and his song "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" very highly. But he has to qualify first in the May 7 semi-final.
This year - the 68th ESC - is the 50th anniverary of a win by the Swedish pop group Abba in Brighton, England with their song "Waterloo" which went on to become an international hit.