Sweden is hosting the 68th Eurovision Contest.

The UK automatically qualifies for the grand final, but singer Olly Alexander showcased Britain's entry Dizzy at the first semi-final, on Tuesday.

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual televised competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Songs must be original and no more than three minutes long.

Lead vocals must be live, and a maximum of six singers and dancers are allowed.

Most Eurovision countries are European, but Australia takes part every year, after being invited to join Eurovision's 60th anniversary celebrations in 2015. However, Australia cannot host if it ever wins.

Other non-European countries including Israel participate because they are members of the EBU.

She became the first woman to win the contest twice, after triumphing in 2012 with Euphoria.

This is the seventh time the contest has been held in Sweden, and the third time in Malmo.

The contest is hosted by actor Malin Åkerman, and presenter and comedian Petra Mede, who was also at the helm in 2013 and 2016.

The grand final will be at the Malmo Arena on Saturday 11 May.

Sweden will be the first country to perform, after a random draw.

The first semi-finals were on Tuesday 7 May, while the second round will take place on Thursday 9 May.

Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK are guaranteed places in the final, so do not compete in either semi-final.

However, the host country and "big five" are performing their songs during the semi-finals.

Moldova, Iceland, Australia, Poland and Azerbaijan have gone home.

Sixteen countries will feature in the second semi-final on Thursday 9 May, including Austria, Denmark, Greece and Israel.

Alexander is well-known around Europe for hits including Desire, King and If You're Over Me.

He is also a Bafta-nominated actor, having played the lead role in Channel 4's hard-hitting Aids drama It's A Sin.

The lyrics now tell the story of a woman experiencing a personal crisis, according to Israel's public broadcaster, Kan.

Separately, musicians and organisations from a number of countries have called for Israel to be suspended over the war in Gaza.

Iceland's Association of Composers and Lyricists said Israel's military action made its participation incompatible with an event "characterised by joy and optimism".

Eurovision organisers have resisted calls for Israel's exclusion, saying the situations in Ukraine and Gaza are different.

The EBU has also said that abuse and harassment of artists over Israel's participation is "unacceptable".

The semi-finals are decided entirely by a public vote from competing countries and people in the rest of the world.

Audiences in the UK, Germany, Sweden and the other countries which are not competing in either semi-final can vote.

For the final, every country which qualifies awards two sets of scores: one from a jury of experts and one by fans.

Each of their 10 favourite songs is given points - but they cannot vote for their own country's song.

Their favourite act receives 12 points, their second-favourite 10 points, their third choice eight points, and then seven points, and so on, down to one point for their 10th favourite.

Eurovision was one of the first televised competitions to let viewers vote.

Fans in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK began voting by phone in 1997.

The rest of the world was allowed to vote in 2023, with points given to the 10 most popular songs worldwide.

Each participating broadcaster pays an entrance fee to the EBU.

France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK pay the most, although the BBC does not make its contribution public.

It is thought staging the 2023 event in Liverpool cost the BBC between £8m and £17m. The UK government pledged £10m, while local authorities in Liverpool committed £4m.