First Semi-Final

DATE & TIME	Tuesday, 12th of May, 2009 (21:00 CET)
WHERE TO WATCH	The first Semi-Final will be broadcast live in the 18 countries represented in the show and several other nations. You can also watch online here on Eurovision.tv!

Artists from 18 countries competed in the first Semi-Final, as ten spots for the Final were at stake. Televoters from the countries that take part in the first Semi-Final and direct finalists United Kingdom and Germany picked nine of them, while the last ticket to the Final was given to the highest ranked contestant from the back-up jury vote who did not qualify through the televoting yet. The 10 qualified acts were announced in random order, and to raise the excitement the ranking and other voting results were not announced until right after the Final.

Second Semi-Final

DATE & TIME	Thursday, 14th of May, 2009 (21:00 CET)
WHERE TO WATCH	The second Semi-Final will be broadcast live in the 19 countries represented in the show and several other nations. You can also watch online here on Eurovision.tv!

Artists from 19 countries competed in the second Semi-Final, as ten spots for the Final were at stake. Televoters from the countries that took part in the second Semi-Final and direct finalists Spain, Russia and France picked nine of them, while the last ticket to the Final was for the highest ranked contestant from the back-up jury vote who did not qualify through the televoting yet. The 10 qualified acts were be announced in random order, and to raise the excitement the ranking and other voting results were not announced until right after the Final.

The Grand Final

DATE & TIME	Saturday, 16th of May, 2009 (21:00 CET)
WHERE TO WATCH	The Grand Final will be broadcast live in all 42 participating countries. You can also watch online here on Eurovision.tv!

The 20 acts that qualified through the two Semi-Finals were joined by the five pre-qualified countries: Russia (the Host Country), France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Viewers and professional juries in all 42 participating countries voted. Viewers and professional juries each had a 50 percent stake in the outcome. The professional juries featured six members in each country. The running order of the 25 represented countries was determined by a draw, right after each of the two Semi-Finals.