38 countries confirm participation for 60th Eurovision Song Contest

At least 38 EBU Members will submit entries for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Vienna, Austria on 19, 21 and 23 May.

The participation level is greater than 2014, when 37 countries competed for the Grand Prix in Copenhagen.

The full list of the countries taking part will be revealed shortly. One broadcaster is yet to confirm participation while Greece's presence is currently uncertain as an application by its new public broadcaster NERIT to become an Active Member of the EBU is pending.

After the closure of former EBU Member ERT in the summer of 2013, NERIT was granted special permission to participate in the 2014 Contest but this will not be extended to the 2015 event.

The earliest that NERIT could become an Active Member of the EBU is at the Winter session of the General Assembly in December 2014.

To participate in Vienna NERIT must be a full EBU Member by the time of the allocation draw for the Contest's semi finals in January.

The 2015 Contest is the Diamond Jubilee edition of the annual competition which first took place in Lugano, Switzerland in 1956. The EBU is planning a number of activities in parallel with the contest to celebrate its 60th anniversary.