Representatives of eighteen countries who will perform at the first semi-final, rehearsed at Baku Crystal Hall, the event venue built especially for the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. The semi-finals will be held between May 22-24, and the final will take place on May 26. Azerbaijan won the rights to host the European song contest after the victory of Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal at the Eurovision 2011, which was held in Dusseldorf, Germany.