Kross-European Song Contest of 1956

10th May 1956

[Final]

12th May 1956

 Austria

 Belgium

 Bulgaria

 Cyprus

 Czechoslovakia

 Denmark

 Finland

 France

 Germany

 East Germany

 Greece

 Hungary

 Iceland

 Ireland

 Israel

 Italy

 Liechtenstein

 Luxembourg

 Malta

 Monaco

 Netherlands

 Norway

 Poland

 Portugal

 Romania

 San Marino

 Spain

 Sweden

 Switzerland

 Turkey

 United Kingdom

 Wales

 Yugoslavia

This was the 31st edition of the contest and was held in May 1956. Kross Company again collaborated with RECORDZA and EmbeX for the edition of the contest. The contest was to be hosted in the 2nd week of May like the 1950, 1952, 1954 contests with semi finals on the Wednesday and Thursday and the final on the Saturday. This meant the first semi final would be held on 9th May 1956, the second semi final on the 10th May 1956 and the Grand Final on 12th May 1956. Due to Marie Francis' departure, Kiana Rätz from Switzerland stepped in (previous being Assistant Director from 1951 until now)

## Hosting

Because Albania won the previous edition, hosting rights were given to them. Maybe were concerned they would not be interested in the contest due to soviet influence but the contest was hosted there none the less.

## Participants

There were 35 participants in the contest. The following countries used a national selection:

The following countries used an internal selection:

* Andorra
* Albania
* Austria
* Bulgaria
* Cyprus
* Finland
* East Germany
* Iceland
* Israel
* Liechtenstein
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Monaco
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* San Marino
* Turkey
* Wales
* Yugoslavia

## Semi Final Grouping

The automatic qualifiers for this contest would be the regular big five. This means there would be 30 countries in the Semi Finals split into 15 in the first and 15 in the second. 8 would qualify from each making a final of 21 countries. Each pot would have 5 countries.

## Semi Final 1

The qualifying countries from the first semi final are:

* Netherlands (automatic qualifier)
* France (automatic qualifier)
* Denmark (1st place with 237 points)
* Germany (2nd place with 208 points)
* Czechia (3rd place with 207 points)
* Bulgaria (4th place with 191 points)
* Sweden (5th place with 158 points)
* Turkey (6th place with 142 points)
* Austria (7th place with 135 points)
* Cyprus (8th place with 119 points)

## Semi Final 2

ookmaker's BredictionsP

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The qualifying countries from the second semi final are:

* Italy (automatic qualifier)
* Switzerland (automatic qualifier)
* United Kingdom (automatic qualifier)
* Belgium (1st place with 272 points)
* Norway (2nd place with 253 points)
* Hungary (3rd place with 242 points)
* East Germany (4th place with 195 points)
* Wales (5th place with 191 points)
* Greece (6th place with 190 points)
* Portugal (7th place with 167 points)
* Malta (8th place with 151 points)

## Grand Final

The first table will include votes from all participating countries (all 21)

The second table will include all non-participating countries in the final (13) along with the televote and any left over participating countries that didn't fit on the first table.

Simplified Leaderboard including the Semi Finals.

## Awards

### Bekaert Awards

 Best Voice
 Best Performance

### Bookmaker Predictions

 2nd
 3rd
 4th
 5th

### Public Predictions

 2nd
 3rd
 4th
 5th