The stage is set for the first of two semi-finals for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest due to be broadcast from the Malmö Arena, Sweden, tonight live, from 21:00 to 23:00 CET.

Of the 16 entries, 10 will qualify to the Grand Final of the contest, which takes place on Saturday the 18th of May. The result will be determined by way of a 50/50 split between the combined scores of national expert juries and televoting.

The 16 acts competing tonight for 10 places in Saturday's Grand Final in order of appearance are:

1. Austria: Natália Kelly - Shine
2. Estonia: Birgit - Et Uus Saaks Alguse
3. Slovenia: Hannah - Straight Into Love
4. Croatia: Klapa s mora - Mižerja
5. Denmark: Emmelie de Forest - Only Teardrops
6. Russia: Dina Garipova - What If
7. Ukraine: Zlata Ognevich - Gravity
8. The Netherlands: Anouk - Birds
9. Montenegro: Who See - Igranka
10. Lithuania: Andrius Pojavis - Something
11. Belarus: Alyona Lanskaya - Solayoh
12. Moldova: Aliona Moon - O Mie
13. Ireland: Ryan Dolan - Only Love Survives
14. Cyprus: Despina Olympiou - An Me Thimasai
15. Belgium: Roberto Bellarosa - Love Kills
16. Serbia: Moje 3 - Ljubav Je Svuda

The second of the two semi-finals will take place on Thursday.

For the first time this year, fans will be able to follow the competition through an official app offering interactive televoting. (For more information and to download the official app, visit http://app.eurovision.tv.)

The app, which is available for iOS and Android users, provides news updates, photos and videos 365 days a year, and allows users to download their favourite songs from this year's contest. A further highlight is the app's second-screen functionality, which offers viewers live updates during the shows about the contestants, their songs, opening and interval acts, as well as the results.

Once the songs have been performed, viewers will be able to vote for their favourites via telephone and SMS, as well as via the app. Votes registered via the official app will be rewarded with a video response message from the contestant backstage.

Thirty-nine public service broadcasters will participate in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest on 14, 16 and 18 May.

Click here for a sneak preview of what to expect tonight.

Watch tonight's contest LIVE here on Eurovision.tv!