Four heats took place on 8, 15, 22 and 29 January 2006. From each heat, seven entries competed and three proceeded to the semi-finals. Out of the remaining non-qualifying acts from the heats, two wildcard acts were selected to proceed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals took place on 5 and 12 February 2006. From each semi-final, seven entries competed and three proceeded to the final. Out of the remaining non-qualifying acts from both semi-finals, a wildcard act was selected to proceed to the final. The results of the heats and semi-finals were determined by five voting groups: a four-member expert jury, a press jury, two radio juries in Radio 2 and Radio Donna, and public televoting. Each jury had an equal stake in the result and the public televote had a weighting equal to the votes of two juries. The final took place on 19 February 2006 where the winner was chosen. The results were determined by seven voting groups: the expert jury, a press jury, three international juries consisting of four music experts and four television viewers each, two radio juries in Radio 2 and Radio Donna, and public televoting. Each jury had an equal stake in the result and the public televote had a weighting equal to the votes of three juries.