Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

Eirodziesma 2006 was the seventh edition of Eirodziesma, the music competition that selects Latvia's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition commenced on 4 February 2006 and concluded with a final on 11 March 2006.

The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals and a final. The semi-finals took place at LTV studios in Riga and the final took place at the Olympic Centre in Ventspils. The three shows were hosted by Uģis Joksts and Kristīne Pekule. The two semi-finals, held on 4 February and 11 February 2006, each featured ten competing entries from which five were selected to advance to the final from each show. The final, held on 11 March 2006, selected the final winner from the ten qualifiers from the semi-finals.

Results during the semi-final shows were determined by a jury and votes from the public. In the semi-finals, the songs first faced a public vote where the top three entries qualified. The jury then selected an additional two qualifiers from the remaining entries to proceed in the competition. In the final, a public vote exclusively determined the winner in two rounds: the first round selected the top three songs and the second round selected the winner.

Artists and songwriters were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 20 September 2005 and 22 November 2005.[1] A record number of 93 songs were submitted at the conclusion of the submission period, and an international and local jury panel evaluated the submitted entries and selected 20 entries to compete in the national final. The international jury panel consisted of Ruslana (2004 Eurovision winner), Arsen Shagiev (Russian music manager), Igor Volk (Russian music producer), Manolo Dias (president of EMI Spain) and Ramūnas Zilnys (Lithuanian journalist). The local jury consisted of Walters & Kazha (2005 Latvian Eurovision entrants), Toms Grēviņš (radio DJ), Uldis Rudaks (music critic), Daiga Mazvērsīte (music expert) and representatives of LTV.[2][3] The twenty competing artists and songs were announced on 6 December 2005.[4]

The first semi-final took place on 4 February 2006. Five entries qualified to the semi-final. The ten competing entries first faced a public televote where the top three entries qualified. A jury then selected an additional two qualifiers from the remaining entries to proceed in the competition.

The second semi-final took place on 11 February 2006. Five entries qualified to the semi-final. The ten competing entries first faced a public televote where the top three entries qualified. A jury then selected an additional two qualifiers from the remaining entries to proceed in the competition.

The final took place on 11 March 2006. The winner was selected over two rounds of public televoting. In the first round, the top three entries were selected to proceed to the second round: "I Hear Your Heart" performed by Cosmos, "Say It Is" performed by Marts Kristiāns Kalniņš & Melomania and "I'm Alone" performed by Jenny May. In the second round, "I Hear Your Heart" performed by Cosmos was declared the winner.[5]