Six songs competed in each semi-final with the top three as selected by a public televote alongside a jury wildcard advancing to the final.

Performing during the show in position 12, "Unbroken" was not announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore did not qualify to compete in the final.

Since the introduction of semi-finals to the format of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, Iceland has, to this point, only failed to qualify to the final three times.

In 2014, Iceland managed to qualify to the final and placed fifteenth with the song "No Prejudice" performed by the band Pollapönk.

[2] Since 2006, Iceland has used a national final to select their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, a method that continued for their 2015 participation.

[3] Söngvakeppnin 2015 was the national final format developed by RÚV in order to select Iceland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

The three shows in the competition were hosted by Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Guðrún Dís Emilsdóttir and Salka Sól Eyfeld and all took place at the Háskólabíó venue in Reykjavík.

[5] The final was also broadcast via radio on Rás 2 and streamed online at the Eurovision Song Contest official website eurovision.tv.

However, exceptions would be made for minor collaborations with foreign songwriters as long as two-thirds of the composition and half of the lyrics are by Icelandic composers/lyricists.

[16][17] "Milljón augnablik" performed by Haukur Heiðar Hauksson was awarded the jury wildcard and also proceeded to the final.

[21][22] The jury panel that voted in the first round consisted of:[23] In addition to the performances of the competing artists, the show was opened by 2014 Icelandic Eurovision entrant Pollapönk, while the interval acts featured guest performances by Magni Ásgeirsson, Jógvan Hansen, Páll Rósinkranz, 2008 Icelandic Eurovision entrant Friðrik Ómar and Bjarni Arason.

[30] On 26 January 2015, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.

[36][37] The backing vocalists that joined María Ólafs were: Friðrik Dór, the co-composer of "Unbroken" Ásgeir Orri Ásgeirsson, Alma Rut Kristinsdóttir, Íris Hólm Jónsdóttir and Hera Björk Þórhallsdóttir.

[38] At the end of the show, Iceland was not announced among the top 10 entries in the second semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final.

The jury consisted of five music industry professionals who were citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency.

This jury was asked to judge each contestant based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act.