Is the Eurovision Song Contest officially cancelled? That’s the question on everyone’s minds following Tuesday’s Reference Group meeting. The Reference Group is essentially the Executive Committee for all members participating in Eurovision. Its purpose is to control and guide the Eurovision Song Contest. Host broadcasters of the show remain on the group for the following two years after their edition to help advise the current host broadcaster. And on Tuesday the group had to deal with the unprecedented reality that the coronavirus pandemic may force them to cancel this year’s song contest.
Is Eurovision cancelled? Reference Group addresses pandemic fears
On Monday the Euro 2020 football tournament was postponed by one year and the French Open tennis tournament was pushed back to September and October. And on the same day officials in charge of our beloved contest had to discuss their options amid the ongoing pandemic.
Citing unnamed sources, the main news programme of KAN — Israel’s state broadcaster — has said that the contest will be cancelled and that the decision is likely to be revealed on Wednesday.
??????? ?????? | ?????????? 2020 ??????? ???? ??????. ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ???
?????? ?? @shani_na ???? #????????? pic.twitter.com/IvkFuRjonm— ??? ????? (@kann_news) March 17, 2020
KAN’s culture correspondent Shani Nahshoni reports that “out of the options to postpone or cancel, it appears the contest will be cancelled this year.” She adds that the EBU will make the announcement official “probably” on Wednesday.
We should point out that this has not been confirmed officially.
Sources close to the Reference Group tell Wiwibloggs that it discussed at least three options — holding an online only show with no audience; delaying the show to the end of summer; and delaying the show to May 2021 with Rotterdam as host city.
Earlier on Monday, Icelandic media claimed that the contest was in fact cancelled. When they reached out to Iceland’s Head of Delegation Felix Bergsson, he said he could not confirm the news.
“It would be extremely sad if that were the case,” he said. “We just have to see what comes out of this meeting today.”
“I’m not going to have any more words about this but I don’t believe they will turn it off. I just can’t believe it.”
The European Broadcasting Union responds
Earlier today, the EBU issued a statement via the official Eurovision social media accounts that addressed those wanting more information about the fate of Eurovision 2020.
An update about the #Eurovision Song Contest 2020. pic.twitter.com/z2eWk6Bp3g
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) March 17, 2020
In their statement, the EBU wrote:
“We know you are anxiously waiting news about the future of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
“With a constantly changing situation regarding coronavirus and a large number of people to consult, every important element needs to be taken into consideration.
“Please bear with us. We hope to have more information shortly.”
The Netherlands: Restrictions to fight the coronavirus cast doubt on Eurovision 2020
On Thursday the Netherlands introduced strict measures to slow the spread of Covid-19. These included a ban on events over 100 people. They then extended these restrictions amid a mounting death toll. The situation in the Netherlands is likely to get worse before it gets better. As Reuters reports, the nation’s healthcare minister has already stated that additional measures are likely.
“I am certain these will not be our last measures, the situation keeps developing very rapidly and we will keep deciding on further measures based on the knowledge of experts,” Bruno Bruins said. “I cannot speculate on what measures these will be, but it is clear that more will follow.”
Schools and childcare centers across the nation have shut. They will remain closed until April 6 under the current restrictions. Cafes and restaurants are also shut, as well as sports clubs, saunas, and coffee shops.
Restrictions imposed by foreign governments also complicated the picture. Australia, for instance, has ordered its citizens not to travel abroad. Such restrictions would, no doubt, impact the ability of acts to participate in the song contest.
For detailed information about the coronavirus/COVID-19 and how to stay healthy, please visit the World Health Organisation web site.
What’s saddest is four of the top five countries in the odds were they to win would be winners for the first time (BUL LIT ICE) or hasn’t won in over 30 years (SUI). That’s what I’m going to miss the most. I think I’ll go home tonight and watch a rerun of one of the contests. 🙁
They don’t want to do refunds so the are procrastinating…. money over public safety! The Euro wins again…..maybe.
Uhm okay, so how am I gonna get my money back, mister Jon Ola Sand?
I must say that all of this mess, whilst disheartening, is restoring my faith in the human race. The vast majority of teenagers, those in their 20s and 30s won’t be adversely affected personally by this virus, but to see everyone putting their disappointment aside to help the very vulnerable people in our society makes me quite emotional really.
Dutch networks NOS has just announced that ESC 2020 has been canceled. The contest will take place in the Netherlands but at a later time that has not been disclosed.
EUROVISION IS CANCELLED OFFICIALLY
It would be sad to have no ESC this year, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world. We can all take it.
If they do cancel it, I hope the EBU can pull off some sort of a non-competition entertainment event with all of the participating countries making a certain contribution via satellite. It could ease the tension and bring us all together for a little while.
I think the best option is to postpone it until Septemper. I”m really sad for choosen artists and songs.
.
Just have the artists sing while wearing respirator masks.
As far as I’m concerned with the lockdown. I don’t really think cancellation is the best option. What the countries ar going to do with the chosen artists and their songs? Wouldn’t be fair to cancelled it. And certainly wouldn’t be positive to preserve all these songs until May 2021. The best option in my opinion is to postpone it until June or until September. China is already reopening after 1.5 months.
I agree with Jack. Although safety is at upmost concern right now, pulling the plug is not the solution. Right now, too many countries are divided politically, and the ESC represents these countries’ artists at their best. Without the contest, thoughts of Europeans turn to their governments and Covid 19. Moving it to September would show the world what the contest is all about.
Seeing all these people not caring about people’s lives and only caring about Eurovision like petulant children makes me ashamed to be a Eurovision fan. It makes me not want to be associated with them.
Rasmus, you should not be associated with your government that hasnt done anything to stop the spread of the virus.
You are not alone. I feel exactly the same. But I strongly believe that these are a minority, a bunch of selfish and ignorant people that don’t care if there’s life outside the bubble. We don’t deserve such attitudes in our community. I want to believe that most of the fans will show respect to people losing their beloved ones, and love to the artists that are concerned about their health and safety. We don’t need Eurovision to unite us guys, help your communities and do something useful to help us get over these dark times. Let’s celebrate music once… Read more »
Omg Rasmus and his multiple accounts wants the contest cancelled because Swedish government hasnt done anything to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Not everything evolves around Sweden, thank god. Wishing a speed recovery to those affected and well done to those that their government are taking measures to protect them.
The swedish government is aiming for an immunity. That is much more efficient than going in lockdown mode ?
Hasn’t done anything? Our health ministry and experts are well into the topic. Half of every county’s population will get infected. Slowly or quickly. What happens if you take actions too soon is that the virus don’t spread. Few people are immune. The hospitals can handle the situation with ease. Then the virus has stopped spreading. You release people and… the virus spreads BIG TIME. Few people are immune, so people are not really protected. It’s hard to take the strongest actions one more time, because people stop trusting you. In Sweden they want to take every action at the… Read more »
All those asking for Eurovision to be cancelled makes me wonder whether they are idiots or trolls. Eurovision wont be cancelled, deal with it. They will move the contest in early September as rumors say and thats the best solution. The Netherlands waited more than 40 years to win and host. Who are you to take this opportunity from them? Coronavirus cant last forever, life will get back to normal in some months. Grow up
People who care more about Eurovision than public health are idiots.
who told you that i dont care about public health? Do you have evidence that coronavirus will continue until december? Its not feasible to have so many countries in lockdown for months, idiot. Enough with the stupid propaganda by scared swedish trolls because their government havent done anything and they have more than 1.000 cases.
P.S. When EBU announces that the contest will be postponed to September, i will wait you in the comment section of the article. Will you show up, bjorn?
Do you have evidence that coronavirus will NOT continue until December?
Yes. China is steadily stoping the lockdown measures and cases of coronavirus are decreasing. Google is your friend. Try to read the news.
I won’t trust the news about China’s decreasing cases…
China has been lying all along about so many things, including the severity of the symptoms, and they have enforced an extremely strict lockdown that will never happen in Europe. The information we have here is that the pandemic in Europe is expected to last at least 3 to 4 months.
P.S. I’m a healthcare professional. I don’t need to google. I read scientific studies and I’m getting direct information within the healthcare system.
UEFA’s Eurocup, CONMEBOL’s Copa América, Formula 1, NBA, NFL, NBL, MLS, Glastonbury Festival, etc etc have all been postponed to at least 2021. It’s only a matter of time (hours) before the EBU announce Eurovision won’t be happening this year either. To think otherwise is idiotic.
These are sports events that happen every other year. Eurovision is an annual event. Rotterdam 2020 is happening even in October. Now stop crying because your government hasnt done anything because they copy the UK stupid policy. I ll see you in the comments section of the article about the new date of the contest 😉
Any new date is subject to change. Even if the contest is postponed to September, how can you guarantee that the virus will go away by then?
So now jack.. What do you say?
Wow, you must feel like a fool. Eurovision cancelled. I guess you can take your head out of a dark place now.
Oh, Thank you for this fantastic information and prognoses. You seem so much more certain than WHO and scientists about this issue. So I’m going to trust my feelings and just forget about what they all say ;-*
Can you site a scientific article that Coronavirus pandemic will last for 1 year? I am waiting
Can you cite a scientific article that says the Covid-19 pandemic won’t last for more than a year? I am waiting.
You really dont care about people health…
The Netherlands waited more than 40 years. …so what?? There are contries that have waited far more than 40 years and have never won , nobody whines about it…GROW UP
Don’t be so selfish- when it comes to health and life, no song contest is worth to organise and take risk…
If its cancelled which i hope its not the case. Are all the artists being replaced to 2021 then? i mean all countries have selections to choose the artists.
Wow! So cool Linus!
Think of a melodifestivalen where the price is just the honour and not going to esc. Maybe they can reboot the show on those grounds. The musicians can just focus on their music. We could even have live music because there is no esc rulebook to think about. It could be really cool
stop replying to yourself.
Because we are both Swedish, we are now suddenly the same person?
If you look on coments in different topics you would understand that we can both be Swedish yet have diferent tastes and opinions. Yet, when Linus discuss Sweden I am more than willing to discuss it with him.
I’m sorry if two swedes is too much for you
It’s so hard because I don’t want an online contest with remote performances. I can already envision the flashbacks to 2015 with all the technical and camera issues. I want the real deal, the wonderful Eurovision we all know and love. But at the same time, we all know that at this point in time this is simply not possible.
I do sincerely hope they will postpone, because it will be a real shame if it is cancelled altogether.
Well maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t get to attached to any song that much… Also it’s ok to be sad if it’s canceled. Yes, public health comes first but you should be able to upset that something really important to you isn’t going to happen. I know personally I discovered esc in a time when I was struggling and it made me feel a lot better and connected me with a community of people as weird as I am. Not only that, it helped me realize my dream of moving to The Netherlands. Esc has done so much… Read more »
As an Israeli, you should not take our media for granted..
Why not? It seems pretty accurate, considering the fact that the Icelandic news also confirmed it.
Eurovision is cancelled, can anyone see other options?
Iceland said that BEFORE the meeting took place.
are you hinting that Eurovision is NOT cancelled?
open your eyes.
Take a look at the website eurovisionfun,
They were very accurate with their information for the past weeks, and they are pointing towards August.. But nothing is a sure thing right now.
Stick a fork in Australia I think we’re done. Level 4 travel warning for All Aussies . In English it means no travel out of the country and only Aussie citizens allowed back with self isolation for 2 weeks. I don’t think we are going to be there if Eurovision goes ahead.
Sadly I think we are at the point where even attempting to stage an abridged contest (or even a postponed one) will take too much time and energy from people who need that to help themselves and their families through every day. I have given up expecting anything more than a cancellation, but I hope I’m wrong.
Let’s all ask daddy Elon to help with moving ESC to Mars. I heard the virus situation there is not as dire.
If Eurovision gets cancelled, I will be furious!
It will be cancelled.. 100% sure about it … hope Rotterdam will host it in 2021
Because the only important thing is to let Rotterdam have its party. As if it has not always been primarily a TV event and not a large gathering.
I hope they have their party next year and that it all feels very stale. Seriously the whole EBU doesn’t have the technology to present a contest through videolinks with each country?
It’s exactly in depressed times we need entertainment . To give us hope and forget for a moment. That is why ESC is needed. I can’t Believe people wants it cancelled
It’s been going on for 65 years ,don’t stop it now. EURO can be cancelled because it’s every fourth year,ESC is annual. Postpone it or have other ways to host it, but don’t take it away
The virus will most likely slow down during summer so if its held then no one will risk anything. And if they get anything they should be able to get through it since it’s a variation of the common cold virus. If they are healthy they will be fine.
israel is in the north hemisphere..it’s winter now
coronavirus wont last forever idiot.
My suggestion:
This year – online event, so that the artists and songs are not “lost”
Next year – Rotterdam hosts the contest as planned, in cooperation with the winning country.
This could be acceptable……
All people know that Russia will win if its not live. So that why i dont want a online competition
[…] Is Eurovision 2020 cancelled? / […]
I’ve seen the suggestion that artists could be the same for 2021 but they should get new songs, but that’s completely senseless and cruel towards the artists. The september rule exists for a reason, but that reason is invalid when all of the songs have been released before and are on a level playing field. They’ve put so much effort and money into refining their entries and it wouldn’t make any sense for the EBU in all it’s flexibility in previous cases with their rules to say all artists would have to make new music.
No, I disagree.
Better to cancel it altogether than have a half-hearted production with no audience. Bring on 2021 when we can have a proper production again, hopefully in Rotterdam! We can then really celebrate.
I am preparing myself for the worst, I think it might just be a straight cancellation and start again in 2021. I hope I’m wrong but that’s what I think is most likely now. It will be very sad, but we will keep the spirit of Eurovision alive on here!
At this point, having it via satellite seems like the best option. Even without an audience, there would be more than 100 people there (unless having them in safe distances in different compartments of the arena could be going around that), and total cancellation would be extremely disheartening. Half of the contestants couldn’t participate next year and the other half would have to change songs, which would be like nothing in the last 4 months ever happened. Postponing it a few months could be doable too, if everyone is in the agreement that Eurovision comes first on the set date.
You are funny with your ideas . Neither a video contest is realistic, nor a live broadcast with 41 stages in every country.
Europe closes their borders, curfews will come in more and more countries, a vaccine is possible for autumn at the earliest. The corona pandemic is not a temporary thing.
Please wake up, the ESC 2020 will be canceled! Anything else would be irresponsible and I don’t think that the Netherlands gives a special permit for the ESC so that the virus can spread even better.
I hope that’s the case!
Rotterdam 2021!
It should be cancelled. A vaccine takes from 1 year to about 18 months to be developed properly, be tested on humans and to be commercially available. We all love Eurovision but I’m pretty sure we love our health more. It would also give more time to dutch organizers to put on the best show ever and for countries to rethink on their staging etc. Also Eurovision is a big deal for a country’s economy attracting many tourists, so making it without an audience means that the netherlands is investing in something it won’t have any profit from and I… Read more »
Yeah
No, that´s a bad joke. To be honest: There will be never again great television Events again. The time passes by.
Just because it will be cancelled for one year it doesn’t mean that it won’t happen ever again. As I said a vaccine takes a damn lot of time to be developed. It’s better to cancel ESC 2020, than to risk people’s lives
Coronavirus is overrated tbh, it just has cool staging but the virus itself is very mediocre and so 2008
Lmaooo I’m crying
Meh, it’s so generic 😀
did you mean: any Eurovision song by Sergey lazarev
I think it’s kinda retro, in a Black Death sort of way.
Oh yeah, Black Death, the heavy metal band we all remember from ESC 1351. They were huge back then.
Covid-19 band is heavily influenced by their’s gothic style, but more crossover between doom and industrial.
The staging ain’t even all that. Too many pyros and that empty arena effect in the end is literally Srbuk 2019
Y’all aren’t ready for that yet, avantgarde futuristic with touch of apocalypse realness.
Another day goes by and we’ll learn that it is being mass produced by Kirkorov.
There seems to be a misconception that Coronavirus will be done and dusted in a few weeks. It won’t be. If the current control strategies work, people will still be getting sick and dying, potentially even this time next year. None of the strategies are about ‘beating’ COVID19, they’re about making sure only so many people have it at once so hospitals have the capacity to treat them by stretching the time it goes through the population (flattening the curve). When the UK government has cancelled all non-emergency treatment to dedicate 30,000 extra beds to COVID19 patients and getting car… Read more »
Well said. Too many people on here putting narrow “wants” above public health and being unrealistic about the trajectory of this pandemic.
Why not postponed it to another date?
because we are in a international crisis right now, no time for fun this year
#Rotterdam2021
get lost, pathetic idiot
Yes. How about May 2021?
Cancel it now in Italy there all hundreds of deaths in the uk our death toll is increasing at a fast rate public health must come first anyone who is sad by this news need to grown and realise that it is silly being more worried about a song contest than the deaths of millions of people of we fail to contain it
Well said! People need to get this in perspective! The contest is after all merely an entertainment show and a tv event! What’s there to discuss?
#SAVE EUROVISION Hello, distinguished Jon Ola Sand, members of European Broadcasting Union and all the members of National Delegations from all the participating countries. We, the fans of The Eurovision Song Contest, are deeply upset about coronavirus and the problem with making Eurovision 2020 possible in May 2020. As we know, you are considering 5 options about how you could make this contest actually happen. If you are not able to do this in a normal way, in Ahoy Arena, even without the audience, please, don’t cancel this event. Make it via Satellite. So every country will make it safe… Read more »
As a Dutchman I would hate a Eurovision via satellite or without an audience. Would be unfair to the hosting country (and it’s fans). I’d prefer to postpone or cancel the year.
But also I don’t know if the artists would like it this way.
Borders are closed now and if that continues for next months, how artists will go to Rotterdam? Online event would be unfair to Rotterdam who invested resources in organizing the event.
Not knowing whether the contest will happen or not makes me difficult to devote myself to the contest. This time last year I spent most of my time watching Eurovision-related videos, excited for the contest, but this year I don’t even remember what the recently released songs sound like, because I have heard them only once.
I feel the same. I was making so many videos of my national final tops but I just can’t bring myself to do a “esc 2020 top 41” because I fear esc 2020 won’t even exist.
If it is held in September they will have 8 months. More than enough time.
Why did Israel’s news programme had to scare us like that. That’s the sort of speculation that makes me sick. I’m now praying to God that this contest does not get canned.
Pretty sure god might have a few things to take care of at the moment
Pretty sure God does not exist…..
Don’t start a debate atheist.
Actually I’m not and don’t tell me what to do.. I’ll debate on whatever I want, you believer in mystical words in an ancient book.. If God truly exists there would be no suffering, war, illness, racism, homophobia, the good would prevale.. But the bad it conquering.. I have faith in people and love but not in a book filled with ignorance and judgment.. Sit the F down
The reasons against postponing are dumb and ridiculous. This is the most important day in the lives of most of these 40 musicians. They are worried about conflicting schedules? Why not ask the musicians if they pre-booked a birthday party and would prefer not to attend.
This is the most important event in Rotterdam in 30 years, with 200 million people watching. They are worried about Rotterdam having conflicting schedules and not wanting to adjust? Ridiculous.
Just move it to September and call it a day. It’s not that hard really. Everyone is adjusting their schedules these days.
Look at the Euro 2020. They postponed it to next year! And the Euro 2020 is much bigger, costs more money, has more viewers and is more important then a Eurovision Song Contest. So why can’t the EBU postpone it to next year in May? Same city.. maybe same artists.. Don’t act like Eurovision is the most important thing. There are lot more things.. For example the health of everyone. Everyone understood it, why EBU not?
After all, it is a competition in the Eurovision Song competition every year while the European Football Championship is every four years.
After football’s European Championship 2021 it will be in 2024. The number of championships will be equal.
While in the eurovision song contest it will be 1 competition less then there will not be 2 competitions next year.
It could still be going in September
So true.. Don’t know why you’re getting down voted, probably people who want Eurovision to get ahead whatever it takes.. Postponing it to September is probably the best option for everyone, the virus must have broken down by then if not on to next year.. Same songs, same venue, same city.. Not that hard
the virus will not have broken down by then, we cannot fight this, only keeping ourselves isolated, no time for fun in these current times
If Europe is as strong as China, we can decrease the cases and make it safe to do public gatherings in about 3 months.
Look at China – they now how less than 20 new cases a day. How they achieved it? By strict rules.
A lot of European countries are reacting quickly. Lithuania made some strict rules after just 3 cases in their country, Slovakia too.
Our problem is the UK, they need to do something.
If every country does what China did, we can have Eurovision in the other half of the year.
People who believe China’s figures are delusional. You should ask Taiwan for example but not China. They can’t even admit the virus started in their country. Taiwan is so close to China but they still have the lowest number compared to other Asian counterparts. Europe should take notes from them.
what schedules are they supposed to have amidst the coronavirus crisis? this is all ridiculous, all schedules are canceled until things get better, so almost none of them will have anything planned for fall when the delayed contest should take place.
If it doors get cancelled can wiwiblogs put something together. Use technology online and everyone can vote for both semis and then the final. I don’t know! A bit like wiwivision in the past but with the actual planned acts! Or maybe loads of the different fan sites can come together to organise something similar to make it even bigger? And then get the OGAE involved. I don’t know – just something!!
I thought this too, if they could contact the acts and ask them to do a small live performance with wiwibloggs broadcasting it.
There are many countries who have never won and have very good songs that could win (eg. Bulgaria and Lithuania). Cancelling completely, which means different songs and artists right when eagles were on their shoulders would hurt so much. I am okay with them delaying it anywhere in Summer or Autumn.
yeah so then withdraw out of saltiness Lithuania, Bulgaria
Lithuania would be the first country to withdraw if they would decide to host it in May with public. They take serious precautions regarding Covid 19.
@uzhas Well from this meeting it’s obvious it will be delayed.
Maybe they can hold their entries? In this situation, things like thay can be managed I guess…
Please delay it.
I don’t get it… why not postpone? Will the also cancel the JESC then? We all hope the situation gets better in a few months, the sonner the better. Cancelling the show alltogether sends a message of defeatism. Like… there’s nothing we can do, guys, corona wins! :/
I hope you know, keyboard warrior from your home, we are dealing now with still unknown enemy and don’t know when this will end. Rational behavior and flexibility is not defeatism, on the contrary. I hope EBU consults scientists first before making any decision, because public health is above all. Now keep downvoting me.
And why not give people some hope? It’s a well known fact that worry, frustration, hopelessness, anxiety, loneliness, isolation, it all lowers the body defenses, increasing the risk of catching a virus. Let’s not talk about panic on the supermarkets, people anxiously buying all the toilet paper they can like there’s no tomorrow. I know safety is first, you don’t have to be that harsh, OK? but why not give people something to hold on to, hoping that the situation will get better (even if you tend to think it will get worse). Everybody knows by now we need to… Read more »
They will not cancel it – they will postpone it, but not for just a couple of months but rather for a whole year. It makes complete sense to me since nobody knows when the pandemic will be over. It’s not the best idea to keep postponing it every two months hoping that the situation improves. And I’m sorry to say but Covid19 has already won – already killed 8,000 people and will kill many more unfortunately.
I don’t mind it if it’s better for the current situation.
I kinda get it though, we may say ” couldnt they wait a little ” but Eurovision has a lot of preparing to do, even if things are great in May theres no way Rotterdam will be getting ready the following weeks with everything thats going on, especially if they are not 100% sure that the contest will be held. Maybe they could have waited till the end of March and if things were getting better, they could have given another month to the Netherlands ( and have it on June ) but oh well if the news are true… Read more »