Eurovision 2020 was cancelled on 18 March as a direct result of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the reactions and statements from the six automatic qualifiers — hosts the Netherlands plus the big five of Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The Netherlands’ Jeangu Macrooy
Hi everyone, I’ve just heard that the Eurovision Song Contest has been cancelled for this year and will be postponed to next year. It feels unreal, I was in such a good flow with my team. The preparations were going well and just as many others, I was looking forward to the contest. However, there’s something way more important right now: everyone’s health and wellbeing. So I completely understand the decision that has been made. I will use the upcoming period to rest and hopefully later this year, in good health, we can all look forward to a wonderful Eurovision Song Contest. Together with #TeamJeangu. Thank you AVROTROS for your support. For now, I’d like to wish you all strength and a good recovery for the people who are ill. Get well soon and take good care of each other! ❤️
#StaySafe #Eurovision #ESC2020 #ESF2020
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France’s Tom Leeb
Tom spoke with fans via Instagram stories:
Hey guys. Just like you, I heard about the cancellation of Eurovision Song Contest. I’m the first disappointed of course. But I fully understand given the circumstances. Health before anything else. I wanted to tell you that my heart goes with the public, the people, the viewers who wanted to attend this beautiful evening that is Eurovision. But let’s not forget the universal values and the solidarity that connects us through music. Let’s not forget that. Stay at home. Take care of yourself and others. And then listen to music. Listen to music because she is our daily ally. It’s very important. I will stay on social networks. Connected. Available. And I’m going to prepare some nice things for you. See you soon.
Germany’s Ben Dolic
Hey guys, I am absolutely devastated about the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, but in the view of this current situation it is the only right thing to do. No matter what, health simply comes first. In these hard times we have to take care of each other and stick together to overcome this crisis.
Please stay safe and stay at home! Thank you for the support! I love you all! ❤ #stayhome
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Italy’s Diodato
Writing on Instagram stories, Diodato says:
I am really sorry for the cancellation of the Eurovision, for the hard work carried out over the past weeks by Carousel Records and RAI, for all the beautiful ideas that we were giving life to, but we are living a dramatic time of great struggle and I am convinced that the priority should be to protect the health of all citizens. Only when we will overcome this dark moment we will be able to go back to experience an event of such engagement with the right lightness and joy.
Spain’s Blas Cantó
A few days ago someone uploaded this image of my career also linked to @eurovision, so I want to thank everyone who is writing to me with their messages of support. ⠀
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I hope this happens soon and that we can hug each other stronger than ever. All my support to the affected people and families. ⠀
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Thank you @rtve for counting on me for 2021. # QuédateEnCasa ⠀
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Thanks #Universe ✨
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Sad to see the current situation.
See you in 2021, then. I hope the EBU will allow the options of giving artists to send their 2020 entries or completely new songs.
I created a “Top Eurovision Tracks” playlist in my own YouTube channel. So many songs from this year that I would love to include in my playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLELKLZ9zuDb92zLohLYj78RhLscNXxItY
When it comes to music, a sceen should be enough. In sport competitions is different. But who cares about music when the host means business? France and Sweden were saved from humiliation (Sweden NQ). But imagine Germany that could have won after… I’m sorry from cheeky Bar.
My only interest this year left is Tokyo 2020.
Diodato is gone. Next year, another Sanremo winner.
rip satellite esc
welcome let’s milk the turists
Sanremo is not a traditional national selection for Eurovision. Winners have the option of whether or not accept the invitation to compete. Italy has done internal selections before so keeping Diodato, if he still wants to by then, is an option.
I really hope so. I was worried because he’s the only one who came from a national selection, but hopefully this is the case
I think it’s more likely that they will keep him and Arilena for example, because both Sanremo and FiK have long traditions outside of being a Eurovision national final and could take place without being that – and still find people who want to compete in it and an audience.
I really hope so because they’re both great artists and deserve that chance!
Why not a duet with the winner of San Remo 2021? Diodato and a new singer.
I know this is a controversial opinion but I hope EBU don’t bend the rules by allowing any of this year’s songs back into next year by default just to please a tiny group of people (mostly die-hard eurofans) who only make up 0.1% of all viewers of ESC, I do not want NF season next year trimmed down or non-existent which would be boring af and we can’t pump out the not so strong field of songs for another 12 months, we have to move on but most artists from this year are likely to be internally selected next… Read more »
You’re contradictory. If eurofans are 0,1% of all viewers, why just not allow artists to send the same song next year if they want to ? Eurofans will cry (as usual, I want to say) but it doesn’t matter if they’re only 0,1%. I would find disrespectful for all the artists to not be able to compete with the same song if they want. They should have the choice. The “national final season will be boring” argument is not good since eurofans are only a small percentage + if returnings artists get the chance to compete with the same song,… Read more »
I think they will change all songs but it’s still unfair to countries that had great and competitive songs this year. Most of them countries that had never won such Lithuania or Bulgaria. Still 14 months is a lot to overcome sadly. This whole situation is terrible
I don’t think they’re gonna be able to keep the songs. The artists maybe yes, but since some of them are gonna change, they can’t just allow songs that are one year older in. There has to be a time frame for all competing songs, so I’m guessing even the artists that are going to come back next year will have to put out something new starting September 1.
China already found a vaccine , they say it needs some polishing so it can be safe for everyone , they already started closing their coronovirus hospitals that they opened 4 weeks ago , because they dont have that many new cases anymore. In 4 weeks this will happen with Europe,with the coming spring and summer the virus will be dead, it should be a delay , not a cancellation ….
This “the heat will kill the virus” talk is a big BS. It’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere…I’m currently in Brazil and regional quarantines have just begun here…
Plenty of cases in Australia and it’s still quite summery in March.
We just have to accept that this year is a write off.
My own personal plans for this year have been dashed and I stand to loose quite a few relatives if this virus gets a hold in Australia.
As disappointed as I am I would rather watch Eurovision 2021 with my family than without.
lol I seriously just now noticed how all the automatic qualifiers are male soloists.
Better late than never.
Funnily enough, for the first time since 2003 we had an equal number of male and female participants, 31 men and 31 women.
Fai Rumore speaks even more to me now. It has always been so powerful but in this “unnatural silence”.. hits me even more.
This hopefully lays ‘The worst in me’ to rest and Tom gets a real chance with a real song with real lyrics next year.
Can EBU say overreacting to a situation much?
Just imagine if Italy was hosting this year. And when you are done imagine what will happen when you are in lockdown or at risk of losing your parents.
While I was looking forward to something fun and entertaining the fact is we just have to live with it.