On 18 March, the EBU broke the sad but inevitable news that Eurovision 2020 is cancelled due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
Almost immediately, fans began to wonder whether broadcasters would give their acts a second chance and select them again for 2021. So far, ten countries have done just that.
Eurovision 2021 confirmed acts
This post is no longer being updated. Find the most up to date list of confirmations here.
As of 22 March, the following countries have confirmed their artists for Eurovision 2021.
- Azerbaijan – Efendi (confirmed 20 March)
- Belgium – Hooverphonic (confirmed 20 March)
- Bulgaria – Victoria (confirmed 21 March)
- Georgia – Tornike Kipiani (confirmed 21 March)
- Greece – Stefania (confirmed 18 March)
- Israel – Eden Alene (confirmed 22 March)
- Netherlands – Jeangu Macrooy (confirmed 18 March)
- Spain – Blas Cantó (confirmed 18 March)
- Switzerland – Gjon’s Tears (confirmed 20 March)
- Ukraine – Go_A (confirmed 18 March)
Eurovision 2021: Potential new artists
The following list is not conclusive:
- Estonia: On the day of the cancellation, EER confirmed that the Eesti Laul selection would return in 2021. This means that Uku Suviste will not be internally selected. However, he has been promised a spot in the semi-finals, so he may still represent Estonia in 2021.
- Sweden: The Nordic powerhouse also confirmed the return of its national final within hours of the cancellation news breaking. However, unlike Estonia, Sweden has yet to comment on whether The Mamas will get a free pass to compete in the Melodifestivalen 2021.
Eurovision 2021: Declarations of interest from artists
The following list is not conclusive:
- Belarus: On Instagram, VAL wrote “We hope that every artist who was chosen to represent their country this year will make it to the next Eurovision”. This number would obviously include the duo.
- Ireland: Speaking on Irish radio on Thursday, Lesley Roy said “I don’t know what is happening. I am so passionate about this project and so devastated, but I will gladly spend the next six months writing a new song for next year.”
- Latvia: Samanta Tīna appears open to the 2021 option, “About 2021 we are still waiting news- how it’s gonna be! I will let you know!”.
- Lithuania: “We also feel moral right to represent our country” — those were the words of The Roop on Instagram. LRT will decide on Lithuania’s selection process by 1 April.
- Poland: Replying to a fan on Instagram, Alicja Szemplinska wrote, “I would be thrilled if I could participate in [Eurovision 2021] and represent Poland!”.
Eurovision 2021: Reviewing the situation
The following list is not conclusive:
- Finland: Writing on the official UMK social media accounts, the Finnish delegation said it was considering many options and that the future direction of UMK will be decided in the coming weeks. In 2018 and 2019, UMK involved an internally selected act. So, there is precedent if the broadcaster were to select Aksel once more.
- Norway: On Friday, NRK’s Head of Enterainment stated: “Ulrikke posed with an absolutely fantastic song that we had great faith in before Eurovision in May. We have planned to meet her next week to talk about what this means”. Norway has traditionally selected its act using the multi-artist Melodi Grand Prix selection.
Hahahahah, 10 of 42.
Yesss Ukrainee hope they bring ethnic techno next year as well!!!
I just hope Montaigne will come back!
Im so happy for Eden!!!
This is so stupid and ridiculous to send the same artists with different songs. This is a song competition and people in each country won’t get a chance to pick their new favorite song!! People needs to pick a new artist and sing to represent their country. Who is gonna decide a new song, artist himself?! WTF
Internal selections existed before this though.
And Romania also confirm
Also… Eurovision 2021 will be a completely different eurovision so will they draw the semi-finals again?
Probably. Especially if some countries withdraw and some come back in.
I really hope Russia will send Little Big again and Lithuania will send Roop again, that’s all I want
Serbia: Hurricane would gladly represent Serbia in 2021 but RTS still didn’t decide
I read that Romania,Malta,Croatia and Ireland would send their artists to next year ‘s ESC. Would anyone knows if this is true??
I’d be surprised if Croatia hasn’t already chosen Damir internally since he keeps making hints he’ll represent them. I’d say it’s quite likely he’ll go. I think the other 3 have shown interest in going, but their broadcasters haven’t made an official decision.
From what I understood…
Damir said in his instagram account that he would be Croatian representative for Eurovision 2021, but the broadcaster didn’t confirm anything… maybe he knows something we don’t or maybe it’s just an assumption.
Roxen said she wants to participate next year and the broadcaster wants her to, so she is likely to come back, we just have to wait the official confirm
There are some rumors about Destiny, but I didn’t find anything
Really don’t know about Ireland 🙁
Anyway I expect all the internal selections to select 2020 artists (hopefully)
Yes, Roxen will represent Romania at the next year’s ESC with a new entry.
I don’t expect Italy, San Marino in ESC 2021 actually …About Italy and hard situation there i will be surprise if they will have San Remo ….or if Diodato will go, even he really wanted to go to ESC …
Same with Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Iceland, Albania, Portugal – i feel they will send new artists, even The Roop can be exception …
If the situation will be over by July, there’s no way Italy is not going to organize Sanremo, it’s a tradition, older than ESC and for most Italians, it’s more important than Eurovision, so I expect (at least if experts calculus are right) to sill have Sanremo in February, but to send Didodato in ESC (but I fear with a weaker song, with less chance to get a good result unfortunately, because internal selection may not work for us)
Why not a bonus competition with Diodato and the SR2021 winner ?
It would be a cool idea indeed
Unless the health crisis goes on until next February (let’s hope not) Sanremo is going to happen next year, it’s the most watched tv program of the year and the one that makes the most money for Rai, it would be insane not to have it. It could be a possibility for us to withdraw from Esc because of economical reasons but I don’t see why since we already pay so much money to the EBU just to be a member
I think artists who want to return should have the right to do so if they were internally selected. Countries with a tradition of NFs will hold them as they are primarily TV shows and music festivals which are part of the colture of that country. I think the best thing is give a free pass to the 2020 winner into the 2021 edition of the NF be it in a semi final or directly in the final. it wouldn’t be fair to have NF and tell the winner “sorry but you made all the effort for nothing”. I’m happy… Read more »
What about Croatia and Serbia ?? I heard Croatia will be back with Damir but he is not in this list 🙁
It’s not yet officially confirmed from broadcasters.
everyone should just do a Romania/Israel… Same artists but still interesting competition
Song selections are usually one night show but how can you compare that to for example six shows that Lithuania had for their act? You can’t. There are variations on national final selection process of course but for many broadcasters it’s their biggest show. Most probably can’t afford to reduce it to just one show.
If they wanted to, they would come up with something else. They could organize some concerts with former Eurovision contestants or whatever. If we can live one year without Eurovision, we can live without traditional national selections.
A show with old Eurovision acts wouldn’t have the same appeal as a NF I think, at least in Italy I don’t think many people would watch it
“If they wanted to, they would come up with something else.”
It’s easy to say when you’re not in their shoes. 😉
That’s excellent news guys, we have already 10 out of 41 participants confirmed for next year. I really want to see all 41 artists returning next year and I’m so excited that they will have so much time to find an excellent song and concentrate on giving their best on the Eurovision stage. Next year’s theme should be not just “open up” but also “win the fear”!
I didn’t like all the songs but I still think every artist should get a chance to represent their country next year. It’s a huge dream for many artists so it’s just unfair that they don’t have a chance to compete.
Ukraine’s UA:PBC is not in a good position financially so holding off co-producing Vidbir with STB is one way to at least save money in case their participation ia in doibt again.
Well, we never had so many confirmed artists at this point for next years so that’s a positive
I don’t think Finland still wants Aksel.
As all of the chosen entries, he does deserve to be on stage in 2021!
He almost beat the fan favourite in televote in UMK and fans even voted it. He had support. (And I was team Cicciolina but Aksel deserved it)
I think Finland will have a new UMK but not for what yoy’re saying
Secretly I wished that Go_A won’t return……..
well I do..loved Go_A made that song work…had me moving!
I think like all acts they have a right to return, at the very least automatically to a national final, but the problem with artists like that, is the style of the song was so distinctive, that recreating it will draw criticism for being worse, and moving away from the style, especially if they’re competing in a national final, will just change their identity and kind of make them someone else.
I think if anything this sad crisis needs to learn us it’s to evaluate our priorities and our usual rules which are not sustainable in exceptional circumstances.
We’re not talking here about disposable products, we’re talking about people who rightfully deserved their chance to participate.
In the end it’s up to broadcasters discretion to decide, but I hope that many of them will stand by their artists.
I would rather have a boring NF season than see all these artists lose their big chance after all their hard work. Unless they explicitly say they’re cool with competing against others (like Uku) or aren’t interested in sticking around, the default option for each broadcaster should be the one that accommodates the act that would’ve gone in 2020. Traditional national final standards be damned; these are exceptional circumstances and to do otherwise would be really unfair, and I think most casual viewers would agree.
I have a question,the ESC 2020 won’t be in may of the next year???
All artists should represent their countries next year.
Have 3-5 songs to choose from.
In some countries, the popularity of the winning singer would seem to trump the “tradition” of national finals. Considering the following artists like The Roop, Alicija, Ulrikke, and Samanta have or have gained since they won their selections, I think a lot of people from those countries would be ok with letting them have all the song options.
Countries with national finals should just have this years entrant internally selected and stage a 5 song finals, like Romania did this year!!! I will be furious if i dont see Ulrikke represent Norway next year!!! Also invite back the teams and songwriters behind the songs so also they have a chance to go again with a song and same artist ?
Songwriters need recognition. It is the song.
National final for internal artist needs to be done like Israel this year otherwise makes no sense. Like every song have a different songwriting team behind and it really feels like a song contest. And it’s competitve. And you don’t see the same name behind all songs.
Roxen is all but confirmed… She stated she wants to do it, and the broadcaster stated they want her to do so… I guess all that’s left to confirm that is Romania deciding if they are definitely participating
Same with The Roop. They want to and the Lithuanian HOD wants them to, so it’s pretty likely they’ll go
From the sound of it, even ESC 2021 might get cancelled, since everybody’s saying this pandemic will last 18 months. So if I get just a contest in May, without a single pre-selection, I’ll be completely satisfied, haha. 😀
Actually, the most realistic assumptions are till May / June (based on it’s duration in China), but some say it could return in some months / years. The vaccine is getting developed and will be available in about a year or a bit more.
Disclaimer: Note that I said *assumptions*! Nobody knows for sure. It could end it’s peek in 2 weeks or over a year. But after the cure and vaccine are made, it’s impact on humanity will be drastically reduced. We have to remain hopeful.
It’s the best compensation we could have. Nobody ever thought cancellation of 2020 would’ve had happened.
No, it isn’t. Things can always improve.
Why do you need to be compensated? We are all disappointed that Eurovision has been cancelled but let’s face it, this crisis is not going to get better anytime soon.
Most of us are going to face lost opportunities this year but if we are healthy enough to enjoy them next year then we should be grateful
Health and wellbeing are the best ‘compensation’
Tom Leeb is uncertain too. Would have liked if he came back with his own song or another one which suits him better. But maybe it’s also the chance for us to revival Destination Eurovision!!! Hoping really a lot. Fingers crossed ××××
Tom Leeb is someone who should definitely return, they now know what not to do. Not to sound insensitive, but if they do pick him for 2021, then this is a dream scenario for him. He was destined for last place, and now he has an opportunity to work on that. And by work on that I mean stay away from John Lundvik.
I don’t think it should be open for debate. How can these singers be penalised for something totally out of their control. All singers should by default be in next years contest. Some people are saying that countries which have a national final should go ahead with them and give this years winners a pass into the final. No I’m sorry but they have already won fair and square. Why should they be made to win again. Let’s be honest it’s going to be very unlikely. We must honour the songs so they are not lost and more importantly that… Read more »
They shouldn’t. And their winners should be sent.
Exactly the way I see it. Life goes on. It’s insane to hold a national final in 2021 and tell the 2021 winner they can’t go to the 2021 Eurovision. Like, wtf? But we already know you can’t discuss things with many people here. They don’t seem to have the brain capacity for it. I imagine it’s like this: ESC cancelled. Me mad. Unfair. Everything must stay exactly the same next year. Logic bad. People challenging my view bad. Unfair. Bad people. Bad world. Me mad.
I suppose it wouldn’t be unjust if they knew exactly what they were signing up to from the start. They could always wait until 2022 if they felt strongly.
That’s my thoughts exactly, Tibor. The 2020 competitors have their participation stolen. The songs for preselection shows 2021 have not yet been written. Only 10 participators confirmed. Anyone from outside that enters a selection process will be fully aware about the situation if they decide this on beforehand.
That’s not accurate Tibor. Italy hasn’t always sent the winner of Sanremo to Eurovision even the years they participated and FiK has been around for 40 years before Albania entered the contest. All other preselections are bound to the contest. If Sweden still wants to hold Melfest they should at least invite The Mamas directly to the final.
But why hold the preselections in the first place? In some cases, where it is a massive event in its own right, I can understand (Italy, Sweden, and possibly others), but in most countries, these shows are not watched by a huge audience, and could easily be replaced by internal selection for a year.
It wouldn’t be an injustice because they would know about the situation beforehand. This years winner of a dal in hungary didn’t go to eurovision. They knew they wouldn’t . Was that an injustice for them? San remo and even fik are more than just a song selection process for eurovision. They are respected competitions on their own. Same goes with melodifestivalen
You are right, Frisian, it wouldn’t be an ”injustice”, per se, because everyone would know what they are going into. Still, it would be unrealistic to expect the viewing numbers not to seriously decline, as they in fact did with A-dal. Also, while I assume that Sanremo and FiK would more or less maintain it’s standard of songs, I could easily see Melfest, MGP, Songvakeppnin and UMK filled with less competitive and more casual songs. I wouldn’t hold my breath for names like Wiktoria, Jon Henrik or Ace WIlder to participate.
Don’t worry, Tibor, people are really stuck on some ideas and every alternative option gets downvoted. Don’t take it to heart. I don’t. Anyway, you still have plenty of us for discussions about whatever you want.
Aren’t you missing Croatia on the confirmed list. I thought Damir coming back was confirmed. Also what’s the status of Malta. Ins’t it pretty clear that Destiny would be sent?
Nope, he just assumed he’s going for Croatia in 2021 on his Instagram page. 😛 The Croatian HRT broadcaster, however, has yet to make a decision, as it has announced on their official website.
Nordics and Portugal should give their singers a pass to their selections. Dadi, Mamas, Ben&Tan(together or separate), Elisa and Ukrikke. Aksel should get a UMK with 3 songs. Latvia and Lithuania should also stage 3 songs finals for The Roop and Samanta. I hope all internal acts return, few reasons why not. Damir, Hurricane, Diodato and Arilena should be internally selected for 2021 as their NFs aren’t as continuous and strict. Albania chose a whole new song in 2015. Italy did the same in 2014.
I do not agree. Diodato had the chance to represent Italy by winning San Remo with Fai rumore.
I don’t like at all internal selections because the song is chosen by a reduced group of persons without passing through different filters, preselections experts juries and televoting..
To win San Remo means passing through all these levels ranking high. Only in this way Italy guarantees always high level songs.
Italy 2014 is not a good example, considering what they sent vs. their beautiful Sanremo winner they could and should have sent.
the way arisa said she’d love to represent san marino a couple of years later… shameless lmao
New music from national selections awaits us only from Estonia and Sweden
You can always listen to songs from a dal, fik, san remo etc… It’s just uncertain if it will be an esc song.
Wow, someone is still holding onto A Dal?
I think you could get a poll out of this- Which percentage of 2020 alumni vs 2021 newbies do you think it’s going to be? 75/25 60/40 50/50…
Countries with National Final is not an easy situation. It’s either unfair for 2020 or 2021. I think ultimately they will do NF and probably invite 2020 winner. It’s sad regardless.
2020 shadow sorrounding 2021 will be hard
Yay! EDEN <3
The Norwegian statement is an interesting one. I can’t imagine they’d want to scrap their entire NF. We shall see.
I could see next year’s MGP being concieved as a one or more semi-finals with diverse acts and then the winner has to duel Ulrikke in a superfinal which would be 100% televoting. IDK… the situation is complex, but this might be the right solution for them. So, if Ulrikke’s new song is as strong or if she already has an army of fans, winning should be easy. Still, it would continue the MGP tradition and leave open doors if someone has a masterpiece on their hands. I still think that it would be Ulrikke’s game.
This is really useful article. Please continue to update as further countries make announcements. Thanks
What I care about: Destiny, Ana Soklic and Roxen (if they put the same effort into finding good alcohol-like songs).
waiting for my boi Benny C
He will be back probably
I only care about Blas Canto sexyass, the rest can choke on a D tbh 😀
You can choke on a D tbh 😀
I want to choke on his D. ?
“And why not, see you at ESC 2021” -Roxen