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, eleven 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This post is no longer being updated.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 29 March, the following countries have confirmed their artists for Eurovision 2021.
- Austria – Vincent Bueno (confirmed 26 March)
- 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: New artists
- Norway: Ulrikke will not sing for Norway at Eurovision 2021. NRK has decided to continue with its annual Melodi Grand Prix selection show. The “Attention” singer was offered a wildcard spot in the final, but she declined. “I had a dream that they would send me next year, but that was not the case. I am very sorry and disappointed with that decision, but that was the way it was.”
- Portugal: According to Elisa, Portugal will not change its usual selection method for 2021. This means that she would have to win Festival da Canção first. Portuguese broadcaster RTP has not yet confirmed the news, and Marta Carvalho, who wrote “Medo de Sentir”, hasn’t either. Instead, the singer sent a direct message to her followers on Instagram, writing: “Hello! Me and Marta won’t go to Eurovision 2021”.
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.
- Finland: Broadcaster YLE has confirmed song submissions for UMK 2020 will open as normal on September 1. UMK 2020 winner Aksel Kankaanranta is welcome to submit a song, but a pre-jury will decide which songs make the live stage of the competition.
- 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 Melodifestivalen 2021.
Eurovision 2021: Declarations of interest from artists
The following list is not conclusive:
- Australia: While there’s no word from broadcaster SBS, Montaigne has revealed she would like to return to Eurovision. She tweeted “hello everyone wondering about my participation in #Eurovision next year. I would really like to do it. really really. a lot. but that’s up to SBS. so pls direct your queries about that to them, what happens isn’t in my hands. alas”.
- 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.
- Croatia: Despite Eurovision.tv temporarily reporting otherwise, Damir Kedzo has not been confirmed for 2021. Much of the confusion surrounding his position appears to emanate from this vague statement he shared on the day Eurovision 2020 was cancelled: “I cannot wait for the end of the pandemic and Eurovision 2021 performance in Rotterdam”.
- Denmark: Ben & Tan’s manager Anders Fredslund-Hansen confirmed that he has asked for the duo to be invited back to the 2021 national final: “I have discussed it with Ben & Tan, and what I have called for on their behalf is that Ben & Tan will be invited to the Danish Melodi Grand Prix next year with a wildcard so that they can participate in the competition with a new song.”
- Iceland: Daði Freyr Pétursson has clarified that he is open to representing Iceland at Eurovision 20201 with Gagnamagnið — if Icelandic broadcaster RUV “wants to invite us.” However, he suggested strongly that he would not be open to competing in a national final in 2021, writing on Twitter: “It would just feel weird to me to compete in Söngvakeppnin again.”
- 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.”
- 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!”.
- Romania: Roxen has stated in an Instagram live session that she would like to wave Romania’s flag at Eurovision 2021. But, that at the moment, she does not know for sure whether this will happen.
Eurovision 2021: Reviewing the situation
The following list is not conclusive:
- Germany: Thomas Schreiber, Head of Entertainment at ARD has hinted that 2020 might not be the end of the line for Ben Dolic. “We will now discuss with our creative partners what this means in detail for us and our artist Ben Dolic with his successful song.” Schreiber, Dolic and “Violent Thing” songwriter Boris Milanov have all heavily criticised the EBU’s decision to block 2020 songs from being entered again in 2021.
- Latvia: All decisions regarding Eurovision 2021 will be put on hold until after the coronavirus crisis has passed. Rita Ruduša, LTV’s programme director, says “The decision to participate in next year’s Eurovision has to be taken carefully, taking into account many factors, including the consequences of Covid-19. That is why we have decided to postpone a focused discussion on this topic until the acute situation is over”. Samanta Tīna appears open to a 2021 return. Her recent Instagram posts have been accompanied by the hashtag #SamantaTinaforEsc2021.
- San Marino: Broadcaster SMRTV has revealed that it has appealed to the EBU to reconsider postponing Eurovision 2020 until the autumn. Head of Delegation Alessandro Capicchioni says that that the broadcaster has “promoted an appeal in which we ask the European Broadcasting Union to rethink a possible autumn edition, a way to restart not only the programming but also the return to normal.”
Yeah 2019 was just a hiccup, poor staging, Arsbuk had great vocals but a lacking performance accompanied by a limited grasp on English.
You didn’t ask for my two cents but I’ll tell you anyway: 2021 is very much going to be haunted by the ghost of 2020 not just in terms of finding closure and a positive resolution for the 2020 artists but also by continuing to apply social distancing and restrictions on large public gatherings (even if the curve on Covid-19 is significantly flattened by then) which will have an immediate effect on audience capacity in the AHOY arena or in any other venue. You don’t need to look into a crystal ball to realize that Europe is heading toward a… Read more »
Hurricane says that we will know if they’re going soon
Yes please, I wan’t Hurricane and Athena also.
Umh yes please my queens! But seriously they are really good. Serbia should give them a national final to select their song.
Ulrikke is not definitely out. She said no to the autopass unless she had a song as good as Attention. Instagram seemingly translated it poorly
She said never say never
Has the UK said anything regarding 2021
2016 and 2017 are some of the best Armenian entries, 2019 got screwed with the staging and the lack of charisma.
Interally selected acts deserve another shot but the broadcaster should have the right to reject them if their new song is rubbish.
What happens to the songs of this year? Will there still be a CD?
What happens to the logo and ths slogan???
The CD is coming out in early May, if anyone still buys CD’s. Dunno about the logo but if they use the same one, will they have to add a blank wedge to the circle to symbolise 2020?
You can preorder the CD here even
https://shop.eurovision.tv/product/official-esc-2020-cd-free-coaster-set/
You already know anyone who’s coming back for next will get the comments of “their 2020 song was so much better”
Oh my god. Im already exhausted just thinking about it.
What about France? UK? Republic of Ireland?
The BBC should state now what they want to do. There is no reason not to send the same act. He was internally selected and is a song writer anyway so he could certainly come up with something equally as good or hopefully even better.
Actually, none of them should return. They have served their purpose already. This may sound harsh but it is just correct. Thanks for your understanding.
Serbia, Armenia and Bulgaria all need to get their acts locked down. Like yesterday.
Victoria is already confirmed for Bulgaria
Countries I want to see returning their 2020 artist: Armenia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Malta, Belarus, Italy, Albania, San Marino, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia (but give her a better song)
Countries I don’t mind changing their artist: France, Finland, Estonia, Moldova
I could understand why some of the acts chosen through national finals might not come back but there no reason why the internally selected acts can’t.
I agree that internally selected artists can comeback but with stronger songs. If your coming back with same bland and cheesy song just don’t even bother. I’m looking at you France and North Macedonia!
Predictions:
Uku will win Eesti Laul 2021 no doubt. What Love Is is probably the worst song he can sing and if he won with that, he’ll definitely win next year (count in sympathy votes)
Roxen will be chosen and probably given a song without a national final
We will definitely lose Arilena and Albania will choose a completely new song and artist via FiK 59
I hope not, hopefully Albanian broad casters will be nice for once
How about Elvana´s new chance ?
I don’t think so, FiK has taken place many times without being a Eurovision preselection 🙂
I’m a bit surprised that Ukraine and Israel are going along with their 2020 acts given that they were selected through a national final.
I think the fact that both of the acts were well recieved by fans and majority liked the artists has something to do with why they were selected again. Why fix it if it isn’t broken – kind of situation.
Eden is a gem and can do way better than even Feker Libi. It would be straight up stupid not to send her
I don’t think Ukraine has a choice. Weren’t they at risk for not competing due to debts? It was better that they did an internal selection and saved money so Ukraine can continue to be the powerhouse that it is.
It’s actually the richer sponsor who didn’t want to run vidbir in 2021
Ukraine’s Public broadcaster had a deal with a commercial broadcaster STB for Vidbir. Their deal was until 2021. Now due to not holding a national selection for next year Public broadcaster is negotiating whether or not they will extend the deal.
I’m very curious to what kind of song go_a will send next year. Can’t imagine anything.
Any country that does not do right by their 2020 artists automatically falls to the bottom of my 2021 list, no matter how good their song and artist may be. I give hearty applause to the countries who have invited this year’s singers back. Bravo to you!
That’s ridiculous
Is it a new thing to give countries points based on the broadcasters’ decisions? Well, that’s just stupid.
Jeez what a cheesy reply
Poor Samanta Tina lol it took her 6/7 attempts to represent Latvia, and when she finally gets the oportunity to do so, coronavirus be like “Na-na-na-na-na-na”
And then she might not even attend ESC 2021 because apparently, a lot of these countries grew very attached to their national selections. Y’all, chill out, your eurofest, supernova, festival da canção, söngvakeppnin and so on ARE NOT in the same level of Melfest and Sanremo, ok? You could easily skip those for a year without any damage to your music scene.
And Sweden and Italy can have Melfest and Sanremo without using either as a national final but you’re probably not ready to hear that
Hurricane said that they will return if RTS allows them to do so
I mean they are one of serbia’s biggest acts and i’m certain they can do wayyy better than hasta la vista so that would be exciting.
I hope so!
They could easily skip Beovizija next year (and save money on the way) and just select Hurricane, which anyways has an amazing team of producers and writers, since all of their songs are mega hits in the Balkans. “Favorito” just passed over 50 mil views on YouTube. So, congrats to Sanja, Ivana & Ksenija! <3
I reckon most of the internally selected acts will return. Acts who were selected through national final routes will depend on the popularity of their selection (for example, Melodifestivalen is the biggest show in Sweden, so why would they remove it? But Croatia and Belarus may prefer to go internally, or have numerous songs for their act )
I hope that Dadi and Ulrikke will come back soon with another great and deserving song.
i want athena and lesley