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, thirteen countries have done just that.
Eurovision 2021 confirmed acts
As of 5 April, the following countries have confirmed their artists for Eurovision 2021.
Click here for the most up to date list.
- Australia – Montaigne (confirmed 2 April)
- 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)
- Romania – Roxen (confirmed 31 March)
- Spain – Blas Cantó (confirmed 18 March)
- Switzerland – Gjon’s Tears (confirmed 20 March)
- Ukraine – Go_A (confirmed 18 March)
Eurovision 2021: New artists
- Denmark: Ben & Tan will not sing for Denmark at Eurovision 2021. DR will once again select its act through the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix format. The 2020 duo were not offered an automatic spot in the final. Tan says: “I feel we would take the place from some others. After all, we have tried to be part of the show. It must be someone else’s trip next year. That is most fair.”
- 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.
- Lithuania: LRT will once again run with the Pabandom iš naujo selection format for 2021. The Roop have been offered an automatic spot in the final, but have yet to confirm whether they will accept the offer or not.
- 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:
- 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”.
- Iceland: Daði Freyr Pétursson has clarified that he is open to representing Iceland at Eurovision 2021 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, 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.”
- 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:
- 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.”
And probably Ireland Will get Lesley to Sing/wirte next year song
I think Iceland and Albania will pick new artists
Songvakeppnin is important to Icelandic people from what I’ve heard so I wonder if they’d internally select Dadi but have him do a national final of just his own songs sort of like what Roxen and Eden did
I think that would be a good compromise
Hopefully a lot of other countries will confirm they sent the same act next year. It’s the only fair decision towards the artists.
I really hope Little Big will represent Russia next year too! I just love them. It would be a shame, not having them on a Eurovision stage…
Why lucky? I think it’s juste normal… I don’t think broadcasters have the obligation to send the same artists than in 2020 but they should have had the obligation to ask their opinion…
Proud to leave in a country that easily took the right decision.
Are you sure that choosing again internally the same artists is good for the show? I don’t think so. We are talking about creativity. Could they be able to generate quality songs again? I m sure most of you next year will compare this year s songs with the new ones debating which one was better. Regarding Italy, I hope we are going through San Remo winner. Diodato has had his opportunity but unfortunately we all know what happened, and I really love his song. But I’m not sure if he could be able to compose a new song as… Read more »
Its not fair to the artists and I don’t want to be a fan of something so soulless if it discards this year’s artists
Congrats to these 13 wonderful acts. I hope they all use this time to produce fantastic songs and to perfect all aspects of their future live performances. I am rooting for them.
I would also like if Russia confirmed Little Big and if Poland confirmed Alicja.
I would like even more if every country confirmed their entry, but that already isn’t happening. Thanks Nordics.
Realising that the next Eurovision is in 13 months makes me depressed.
Can’t believe that post eurovision depression will officially have lasted for two years once ESC 2021 rolls around.
dewy
Gotta say, regardless of the circumstances, thirteen artists and 21 countries confirmed by April is waaayyy better than your average ESC year.
I agree with Val all artists from this year have a right to represent their country next year and I am disappointed in Norway, Denmark, final and Sweden for all leaving their artists its wrong
This is not the same case.
Georgia 2009 absolutely is not the same
‘[Dadi] is open to representing Iceland at Eurovision 20201’. OK, but… Who won the 18001 other editions of ESC ? Lmao
We cryogenically froze him
I hope that more artists from internal selections get confirmed during the next weeks (France, Germany, UK, Cyprus, San Marino, Ireland, etc).
What’s happening with the UK. I saw him being interviewed by Graham Norton and he is such a genuine lovely guy. Hopefully he gets the go ahead for next year.
It would be super shady for any internally selected act to not be given another shot considering the maintenance of a national final wouldn’t apply
I would not call these poor souls ‘lucky’ to be honest.
Luckier than NF winners, if you may.
Maybe not lucky, but it would be fair to select them for 2021. And they are defninitely not “poor souls” how did you just call them.