After five months of ups and downs, it’s now 1 September — the date from which confirmed or potential Eurovision entries can be released without fear of disqualification. It’s also the de facto start of the Eurovision 2021 season, but compared to previous years, we already have a lot to get excited about. So let’s take a look at what we know so far about Eurovision 2021.
As of 1 September, 19 countries have provisionally invited back their 2020 acts for another attempt in 2021. In some cases, the act will face a national final to select their songs, in other cases their song will be selected internally.
Eurovision 2021 confirmed acts
As of 1 September, the following countries have provisionally confirmed their artists for Eurovision 2021.
- 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)
- Czech Republic – Benny Cristo (confirmed 14 May)
- Georgia – Tornike Kipiani (confirmed 21 March)
- Greece – Stefania (confirmed 18 March)
- Israel – Eden Alene (confirmed 22 March)
- Latvia – Samanta Tīna (confirmed 16 May)
- Malta – Destiny (confirmed 16 May)
- Moldova – Natalia Gordienko (confirmed 15 July)
- The Netherlands – Jeangu Macrooy (confirmed 18 March)
- Romania – Roxene (confirmed 31 March)
- San Marino – Senhit (confirmed 16 May)
- Slovenia -Ana Soklič (confirmed 16 May)
- Spain – Blas Cantó (confirmed 18 March)
- Switzerland – Gjon’s Tears (confirmed 20 March)
- Ukraine – Go_A (confirmed 18 March)
Some broadcasters will internally select their artist’s song, while others will hold a national final to select one song from a number of candidates.
Eurovision 2021: New artists
A number of Eurovision 2020 acts won’t be returning to Eurovision 2020.
The following list is not conclusive:
- Cyprus: Sandro will not sing for Cyprus at Eurovision 2021. Broadcaster CyBC released a statement on 1 June confirming media speculation that the German-born singer of Greek and American descent would not represent the island again. This was said to be a “mutual agreement”.
- 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.”
- France: Tom Leeb will not sing for France at Eurovision 2021. Tom confirmed in a 19 June interview that he would not return next year due to a “pretty busy schedule”. However, just over 24 hours later, the French broadcaster announced detailed plans for a revamped national selection process.
- Norway: Ulrikke will not sing for Norway at Eurovision 2021. NRK has decided to continue with its annual Melodi Grand Prix selection show, again using six shows. 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
Some artists will use their regular selection method. In some cases, the Eurovision 2020 artist has the possibility of entering again.
The following list is not conclusive:
- Albania: The long-running song contest Festivali i Këngës has been confirmed for 2020. While RTSH hasn’t confirmed it Albania will participate at Eurovision 2020, FiK has always previously doubled as Albania’s Eurovision selection. There’s no word on whether FiK58 winner Arilena Ara will return for another shot this year.
- Croatia: Media reports suggest that broadcaster HRT has committed to holding a 2021 edition of its national final Dora. A local newspaper reports that HRT has already booked the Opatija venue that is the current home of Dora. But with this news comes uncertainty whether Dora 2020 winner Damir Kedžo will be involved with the 2021 national final.
- 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.
- Germany: The German broadcaster will again use its internal selection process, including the demographically selected Eurovision Panel. 2020 act Ben Dolic has been guaranteed a spot in the selection process if he enters a new song. He will again be working with Bulgarian songwriter Borislav Milanov.
- 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.
- 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
Some broadcasters are yet to confirm their selection method for 2021, however various 202o artists have expressed interest in returning to Eurovision.
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.
- 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.” In an interview with Wiwibloggs, Lesley added that Ireland’s HoD believes it would be right for her to return to the song contest in 2021 — if she has the right song.
- Poland: Replying to a fan on Instagram, Alicja Szemplinska wrote, “I would be thrilled if I could participate in [Eurovision 2021] and represent Poland!”.
- Russia: Little Big’s front-man Ilia Prusikin has stated he would very much be up for competing at the contest in 2021. While acknowledging that there remains much uncertainty, he said: “If it’s us, then I’m totally up for it”.
Eurovision 2021: Reviewing the situation
And some broadcasters are still thinking about things.
The following list is not conclusive:
- Italy: Neither the Italian broadcaster or Diodato have publicly commented on Eurovision 2021. However, Sanremo will return next year, but on a later date than normal. The renowned music festival has been used to select most of Italy’s acts since its 2011 return.
- Serbia: Tabloid reports that Hurricane would represent Serbia at Eurovision 2021 have been refuted by the girl band themselves. Speaking to wiwibloggs, the group’s publicist says: “We do not yet have official information about this from our state public service broadcaster. We won’t know until September or October.”
What else is happening with Eurovision 2021?
This time, we know a lot more about the upcoming Eurovision than we would in most years. Largely, the 2021 production is keeping simple and sticking with a lot of things already decided in 2020.
The contest will again be held in the Dutch city of Rotterdam in Ahoy Arena. The dates have been confirmed for 18, 20 and 22 May 2021.
Chantal Janzen, Jan Smit and Edsilia Rombley are set to return as hosts, as will the online host NikkieTutorials.
The 2020 stage design — by German designed Florian Weider — will be used in 2021. The 2020 logo and slogan appear to also be part of the 2021 package.
Eurovision 2021 will have a major change to on-stage performances. Acts will now be allowed to use pre-recorded backing vocals. This is a one-year trial and is being done to keep delegation numbers down.
The Covid-19 pandemic is also being kept in mind. Organiser are planning different scenarios that aim to cover potential situations that may arise closer to the date. While it can’t be guaranteed that Eurovision 2021 will be the usual arena extravaganza with a packed audience, show organisers have said that while things may be scaled down, it won’t end up being an “at home” contest.
What happens next?
While nothing specific happens on 1 September, over the coming months we can expect to get more details about national finals, internal selections, artists, songs and of course the very first confirmed song for Eurovision 2021.
The next important date will likely be sometime in mid-October at the Head of Delegations meeting. This is the deadline for broadcasters to withdraw from the contest without penalty. After this meeting, the EBU usually releases the confirmed list of competing broadcasters for the upcoming Eurovision.
What do you think? What are you most looking forward to in the Eurovision 2021 season? Tell us your thoughts below!
Montaigne has previously stated that she has a song ready for EV 2021, but that it is “sick” and she wants to run it by her management. I cannot wait to hear what she has come up with.
Athena and Lesley must return
Looking at eurovision.tv the slogan for 2021 seems to be changed to “open up again” instead of “open up”
I really hope Iceland internally selects Dadi. It’d be really unwise for them to do otherwise. They can still have their national final, all the songs would just be his.
Hurricane stated multiple times that they want to go to ESC 2021. Hopefully RTS picks them internally 🙂
RTS officially announced today that Serbia will participate at ESC 2021. It’s still unclear if they will choose Hurricane or go on with Beovizija…
Happy new season! ^^ Will be very exciting 😀 I’m most looking forward to one-artist nfs like Israel will organize 😀
VAL will probably not represent belarus because of their support of the protests in Belarus. The state will find an artist who either didnt mention the protests, or supported the government
Glad to see most things carrying over from ESC 20, the theme of ‘Open Up’ will be needed and relevant so much more.
At the moment though I can’t see Australia participating unless some big radical breakthrough happens. The country is sealed off for international travel at the moment until atleast early 2021. I think alongside Australia, we might get some European countries stepping back too.
But it’s best to remain positive and I’m glad that ESC 21 will be happening in some way. Bring it on, I’m so ready to ESC back in my life.
Reportedly Australia has pulled out.
Since when? There is no news about that at all.
um crap I may have jinxed it :/ Montaigne says she is a bit uncertain but I am still hoping for the best
We pulled out of Junior Eurovision 2020. Not Big ESC 2021.
Just for fun, as a K-pop fan, I always have an imagination of K-pop artists singing in Eurovision as a representative. For now, I still have the imagination of Source Music’s G-Friend (also written as GFriend or, according to Soompi, GFRIEND) representing Montenegro next year, if they return and RTCG invites them. However, since their latest release, “Apple”, was released before September 1, 2020, they might as well look for a new song, entirely in English.
why??? they are not in any respect Montenegrin?
I think the girls from Hurricane are most likely returning. RTS didn’t open the completion for a songs for Beovizija. They mainly open it in summer, usually August, and it lasts till October/November. Even if they open it now, they wouldn’t have time to make preparations for the contest.
It’s really annoying how silent RTS has been this whole time. At least say something!
Natalia Gordienko needs a green tick 😉
Countries that still haven’t announced about their artists: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia and UK.
My predictions:
Will be selected: Athena, Lesley, Hurricane
Won’t be selected: Arilena, Dadi, Diodato, Elisa
Hard to predict: Vasil, Alicja, Little big, James
*about val it mostly depends on lukashenkos status in 2021, If he remains as the prime minister val won’t be selected because val are also protesting against him
I’d say if Ireland do participate, they will pick Lesley Roy and I imagine they will get ThisIsPopBaby back to do the staging.
I hope that Iceland selects Dadi because his song was likely this biggest change of winning in a long time so I would think they would want him to represent them again.
Actually I think that dadi won’t go next year because he has a tour in march-april, which is the time for preparing to eurovision and with having a tour on mind, I don’t think dadi will have enough time to prepare to eurovision
Can’t wait for 20 songs about being separated but still together somehow.
Winner will be BLM inspired, calling it now.
After every big push by a societal movement, we have gotten an ESC winner claiming to have been inspired by it.
don’t think so, the movement will probably die till Eurovision commences.
How is a political movement in the US relevant to Europe?
It’s not just in USA, it’s massive here in UK too
Why though?
Because we have got big issues surrounding the slave trade and racial inequality here
Happy ESC season!
I just can’t wait for my country’s national final (France). After Destination Eurovision, I have high expectations but I want to be confident.
I wouldn’t get too excited about all the countries that have confirmed for 2021 will participate. The Australian government is saying no overseas travel until mid 2021 narrowly missing Eurovision. QANTAS is saying no international flights until about the same time. Exemptions to leave the country are almost impossible to get we have Hollywood actors in Oz who can’t leave and had been stuck here since whatever project they were doing closed down because of Covid( Zac Efron & Kate Walsh ) You can’t even go to a relatives funeral overseas. Montaigne being able to go to a singing contest… Read more »
So Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are still in Australia?
imagine if we got an uber-experimental stylish avant-garde song from the likes of uku suviste or an ethnic pop banger from ana soklic. that would be very interesting to see tbh
Excited to see the national finals, because it’s cool to see some new artists, and to see how each different countries deal with their shows on tv in terms of production, stagings, special effects and how they are involved in Eurovision. The internal selections remove some fun for the eurofans. But fortunately we have classical national finals, especially from the nordic countries, but I’m curious to see what Israel, France, Germany will do the last year as it will be some new formats it seems, maybe others countries will make a national finals too to select a song for an… Read more »
Missed the UK off?
True, UK belongs to the declarations of interest from artists category after the last posts and statements of James.
Game over