Back in August, Norway‘s national broadcaster NRK revealed plans for Melodi Grand Prix 2021, confirming that the beloved national final will once again consist of five semifinals and a grand final. Now the dates for the shows have been revealed, along with NRK’s plan regarding COVID-19.
According to the Norwegian web site ESCNorge, Melodi Grand Prix’s project manager, Stig Karlsen, announced the plans on October 11 during a Facebook live feed. Karlsen said that in a time when there are no events where Norwegian people can come together for a shared experience, MGP 2021 will be especially important.
As in 2020, MGP 2021 will consist of five semifinals and a final. The first semifinal will air on January 16, with the remaining semifinals airing every Saturday. The final will take place on February 20.
All six shows will take place in the H3 Arena, located in Fornebu just outside of Oslo. The arena is located on the other side of the street from Telenor Arena — the host venue of Eurovision 2010.
Audience attendance depends on the rules at the time
We all know that the ongoing situation regarding COVID-19 changes almost every single day. But Karlsen has confirmed that NRK has drawn up a plan for different scenarios. According to Karlsen a small audience will be allowed if nothing extreme happens.
“Of course there will be fewer people in the audience, but we plan on including the whole country. It will be a different kind of MGP season, but we do nothing by halves.”
Karlsen adds that even though the semifinals and the final will be held in the same arena he promises that we will have different shows.
At the moment, Norway prohibits events with more than 200 people in attendance. We will have to wait and see how the rules will change in January next year. This will determine whether Norwegian and international fans can wave their flags in the audience at Melodi Grand Prix 2021, or will have to settle for a good party at home (which isn’t a bad alternative).
What do you think? Are you excited about next year’s Melodi Grand Prix? Who do you think should compete? Tell us in the comments below.
Do you mean Kristin Husøy?
LOL I didn’t understand too. I searched for Katrin Hoey in the internet and was like, why can’t I find anything?
Do you mean Kristin Husoy?