It’s one of the biggest promotional events in the Eurovision calendar. But now the organisers behind the London Eurovision Party have announced the formal cancellation of the event. The team in the British capital are now seeking help from fans to raise funds in hopes the show can return in 2022 and beyond.
London Eurovision Party formally cancelled
Founders Kabir Naidoo and Russell Davies confirmed the cancellation news on Twitter. “In light of the current guidelines from the UK Government, alongside the international travel restrictions and the situation across Europe, it is with deep regret that we are not able to have the 13th London Eurovision Party in 2021”, their statement reads. “Furthermore, with the uncertainty regarding the venue, we have now no option but to formally cancel the London Eurovision Party.”
Our statement ?#eurovision pic.twitter.com/uh72Ue4ZBg
— London Eurovision (@LDNEurovision) March 5, 2021
This news comes after Café de Paris — long-time London Eurovision Party host venue — went into administration and shut its doors late last year. The organisers thanked fans and ticket holders for their continued patience regarding the postponement of the 2020 party, while they navigated the uncertain circumstances surrounding the venue.
“In our last message we postponed the 2020 event to 2021 and had hoped to bring you a London Eurovision Party this year. Since we last wrote to you, circumstances have changed yet again and it was terrible sad news to hear that our venue ‘home’, Café de Paris, was placed into financial administration and closed by the owners at the end of 2020. Presently we do not know what will happen to Café de Paris, or if this venue will even remain as an entertainment space in the future — it is just too early to tell”.
Naidoo and Davies also explained that London Eurovision Party 2020 ticket-holders will be issued a refund imminently.
“This event is not run by a large event promoter like LiveNation or AEG but instead by just us, 2 Eurovision fans, who invest our own capital to bring the event to the London stage and rely on ticket sales to cover the increasing costs year on year. Hotels, flights, venues, catering, production staff, backstage staff, lighting, staging, security are all paid for upfront by us as organisers with the ticket money paid out sometime after the event from Ticketweb. This is standard practice within the industry and it means your ticket money from the 2020 event has been held by Ticketweb since you bought the tickets and would only be released to us after we held the event. Refunds were available from us via Ticketweb since the postponement of the London Eurovision Party 2020.
“We are explaining this, purely for transparency as we realise there have been comments on social media in relation to other events, where customers feel the organisers are holding onto their monies. This is simply not the case. In fact considerable financial outlay was already paid out by us as we were just 2 weeks away from the event when the UK was placed into lockdown and the pandemic worsened. Sadly, some of these costs have been irrecoverable. Many of you have been extremely kind, supportive and understanding in your messages to us, emails, DMs, tweets and texts – and have asked how you can support us or even help recoup some of our losses. To those of you, thank you so much. This pandemic has affected everyone terribly and for those of you who have been so kind – it means a lot to us.”
Currently, due to large financial losses and continued uncertainty, the organisers are not in a strong enough position to confirm the show’s return in 2022. However, not all hope is lost. The pair also announced the launch of a JustGiving fundraiser to help raise money to bring back the event in the future.
London Eurovision Party organisers launch JustGiving fundraiser
The fundraiser aims to raise £2,000 to help bring back the London Eurovision Party in 2022. Donations can be made to the JustGiving page.
“We understand that you might not be in a position to do this but if you are and you would like to donate, thank you so very much”, the organisers say. “We are so proud of what we have achieved in our 12 years and being the longest-running preview party. We desperately hope we can return and bring back a Eurovision party like no other.”
And we hope they can return, too. The London Eurovision Party is one of the biggest events in the Eurovision calendar. For Eurovision stars, it’s an opportunity to strum up hype prior to the contest in May. But for Eurovision fans, it’s an opportunity to connect with the community at large. All of us at wiwibloggs are long-time fans of the iconic event — especially British blogger Lucy, whose mum once did a shot with Conchita Wurst at the 2015 show!
LEP is such a crucial event we MUST keep going. For many it’s a safe space, it’s unlike any other pre-party. Acts come and chill in the crowd, + UK fandom is SO vast/passionate about ESC. My mum did a shot with Conchita there which kinda sums up the vibe? https://t.co/qcNf9rR7sh
— Omaga, it’s Percy ? ?????? (@JeMappellePercy) March 5, 2021
The London Eurovision Party organisers will make a further announcement later this year about the future of the event.
What do you think? What are your favourite London Eurovision Party memories? Will you be donating to the fundraiser? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more London Eurovision Party news here
“For many it’s a safe space, it’s unlike any other pre-party.”
And that will be a “safe space” from what exactly? the eurofan-eating zombies?
jeez. how people today cannot say one thing without shoving some PC buzzwords into it.
Remember a large portion of the ESC fanbase are LGBTQ+. Eurovision is a space where many can express themselves openly. These events are also a space for fans to celebrate Eurovision away from the critics of the contest — in the UK, there are far too many.
mental gymnastics.
@Mahi Mahi, Bore off! You clearly don’t get it so don’t worry about it.