Back in September, Iceland confirmed that they would again use the national final Söngvakeppnin to select their act for Rotterdam. Now broadcaster RÚV has confirmed that the competing acts will be revealed on 18 January — just over one week away.
Iceland to reveal Söngvakeppnin songs on January 18
The broadcaster confirmed the news to Eurovision media. No further details of the announcement have been revealed, but RÚV is expected to announce the ten contestants in a show.
In October, the broadcaster revealed that they had received 157 song submissions for Söngvakeppnin 2020. That’s a 20% increase on 2019, thought to be in part due to the success of Hatari in Tel Aviv.
A seven-person committee reviewed the 157 songs without knowing the identity of the artists. From that, the committee has selected the ten acts who will go on to compete in the Söngvakeppnin semi-finals next month.
Söngvakeppnin 2020 schedule and format
Five entries will compete in each semi-final. From each semi, two acts will go through to the grand final in the Laugardalshöll Arena in Reykjavík.
The Icelandic broadcaster might add a fifth finalist as a wildcard, as was the case last year with Kristina Skoubo Bærendsen.
The first semi-final takes place on February 8 and the second semi-final a week later on February 15. And just like for Söngvakeppnin 2019, we will have to wait two weeks for the grand final, as that takes place on February 29.
The Icelanders are sticking with the format that led Hatari to a Eurovision top-ten finish last year. The 2019 nation final winners got Iceland its sixth-best result ever, so perhaps the Nordic country is on the right track.
However, Iceland still remains one of the longest-running non-winners of Eurovision, having not taken home the crystal microphone it in 32 attempts. So, there’s a reason to wonder if staying with the old format will do Iceland good.
Do you think Iceland could win with the current selection format? Which artists would you like to see in the national final? Speak up in the comment section!
Of Monsters And Men, Ásgeir, Please!!
Hatari was such a epic art piece of a act.
I would gag if they can surpass that.
This is possibly the national final I’m the most curious about this year, because I want to know how much Hatari’s success will shake things up. I hope it was just the beginning of a series of unexpected and unconventional choices made by Iceland.
No it would be so boring if all swedish entries was published today. Its the fun thing here that each week we have 7 new ones. Thats the exciciting part for me. I dont want that to change for us.
Time for Alda Dis to earn her vengeance after being robbed 4 years ago!
Dadi freyr would be nice!
I have always had a soft spot for Iceland and after visiting Reykjavík last year I love them even more. What a beautiful country with amazingly friendly people. They have a very diverse music scene and this is rarely reflected in their entries. Last year was a turning point and it was so welcome to hear something so different. Hopefully this year will continue on and not go backwards with a bland beige ballad.
It’s just ridiculous. All it does is make everyone unwilling to put up with such nonsense less excited about those countries. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
Which hardly ever happens, making the teasing all the more pathetic. Particularly Bulgaria should have learned that lesson in 2018.
This makes me worried af about Spain. “My song will be like that.”, “Tittle will be something like that”, etc. And if we’ll get just basic pop song, I will be genuinely mad
I need something indie from Iceland. Like Of Monsters Of Men or something. Icelandic singers are so good at indie, fingers crossed.
Hoping for Björk
Hatari taught them that risks can pay off when safer fare like Svala or Ari Olafsson are too bland to get very far. They’d kind of become Denmark’s brand of safe, musical comfort food on steroids with none of the nutrients that a wholesome entry like Love is Forever or Talking to You could bring (and Iceland used to kill at songs like that). Hatari was a hard swerve in the opposite direction, and I hope that at the very least encourages them to try something more alternative or indie inspired, considering how amazing Iceland’s indie scene is and has… Read more »
I’m just good that Hatari sent their best song muscially-wise to the contest. The rest of the singles I respect, but Hatrid Mun Sigra is the catchest and most fun!
Looking forward to it. Iceland always takes nice pictures of their participants, so even if the songs suck, they will at least have a pretty national final website. I’m hoping for the best of songs, though.
Aron Hannes with a banger would be great!
I’m excited to see what’s Iceland brings