Eurovision Song Contest 2021
eurovision song contest th edition eurovision song contest took place rotterdam netherlands following country win contest song arcade duncan laurence netherlands set host contest cancelled due covid pandemic organised european broadcasting union ebu host broadcaster nederlandse publieke omroep npo nederlandse omroep stichting no avrotros contest held rotterdam ahoy consisted two semifinal may final may three live show presented dutch television presenter singer chantal janzen edsilia rombley jan smit dutch youtuber makeup artist nikkie de jager thirtynine country participated contest twentysix reentered artist chosen albeit different song per contest rule compared edition bulgaria ukraine returned hungary montenegro armenia belarus originally planned participate armenia withdrew due social political crisis following second nagornokarabakh war belarus disqualified submitting entry violation rule twice providing eligible entry deadline winner italy song zitti e buoni performed måneskin written band member damiano david ethan torchio thomas raggi victoria de angelis france switzerland iceland ukraine rounded top five france switzerland achieving best result since respectively italy combined vote televote placed fourth jury vote switzerland france malta italy second member big five since introduction win contest germany first time since none top three entry performed english france switzerland performing french italy italian also first time since current voting system implemented one country received point televote final country germany spain host country netherlands united kingdom last becoming first country receive point jury televote second time united kingdom received point contest last time first time since debut australia failed qualify final making ukraine country never failed qualify semifinal since introduction ebu reported contest audience million viewer european market increase million viewer previous edition increase seven percent – year old age range contest held rotterdam netherlands following country victory edition song arcade performed duncan laurence fifth time netherlands hosted contest previously done selected venue seat ahoy arena rotterdam ahoy convention centre multipurpose indoor arena located ahoyweg serf venue many event including concert exhibition trade fair conference rotterdam ahoy previously hosted junior eurovision song contest set host contest cancellation turquoise carpet event contestant delegation presented accredited press fan took place rotterdam cruise terminal may eurovision tradition netherlands received right host eurovision song contest country competition dutch host broadcaster npo no avrotros launched bidding process month may five city – arnhem shertogenbosch maastricht rotterdam utrecht – submitted bid book ceremonial event held hilversum july july maastricht rotterdam shortlisted npo visited city august rotterdam announced host city eurovision song contest following cancellation contest ebu began talk broadcaster npo no avrotros well city rotterdam possibility staging contest city april municipal council rotterdam approved increased budget dutch medium reported city would require additional € million host contest decision imminent required ebu informed late april rotterdam willing host contest rotterdam declined host event npo no avrotros midmay find alternative broadcast eurovision europe shine light aired may rotterdam confirmed host city contest eligibility potential participation eurovision song contest requires national broadcaster active ebu membership capable receiving contest via eurovision network broadcasting live nationwide ebu issued invitation participate contest active member associate member australia need invitation contest previously granted permission participate least ebu initially announced october country would participate contest featuring lineup country set participate cancelled edition bulgaria ukraine returned absence contest hungary montenegro confirmed nonreturning following latest appearance march armenia belarus confirmed nonparticipation contest armenia withdrew due social political crisis aftermath second nagornokarabakh war belarus disqualified contest submitting entry violation rule twice providing eligible entry deadline thereby reducing number participating country cancellation contest participating broadcaster country announced contest would internally select artist initially selected artist efendi azerbaijan montaigne australia vincent bueno austria hooverphonic belgium albeit different lead singer victoria bulgaria benny cristo czech republic tornike kipiani georgia stefania greece eden alene israel lesley roy ireland daði og gagnamagnið iceland samanta tīna latvia destiny malta natalia gordienko moldova roxen romania jeangu macrooy netherlands vasil north macedonia senhit san marino hurricane serbia ana soklič slovenia blas cantó spain gjons tear switzerland goa ukraine james newman united kingdom addition artist initially selected estonia lithuania uku suviste roop respectively country national final represent country discounting contest featured three representative also previously performed lead vocalist country five artist participated eurovision event backing vocalist another country among representative returned lead vocalist natalia gordienko previously represented moldova arsenium connectr senhit represented san marino sanja vučić member hurricane previously represented serbia solo performance former backing vocalist competed lead artist included ksenija knežević member hurricane previously served backing vocalist montenegro entrant knez destiny provided backing vocal malta michela vincent bueno backed austria nathan trent vasil provided backing vocal north macedonia tamara todevska two artist previously competed junior eurovision song contest malta destiny junior eurovision song contest greece stefania competed netherlands junior contest member group kiss mladen lukić previously competed serbia member balkanika returned backing vocalist hurricane active ebu member armenia – intended compete armenia initially confirmed contest list participant announced ebu october set perform second half second semifinal however march public television company armenia amptv confirmed subsequently unable participate due social political crisis country aftermath second nagornokarabakh war belarus – intended compete belarus initially confirmed contest list participant announced ebu october set perform first half first semifinal however march belarus disqualified ebu intended entry ya nauchu tebya ill teach galasy zmesta rejected due violating rule able submit eligible replacement entry six day eurovision final ebu voted suspend belarusian broadcaster btrcs membership due concern content broadcasting btrc given two week respond suspension come effect june public response broadcaster expelled ebu july rendering future participation impossible indefinite amount time november democrat andorra ruling party former participant andorra stated would assess cost order grant country return contest andorran representative susanne georgi claimed secured funding held meeting prime minister andorra xavier espot zamora ultimately agreeing push andorran return consideration covid pandemic former participant morocco turkey despite rumour possible return appear final list participant active ebu member broadcaster bosnia herzegovina luxembourg monaco slovakia confirmed nonparticipation prior announcement participant list ebu associate ebu member august ebu stated intend invite kazakhstan year nonebu member august ebu stated intend invite kosovo become member liechtensteiner broadcaster fl tv despite previous attempt become ebu member halted plan director peter kölbels unexpected death resume due lack sufficient fund government support thus ruled debuting eurovision song contest coproduction three related dutch television organisation — nederlandse publieke omroep npo nederlandse omroep stichting no avrotros — assumed different role sietse bakker astrid dutrénit served executive producer emilie sickinghe jessica stam served deputy executive producer marnix kaart marc po daniel jelinek served director three live show gerben bakker served head show background music show composed eric van tijn january ebu announced martin österdahl would become executive supervisor eurovision song contest edition succeeding jon ola sand appointment österdahl executive producer edition member eurovision song contest reference group total budget show € million € million left unspent contest according municipal executive additional money allocated contingency scenario eventually discarded may dutch authority prohibited mass gathering country covid vaccine became available host broadcaster stated assessing decision would impact event september ebu released summary contingency scenario contest order take place regardless pandemic situation including event held previous year scenario event held social distancing measure place scenario b providing option act perform home country unable travel rotterdam scenario c fullyremote contest hosted rotterdam scenario act performing home country inperson festivity audience rotterdam scenario trialled junior eurovision song contest february ebu host broadcaster stated ruled hosting contest normal scenario scenario c also modified – act would perform remotely like scenario health safety protocol published march ebu affirming contest would held scenario b reiterating downscaling option remained table circumstance change april ebu confirmed contest would held scenario b april announced audience people would allowed nine show including three live show six rehearsal dutch cabinet later gave approval april audience member must tested negative covid due pandemic precaution turquoise carpet event inperson side event take place impacted side event included opening ceremony event held eurovision village took place may onlineonly form euroclub cancelled year september along possible scenario ebu confirmed planned visual design slogan open would used well revamped official logo branding unveiled december designed clever°franke abstract presentation inspired map world visually connects location capital participating country rotterdam europe beating heart revamped visual identity designed mediamonks nep built around pattern track symbolises netherlands concept opening announcement date contest executive producer sietse bakker stated planned stage design would also used design inspired slogan open typical dutch flat landscape eurovision stage designed german stage designer florian wieder also designed stage contest – – feature included revolvable primary led screen metre ft wide metre ft high retractable semitransparent led screen could used backdrop secondary stage stage design complemented augmented reality effect unlike contest green room placed main performance venue encompassed entire floor space previously reserved standing audience facilitate social distancing postcard second video introduction shown television whilst stage prepared next contestant perform entry filmed january april directed martijn nieman laurence drenthe kevin soares serving executive producer postcard based open theme contest departure initial concept created contest owing travel restriction concern postcard involved act presented footage shot country origin inserted via chroma keying onto framework tiny house setup various location around netherlands decorated item personal artist end postcard light streak hit house refracted countryspecific coloured streak mimicking prism transition stage ceiling lit country flag colour using augmented reality postcard produced amsterdambased production company idtv additional postproduction vfx work antwerpbased agency storm following location used participating country september along possible scenario ebu confirmed planned presenter would appointed presenter contest well actress television host chantal janzen singer commentator contest jan smit singer edsilia rombley represented netherlands contest beauty vlogger nikkie de jager nikkietutorials addition de jager krista siegfrids finland representative contest presenter contest online content siegfrids hosted krista calling weekly youtube series behindthescenes coverage rotterdam de jager hosted looklab nikkietutorials online talk show series featuring participant queen máxima special guest koos van plateringen hilum noorzai samya hafsaoui moderated contest press conference van plateringen fenna ramos hosted turquoise carpet event year delegation given option use prerecorded backing vocal delegation could still choose use backing singer whether stage combination live recorded backing vocal lead vocal performing melody song must still live according rule measure guarantee participant could take part contest every national broadcaster required create liveontape backup recording prior contest could used participant unable travel rotterdam subjected quarantine arrival recording took place studio setting realtime would contest without edits vocal part performance recording set production guideline also revealed ensure fairness integrity recording liveontape recording excluding ireland united kingdom later released may part eurovision song celebration liveontape show contest official youtube channel rule entry stayed contest includes maximum length song three minute six performer stage composition lyric music must commercially released september year following cancellation contest ebu explored option allowing song selected contest compete contest needed discussed eurovision song contest reference group national broadcaster victoria bulgaria representative publicly expressed support move however march reference group decided accordance rule eurovision song contest song would eligible compete contest november ebu confirmed semifinal allocation draw contest would held instead semifinal would feature lineup country determined draw contest semifinal held january rotterdam city hall hosted contest presenter chantal janzen jan smit edsilia rombley draw also determined semifinal six automatic qualifier – host country netherlands big five country france germany italy spain united kingdom – would broadcast vote ebu also decided retain netherlands running order position final – pot used initially contest featured follows first semifinal took place may cest sixteen country participated semifinal running order published march malta point followed ukraine russia lithuania israel cyprus sweden azerbaijan belgium norway country failed reach final slovenia australia north macedonia ireland croatia romania country competing semifinal eligible vote plus germany italy netherlands belarus originally allocated participate first half semifinal disqualified contest submitting entry violation rule twice providing eligible entry deadline semifinal opened duncan laurence performing feel something featured singer youtuber davina michelle actress thekla reuten interval act titled power water centering netherlands history water management michelle performed new single sweet water performance act augmented reality used dutch german italian artist interviewed clip competing song played second semifinal took place may cest seventeen country participated semifinal running order published march switzerland point followed iceland bulgaria portugal finland greece moldova serbia san marino albania country failed reach final estonia czech republic austria poland georgia latvia denmark country competing semifinal eligible vote plus france spain united kingdom armenia originally allocated participate second half semifinal withdrew contest due social political crisis aftermath second nagornokarabakh war semifinal opened breakdancer redouan redo ait chitt singersongwriter eefje de visser ballet dancer ahmad joudeh bmxer dez maarsen performing interval act titled forward unlimited close encounter special kind respectively british french spanish artist interviewed clip competing song played final took place may cest twentysix country participated final thirtynine participating country eligible vote running order final published may italy point also winning televote france came second point switzerland jury vote iceland ukraine finland malta lithuania russia greece completing top ten san marino netherlands spain germany united kingdom occupied bottom five position last four country received point televote final opened traditional flag parade introducing twentysix finalist accompanied remix venus produced performed yearold dj pieter gabriel copresenters chantal janzen jan smit edsilia rombley singing part song interval act included medley hero ten foot tall titanium performed dj afrojack singer wulf glennis grace orchestra composed young dutch musician rock roof interval act six former eurovision winner – måns zelmerlöw teachin sandra kim lenny kuhr helena paparizou lordi – performed winning song – hero dingadong jaime la vie de troubadour number one hard rock hallelujah respectively – atop several venue rotterdam duncan laurence performed winning song arcade new single star dance sketch titled human countdown performed signified closure voting window spokesperson spokesperson announced point score respective country national jury following order ten qualifier first semifinal determined televoting andor smsvoting fivemember jury sixteen country competing first semifinal voted alongside germany italy netherlands ten qualifying country announced particular order full result country voted published final held point summary point received first semifinal jury vote malta received maximum score point eight country russia received three set point israel awarded two set point australia cyprus lithuania romania sweden ukraine awarded one set point public vote ukraine received six set point lithuania received maximum score point five country croatia malta received two set point cyprus israel norway russia awarded one set point ten qualifier second semifinal determined televoting andor smsvoting fivemember jury seventeen country competing first semifinal voted alongside france spain united kingdom ten qualifying country announced particular order full result country voted published final held point summary point received second semifinal jury vote switzerland received maximum score point seven country bulgaria received four set point iceland awarded three set point greece moldova received two set point poland portugal awarded one set point public vote moldova received eight set point iceland received maximum score point three country finland serbia received two set point denmark greece portugal san marino switzerland awarded one set point result final determined televoting jury voting thirtynine participating country announcement jury point conducted country individually country spokesperson announcing jury favourite entry received point remaining point shown screen following completion jury point announcement public point announced aggregate contest host ascending order starting country received fewest point jury point summary point received final jury vote france switzerland received maximum score point eight country italy malta receiving four set point bulgaria greece moldova received maximum score two country albania cyprus iceland lithuania portugal russia san marino serbia ukraine awarded one set point public vote italy lithuania serbia ukraine received maximum score point five country france receiving four set point finland iceland received maximum score three country cyprus greece moldova awarded two set point israel russia switzerland awarded one set point participating broadcaster may choose onsite remote commentator providing insight show voting information local audience must broadcast least semifinal voting final broadcaster air three show different programming plan similarly nonparticipating broadcaster may still want air contest european broadcasting union provided international live stream semifinal final official youtube channel commentary live stream geoblocked viewer australia greece latvia lithuania ukraine united state united kingdom live broadcast three show made available every country listed except united state two day ya nauchu tebya ill teach announced belarusian entry contest ebu ruled song comply contest rule political entry song eligible compete contest unless modified replaced failing meet extended deadline submitting eligible entry second submission pesnya pro zaytsa song hare also found comply rule announced march belarus disqualified contest ukraine second rehearsal may lead singer goa kateryna pavlenko reported feeling unwell accordance contest health safety protocol pavlenko required quarantine hotel room band member tested negative able rehearse dutch standin singer emmie van stijn providing vocal instead pavlenko pavlenko took covid pcr test came back negative following day allowing perform van stijn received positive reaction performance particular pronunciation ukrainian lyric invited sit ukrainian delegation green room first semifinal ahead turquoise carpet event one member polish icelandic delegation tested positive covid result delegation absent event gone selfisolation accordance contest health safety protocol romanian maltese delegation also absent event precautionary measure based hotel polish icelandic delegation member polish icelandic delegation tested negative remained quarantine jury show second semifinal however later confirmed member icelandic group daði og gagnamagnið tested positive result group withdrew performing live show footage rehearsal rotterdam ahoy broadcast instead jury show live show second semifinal footage also shown final remaining member polish delegation subsequently released isolation may ebu confirmed duncan laurence tested positive would perform live final due perform winning song arcade new single star interval present point behalf dutch jury latter role filled romy monteiro prerecorded rehearsal footage laurences interval performance broadcast instead final due positive test result laurence also present hand trophy winner presenter handed trophy instead day final member norwegian delegation tested positive forced remain rotterdam isolation later confirmed six additional member delegation tested positive returning norway jury show issue jury show first semifinal romanian ukrainian maltese delegation reported problem performance notably roxen heard offbeat chorus song amnesia ebu later confirmed inear monitoring issue occurred artist involved would given second chance perform issue occurred second performance san marino jury final performance rotating platform stop supposed leading senhit jump motion sammarinese delegation later filed complaint also claiming camera shot distorted due timing issue delegation offered allow senhit flo rida withdraw event though ultimately decided stay contest executive supervisor martin österdahl apologised delegation reaffirmed issue would addressed moving forward would protected highest degree camera breaking prior ireland performance setup ireland performance first semifinal camera broke caused extended delay postcard shown copresenter chantal janzen improvised green room live broadcast fill time green room segment final damiano david lead singer italian band måneskin claimed online viewer social medium seen snorting line cocaine leaned table although drug footage singer sitting away table close italian delegation member band press conference following victory torbjörn ek journalist working swedish newspaper aftonbladet asked allegation david denied suggesting fellow member thomas raggi broken glass david picking floor going say dont use drug please guy say band later released statement official instagram account stating really shocked people saying damiano drug really drug never used cocaine ready get tested cause got nothing hide ebu released statement following day stating band management italian head delegation denied allegation singer question damiano requested tested night testing could immediately organized would take voluntary drug test arriving home also confirmed broken glass found site check allegation mostly covered french press briefly commented french foreign minister jeanyves le drian french participating broadcaster france télévisions announced wont file official charge italian press described social medium joke gone far become fake news may ebu released statement confirming drug use took place green room final following negative drug test inspection available footage ebu also expressed concern inaccurate speculation leading fake news overshadowed spirit outcome event unfairly affected band ebu confirmed may issue handling dutch televote final numerous dutch viewer complained social medium vote counted received confirmation text hour show ebu later confirmed no vote counted due problem dutch branch telecom provider tmobile clarifying authority issue dutch televoting result therefore remained valid italy win contest marked breakthrough entrant måneskin international music market following contest band release including second studio album teatro dira vol contained winning song zitti e buoni well track wanna slave coraline entered european global weekly chart zitti e buoni wanna slave also entered top ten billboard global excl u chart zitti e buoni became first italianlanguage song year chart top uk single chart peaking number well wanna slave peaking number five first song italian rock band reach uk top ten thus making band first eurovision winning act since céline dion two song uk top top ten hit noncontest song buoyed viral success video sharing service tiktok cover beggin peaked number six thus making first italian act first eurovisionassociated act two song charting uk top ten time beggin later debuted u billboard hot chart number went peak number making second eurovision winning act recent history enter chart winner duncan laurence done earlier year winning song arcade several entry contest also impacted chart event france entry voilà entered billboard global chart dated june number followed ukraine entry shum number also marked first time ukrainianlanguage song entered chart billboard global excl u chart also dated june addition zitti e buoni number voilà number shum number four entry entered chart finland dark side number switzerland tout lunivers number iceland year number cyprus el diablo number addition main winner trophy marcel bezençon award barbara dex award contested eurovision song contest ogae general organisation eurovision fan voting poll also took place contest marcel bezençon award organised since sweden thenhead delegation representative christer björkman winner contest richard herrey honour song contest final award divided three category artistic award composer award press award winner revealed shortly eurovision final may ogae organisation forty eurovision song contest fan club across europe beyond conduct annual voting poll first held marcel bezençon fan award vote cast topranked entry poll malta je casse performed destiny top five result shown barbara dex award created fansite house eurovision organised fansite songfestivalbe since awarded performer voted worn notable outfit topranked entry year norway representative tix last person ever receive award due cancellation following year eurovision award first held saw competing act celebrated across ten category shortlist determined major eurovision fansites podcasts editor presenter nominating favourite category final result determined follower official eurovision instagram channel cast vote favourite act winner listed first highlighted boldface indicated double dagger ‡ runnersup indicated single dagger † eurovision song contest rotterdam official compilation album contest put together european broadcasting union released universal music group digitally april physically april album feature entry including semifinalist failed qualify final junior eurovision song contest official website rock roll never dy italy win eurovision year wikinews