Eurovision Song Contest 2020
eurovision song contest planned th edition eurovision song contest would taken place rotterdam netherlands following country victory contest song arcade duncan laurence edition first one contest history cancelled called march due covid pandemic contest scheduled held rotterdam ahoy would consisted two semifinal may final may fortyone country would participated contest bulgaria ukraine would returned absence contest hungary montenegro confirmed nonparticipation taking part previous edition competing artist song confirmed relevant broadcaster early march following cancellation european broadcasting union ebu began discussion potential carryovers contest host city participating artist various party place cancelled contest ebu dutch member npo no avrotros organised replacement show eurovision europe shine light showcase selected entry may day planned final rotterdam remained host contest may however song selected contest eligible competition contest held rotterdam ahoy rotterdam netherlands following country victory edition song arcade performed duncan laurence would fifth time netherlands hosted contest previously done rotterdam ahoy previously hosted junior eurovision song contest preparation contest began may immediately netherlands contest tel aviv israel jon ola sand executive supervisor contest behalf european broadcasting union ebu handed avrotros dutch participating broadcaster stack document usb drive tool begin work needed host next contest avrotros coorganising event sister broadcaster nederlandse omroep stichting no parent public broadcasting organisation nederlandse publieke omroep npo already prior contest bookmaker expected duncan laurence win several dutch city including amsterdam hague maastricht announced intent host contest netherlands win spokesperson npo also stated broadcaster rough plan would select host city event dutch victory laurence contest mayor various municipality immediately began lobbying mark rutte prime minister netherlands text message public figure including laurence esther hart getty kaspers andré rieu voiced support respective favourite host city hosting broadcaster launched bidding process may first phase process city formally apply bid nine cities—amsterdam arnhem breda shertogenbosch hague leeuwarden maastricht rotterdam utrecht—did received list criterion venue needed meet june initially zwolle also considered launching bid host event city ultimately decided deemed venue ijsselhallen unsuitable proportion enschede could potential host city enschede airport twente considered bidding host event eleventh hangar however later learned enschedes municipality executive board decided financially supporting bid point nine city july compile bid book demonstrate capability host contest city still able join bidding race applying prior deadline period four city withdrew amsterdam could host contest preoccupied hosting event contest time frame breda dropped due financial concern leeuwarden ceased bidding due insufficient height ceiling wtc expo hague dropped bid potential venue unsuitable event local car jean stadion football stadium would large enough lacked roof installing roof would made bid financially unviable option would spanning tent malieveld field reviewing hosting condition option fell favour following withdrawal hague turned support rotterdam bid instead five remaining cities—arnhem shertogenbosch maastricht rotterdam utrecht—delivered finished bid book ceremonial event held hilversum july hosting broadcaster reviewed bid presented july announced eliminated arnhem shertogenbosch utrecht shortlisting maastricht rotterdam utrecht specifically eliminated proposal span tent jaarbeurs offered limited possibility testing location questionable suitability event like eurovision song contest shertogenbosch dropped due insufficient ceiling height brabanthallen hotel room blocked potential visitor contest review discus location venue surrounding event remaining bid npo visited maastricht july rotterdam following day late july additional visit two shortlisted city deemed necessary review production logistics ebu pay visit either city maastricht rotterdam hand revised version bid book august add detail involving city social programme sideevents programme licensing concept agreement put organiser maastricht rotterdam august rotterdam signed agreement city council maastricht discussed rejected within council session also clarified mecc would receive additional renovation august rotterdam announced host city special broadcast npo npo key † host venue ‡ shortlisted venue eurovision village would erected serve official eurovision song contest fan sponsor area event week would possible watch performance local artist well live show broadcast main venue binnenrotte planned location village binnenrotte one largest open space centre rotterdam located heart city next rotterdam famous architectural marvel markthal euroclub would venue official afterparties private performance contest participant unlike eurovision village access euroclub would restricted accredited fan delegate press would located maassilo maassilo located rotterdam waterfront maashaven zuidzijde minute drive rotterdam ahoy golden carpet opening ceremony event contestant delegation present front accredited press fan would taken place rotterdam cruise terminal may eligibility potential participation eurovision song contest requires national broadcaster active ebu membership capable receiving contest via eurovision network broadcasting live nationwide ebu issued invitation participation contest active member contrast previous year associate member australia need invitation contest previously granted permission participate least ebu announced november fortyone country would participate contest bulgaria ukraine returning absence contest hungary montenegro participating mostly due financial reason following cancellation contest participating broadcaster given sole discretion whether retain artist would participated edition following year required enter new song accordance contest rule three artist previously competed lead vocalist country selected compete natalia gordienko previously represented moldova arsenium connectr senhit represented san marino sanja vučić member hurricane previously represented serbia solo performance number act previously performed backing vocalist year selected lead artist contest ksenija knežević member hurricane previously served backing vocalist montenegro entrant knez destiny provided backing vocal malta michela vincent bueno backed austria nathan trent vasil mama present contest providing backing vocal north macedonia tamara todevska sweden john lundvik respectively addition two lead vocalist previously competed junior eurovision song contest destiny junior eurovision song contest malta greece stefania competed junior contest netherlands member group kiss active ebu member active ebu member broadcaster andorra bosnia herzegovina hungary monaco slovakia turkey confirmed nonparticipation prior announcement participant list ebu inside source attributed hungary nonparticipation rise antilgbtq sentiment country however denied hungarian broadcaster mtva montenegro initially confirming participation later reconsidered option due modest result financial issue country appear final list participant call luxembourg return contest continued nonparticipation since including annemarie david winner country resulted fanled petition directed broadcaster rtl chamber deputy second petition opened chamber deputy however rtl also ruled participation contest prior official announcement ebu associate ebu member despite ebu associate member kazakhstan previous participation junior eurovision song contest jon ola sand executive supervisor contest stated country participation main contest needed discussed reference group ebu stated september intention invite kazakhstan contest nonebu member despite attempt kosovan broadcaster rtk obtain full ebu membership order debut contest ebus nd general assembly june decided keep itu membership requirement join ebu thus making impossible rtk join ebu time contest 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 would coproduction three related dutch television organisation — nederlandse publieke omroep npo nederlandse omroep stichting no avrotros — assumed different role sietse bakker inge van de weerd would served executive producer emilie sickinghe jessica stam would served deputy executive producer august marnix kaart marc po announced director three live show well gerben bakker head show cornald maas would creative advisor jon ola sand executive supervisor contest would keep role done since though planned step following contest contest slogan open unveiled october official logo branding unveiled november designed clever°franke abstract representation flag colour country participating first appearance contest contest would hosted three presenter actress television host chantal janzen singer commentator contest jan smit singer edsilia rombley represented netherlands contest beauty vlogger nikkie de jager nikkietutorials would presenter contest online content including behindthescenes youtube series recorded participating artist would also reported golden carpet opening ceremony scheduled make appearance three live show roos moggré andrew makkinga would moderated contest press conference stage design contest revealed december design inspired slogan open typical dutch flat landscape eurovision stage designed german stage designer florian wieder also designed stage contest – – unlike previous contest green room placed inside main performance venue second semifinal would opened performance breakdancer redouan redo ait chitt final would opened traditional flag parade introducing twentysix finalist accompanied music produced yearold dj pieter gabriel symphony orchestra sixtyfive young musician across netherlands specifically formed occasion scheduled perform final together dj afrojack singer glennis grace latter represented netherlands contest interval act would also featured forty dancer twentyfivepiece gospel choir furthermore final scheduled include performance eight former eurovision winner gigliola cinquetti would performed non ho letà lenny kuhr would performed de troubadour getty kaspers teachin would performed dingadong sandra kim would performed jaime la vie paul harrington charlie mcgettigan would performed rock n roll kid alexander rybak would performed fairytale duncan laurence would performed arcade spanish head delegation revealed october ebu consulting delegation potential change voting system greek head delegation revealed october majority delegation voted favour maintaining current voting system draw determine participating country semifinal took place january cet rotterdam city hall thirtyfive semifinalist divided five pot based historical voting pattern calculated contest official televoting partner digame purpose drawing different pot reduce chance bloc voting increase suspense semifinal draw also determined semifinal six automatic qualifier – host country netherlands big five country france germany italy spain united kingdom – would broadcast vote ceremony hosted contest presenter chantal janzen jan smit edsilia rombley included passing host city insignia zippi brand frank deputy mayor tel aviv host city previous contest ahmed aboutaleb mayor rotterdam concept postcard based open theme contest artist would visited different part netherlands connected local participating dutch activity tradition hobby first semifinal would taken place may cest seventeen country would participated first semifinal country plus germany italy netherlands would voted semifinal second semifinal would taken place may cest eighteen country would participated second semifinal country plus france spain united kingdom would voted semifinal final would taken place may cest twentysix country would participated final composed host country big five ten bestranked entry two semifinal fortyone participating country would voted final contest cancellation country started confirming broadcasting plan would provide commentary either onlocation remotely broadcaster contest role commentator add insight participating entry provision voting information january–february spread coronavirus disease known simply covid wuhan china country around world raised concern potential impact staging eurovision song contest march dutch broadcaster npo stated eurovision organiser would follow advice health authority deciding form event due held – may would take march authority denmark urged cancellation event spectator limit spread virus resulted danish national final held live audience representative sweden finland israel switzerland italy greece attended head delegation meeting march remotely contest executive supervisor jon ola sand also attended meeting remotely due travel restriction placed ebu staff march employee contracted virus several preparties – promotional event held across europe lead contest week – also impacted due emerging pandemic included prepartyes planned – april madrid eventually modified onlineonly format artist performed home youtube concert three preparties cancelled israel calling preparty planned tel aviv eurovision concert preparty planned amsterdam london eurovision party pandemic also affected precontest activity several competing artist eden alene israeli representative revealed would travel netherlands film postcard precautionary measure broadcaster noted would try find another way film postcard lithuanian representative roop also cancelled travel plan film postcard participation london amsterdam preparties bulgarian representative victoria also cancelled participation london amsterdam preparties ultimately contest cancelled result pandemic uncertainty surrounding decision announced march day ebu explained reason alternative option considered – postponement show show without audience remote show – discarded postponement impossible time unknown pandemic would finish also winning country would enough time organise event following year idea staging show without live audience also impracticable regardless audience participation presence production crew delegation relevant personnel needed would constitute breach social distancing guideline finally remote show also table would undermined tradition spirit event contestant equal opportunity performing stage dutch government decided prohibit gathering attendee notice contest reference group explored option letting artist selected compete following year instead decision made march accordance contest rule disqualify song released publicly september preceding calendar year none song would eligible compete contest ahoy arena event gathering netherlands prohibited least september served temporary care facility cover nationwide shortage hospital bed construction stage would started april ebu host broadcaster worked replacement show eurovision europe shine light contest cancellation hilversums studio show broadcast live may date contest final planned take place chantal janzen jan smit edsilia rombley serving host country broadcast show including country would participated ebu announced april eurovision song celebration would released replacement semifinal contest official youtube channel show presented janouk kelderman premiered may honoured participant song noncompetitive format first episode showcased participant first semifinal well host country netherlands two big five germany italy would also voted semifinal second episode featured participant second semifinal well france spain united kingdom would also voted semifinal running order determined producer show contest actually held fan asked contribute show sending videoclips favourite entry contest official youtube channel broadcast eurovision home concert every friday april may featuring planned artist past entrant performing entry well one favourite entry home cover act gave shortlist two four entry fan choose poll twitter instagram covered song song tie poll upon hearing contest cancellation journalist rob holley launched initiative watch past contest youtube every week eventually giving title eurovisionagain initiative quickly became popular ebu decided partake every saturday cest eurovision youtube channel would rebroadcast final previous contest revealed eurovisionagain team minute start contest prior available limited time initiative generally received welcome distraction fan twitter eurovisionagain regularly became trending topic received positive reaction past participant part initiative holley collected £ charity july second run eurovisionagain began replay contest aired every third saturday month leading selection season season ended special edition popular song qualify final one country chosen via official eurovision social medium handle streamed put fanvote iceland entry hear calling greta salóme fanvote besides europewide replacement show broadcaster left make plan fill rest gap broadcaster provided television audience eurovisionrelated replacement programming example include holding alternative contest offering people chance listen entry vote favourite country holding ranking song throughout eurovision history rebroadcast preexisting eurovision special previous contest significant country contest last big night organised broadcast australian broadcaster special broadcasting service sb aired may australian voted online favourite song minus montaigne dont break three hour song counted top twenty song playing full iceland daði og gagnamagnið crowned winner think thing der kleine song contest english little song contest organised broadcast austrian broadcaster österreichischer rundfunk orf competition consisted three semifinal april final april hosted andi knoll show broadcast television channel orf well streaming platform orftvthek eurovision – da deutsche finale english eurovision german final organised broadcast german broadcaster norddeutscher rundfunk ndr competition consisted prequalifying round may final may eurovision come together organised broadcast british broadcasting corporation bbc hosted graham norton may broadcast live bbc one online vote determined uk public popular eurovision entry year history selection previous competing song okkar stig english point organised broadcast icelandic broadcaster ríkisútvarpið rúv pesem evrovizije najboljših english eurovision song contest top organised broadcast slovenian broadcaster rtv slovenija ranking slovenian eurovision entry excluding song represented yugoslavia decided online vote revealed show slovenian artist presenter associated eurovision gave opinion song interview held several past slovenian participant broadcast revealed ana soklič selected represent slovenia would remain country entrant sverige english sweden point organised broadcast swedish broadcaster sverige television svt competition consisted prequalifying round may hosted christer björkman david sundin final may hosted christer björkman sarah dawn finer show broadcast live svt well streaming platform svt play winning entry – hypothetical recipient sweden point – icelandic entry think thing ogae organisation forty eurovision song contest fan club across europe beyond conduct annual voting poll vote cast topranked entry poll lithuania fire roop top five result shown eurovision tribute artist song official compilation album contest put together european broadcasting union containing song would taken part competition originally scheduled released universal music group physically digitally april delayed may later may eurovision song contest story fire saga film featuring fictional eurovision song contest junior eurovision song contest official website