Eurovision 2021: The puzzle of confirmed countries and acts; Which ESC 2020 artists return in next year's edition

Eurovision 2021: The puzzle of confirmed countries and acts; Which ESC 2020 artists return in next year's edition
Thursday, 17 September 2020

  • After the unprecedent Eurovision 2020 cancellation and EBU’s decision not to allow this year’s entries to compete in the 2021 edition, the countries are progressively unveiling their intentions regarding next year's contest and whether they will stick with their ESC 2020 hopefuls or select new ones.  So far a total of 34 nations have confirmed their ESC 2021 participation while 19 of them will continue with their ESC 2020 acts. 

    Once the Eurovision song contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic the question that arouse was what will happen with this year’s unlucky contestants that didn’t eventually were deprived the right to complete their Eurovision 2020 journey in Rotterdam. The EBU through a clear statement outruled the ESC 2020 songs ,by not allowing the  ESC 2020 entries to compete in 2021. Therefore the broadcasters were left to decide whether they will return with the same acts or not.

    The decision was accepted by broadcasters and delegations with mixed feelings and reactions. However the countiries are leaving things behind and are progressively unveiling their intentions for next year's edition.

    Therefore the Eurovision 2021 puzzle of competing acts and countries for Eurovision 2021 has so far as following:

     

    CONFIRMED COUNTRIES AND ACTS

     So far a total of 19 countries have confirmed their Eurovision 2021 participation and the comeback of the ESC 2020 acts .These are:

    1. Spain – Blas Canto
    2. The Netherlands– Jeangu Macrooy
    3. Ukraine– GO_A Band
    4. Greece– Stefania
    5. Georgia– Tornike Kipiani
    6. Azerbaijan– Samira Efendi
    7. Switzerland–Gjon’s Tears
    8. Belgium– Hooverphonic
    9. Bulgaria– Victoria
    10. Israel – Eden Alene
    11. Austria - Vincent Bueno
    12. Romania - Roxen
    13. Australia - Montaigne
    14. Czech Republic - Benny Cristo
    15. Malta - Destiny Chukunyere
    16. Latvia - Samanta Tina
    17. Slovenia - Ana Soklič
    18. San Marino - Senhit
    19. Moldova - Natalia Gordienko

     

    CONFIRMED COUNTRIES – NEW NATIONAL SELECTIONS

    So far 10 countries have confirmed that they will be competing in Eurovision 2021 but with new selected acts. Estonia has confirmed that it will select a new Eurovision representaitve via Eesti Laul 2021 and gave to Uku Suviste a direct pass to the semi finals, while Sweden will be selecting its ESC 2021 act through the Melodifestivalen 2021 format. The same path have chosen the national broadcasters from Norway, Finland , Lithuania, Denmark and Cyprus. France , Croatia and Germany are  the latest countries to confirm its participation and have opted for new hopefuls through new national selections. 

    1. Sweden- Melodifestivalen
    2. Estonia- Eesti Laul
    3. Norway - Melodi Grand Prix 2021
    4. Finland - UMK 2021
    5. Lithuania - Pabandom Iš Naujo 2021
    6. Denmark - Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2021
    7. Cyprus - NS format and act to be determined
    8. France - National final  " Eurovision France, c'est vous qui decidez"
    9. Croatia - Dora 2021
    10. Germany - Internal Selection with two juries
    11. Albania -  Festivali i Kenges 59

     

    CONFIRMED COUNTRIES / ACT or SELECTION TO BE DETERMINED

    Ireland has confimred its ESC 2021 participation but the national broadcaster, RTE, hasn’t confirmed whether it will continue with its ESC 2020 hopeful or go to a new national selection. The same status applies to Serbia where RTS has confirmed its Eurovision 2021 participation but has made no decision on the artist. 

    1. Ireland
    2. Serbia
    3. Iceland
    4. North Macedonia
    5. Armenia

     

    NON PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

    1. Andorra
    2. Luxembourg
    3. Slovakia
    4. Monaco

     

    COUNTRIES WITH NO DECISION YET

    1. Belarus
    2. Italy
    3. Poland
    4. Portugal
    5. Russia
    6. United Kingdom

     

    THE ABSENT COUNTRIES 

    Meanwhile a number of countries that have been absent the latest yeats haven’t yet confirmed a possible return or not. Among them Hungary and Montenegro that have been absent only the last year and seem more closer to a decision of returning.

    1. Hungary
    2.  Montenegro

    On the other hand there’s a list of countries that have taken the path of absence the last years and their return seems less likely to take place . These are :

    1. Bosnia & Herzegovina
    2. Turkey
    3. Morocco

     

    The next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is set for May 18,20 and 22 at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and will be co produced by the three Dutch broadcasters AVROTROS,NPO,NOS.