Eurovision 2021: The ESC 2020 semi final line up stays the same for ESC 2021

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

• The EBU has confirmed that it will adopt the ESC 2020 semi final allocation draw results in Eurovision 2020 without any changes for the semi finals line up in Eurovision 2021.

  After this year's unprecedent cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest due to the covid-19 pandemic , the same number of countries re-confirmed their participation in next year's contest, making it more easy for EBU to adopt the same semi final allocation as determined in this year's draw. 

  Precisely, the Reference Group has decided not to hold a new Allocation Draw next January, therefore all partcipating countries maintain their spot in the  Semi-final 1 or Semi-final depending on last January's draw. Notable that this solution serves the matter of tickect that arouse after this year's cancellations and gives the chances to the fans that have bought tickets to attend the respective events they purchased previously. 

  Mr. Martin Osterdahl (EBU's Exeutinve Supervisor for Eurovision Song Contest ) says:

  Under normal circumstances we would be looking forward to the Allocation Draw and Host Insignia Exchange Ceremony as an important milestone on the road to Rotterdam 2021. With the same participating countries as last year , the Reference Group decided that it made sense for both ticket holders and for participating broadcasters to keep the same Semi-Final draws as 2020. Even though we won’t have the traditional Ceremony in January we have plenty more planned to build excitement ahead of the return of the Eurovision Song Contest next year.

   

  The ESC 2021 semi final line up

  A total of 35 nations will compete in the two semi finals set to take place on May 18 and 20. In the first semi final 17 countries will battle for the ticket to the grand final while the second semi final will see 18 countries which will fight to join the Big-5 countires and host country in the Grand Final show. 

  Thus the semi final will unfold according to the following allocation: 

   

  First Semi Final

  

  In the First Half will compete: 

  • North Macedonia
  • Belarus
  • Lithuania
  • Sweden
  • Slovenia
  • Australia
  • Ireland
  • Russia

  In the Second Half will compete: 

  • Norway
  • Cyprus
  • Croatia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Malta
  • Israel
  • Ukraine
  • Romania
  • Belgium

   

  Second Semi final

  

   

  In the First half will compete : 

  • Austria
  • Moldova
  • Poland
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Iceland
  • Czech Republic
  • Greece
  • Estonia

   

  In the Second half will compete : 

  • Denmark
  • Bulgaria
  • Switzerland
  • Finland
  • Armenia
  • Latvia
  • Georgia
  • Portugal
  • Albania

   

  The Big-5 countries and the host nation Semi final voting

  

  The host nation , The Netherlands , along with Germany and Italy and Germany will vote in the 1st semi final while Spain , the UK and France will cast their votes in the 2nd semi final. 

  The final running order will be determined by the producers after the competing countries have completed their national selections and all entries are submitted. 

  The 2021 Eurovision Song Contest will be held on 18, 20, 22 May at the Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.