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
Sunday, 18 October 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 have been 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 38 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 deadline for the countries to confirm or withdraw their application to participate in the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest, has expired on October 10. 

    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 13 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 broadcaster from Norway which will select its Eurovision 2021 hopeful via the Melodi Gran Prix show while Ulrikke must participate with a new song if she want to reach the ESC 2021 stage. 

    Finland will be selecting its entry through UMK 2021 with the ESC 2020 act, Aksel , taking part in the next national fina. The same new from  Lithuania, Cyprus who have opted for new ESC 2021 hopefuls while Demmark will hold one more edition of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix .

    France switches back to a national seletion format to determine its ESC hopeful while Tom Leeb will not be taking part in the new national selection.

    Croatia will select its new ESC representative via its traditional format of Dora 2021, leaving though the option to this year's hopeful Damir Kedzo to compete with a new song. 

    Germany will stick with its internal selection of two juries while Albania will hold once again Festivali i Kenges 59 in order to determine the nation's hopeful. Italy and Portugal are  the latest countries to confirm their participation and have opted for new hopefuls through their traditional show, Sanremo Festival and Festival da Cançao respectively.

    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
    12. Italy - Sanremo festival 2021
    13. Portugal -  Festival da Cançao

     

    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. The latest country to confirm its ESC 2021 participation has been Russia with Channel 1 confirming that it will take part in Eurovision 2021 but without clearing out the mechanism to be used in order to detemine the nation's hopeful.

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

     

    NON PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

    1. Andorra
    2. Luxembourg
    3. Slovakia
    4. Monaco
    5. Bosnia & Herzegovina
    6. Montenegro 

     

    COUNTRIES WITH NO DECISION YET

    1. Belarus
    2. Poland
    3. United Kingdom

     

    THE ABSENT COUNTRIES 

    Meanwhile a number of countries that have been absent the recent years haven’t yet confirmed a possible return or not. Among them remains Hungary  that has been absent only the last year.

    1. Hungary

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

    1. Turkey
    2. 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.