Eurovision Song Contest 2020

Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was to be the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It was scheduled to be held at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, following the victory of Duncan Laurence with the song "Arcade" at the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv. The event was cancelled on 18 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first cancellation in the contest's history.

Background

The Netherlands earned the right to host the contest after Duncan Laurence's victory at the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, which was hosted by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN). The host city selection process involved bids from several Dutch cities, including The Hague and Utrecht, before Rotterdam was officially announced in August 2019. The organising broadcasters, AVROTROS, NOS, and NPO, appointed Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley, and Jan Smit as the planned presenters for the shows. A total of 41 countries, including returning participant Bulgaria and debutante Uzbekistan (via the Asian Broadcasting Union), had confirmed their participation before the cancellation. The contest was set to follow the established format of two semi-finals and a grand final, with the slogan "Open Up" chosen to reflect the event's inclusive spirit.

Cancellation

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across Europe in early 2020, significant concerns arose regarding the feasibility of holding a large-scale international event. The World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January, and by March, numerous countries imposed lockdowns and travel restrictions. The European Broadcasting Union and the Dutch broadcasters initially explored alternative scenarios, including a remote contest or a scaled-back event without a live audience. However, following consultations with the Municipality of Rotterdam and Dutch health authorities, the EBU announced the contest's cancellation on 18 March 2020. This decision was made in light of the World Health Organization's pandemic guidelines and the Government of the Netherlands' ban on large public gatherings, prioritising the health and safety of participants, crew, and fans.

Impact and legacy

The cancellation had profound effects on the Eurovision Song Contest ecosystem. All selected artists and songs for 2020 were automatically disqualified from competing in a future contest, though many participating broadcasters, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Sveriges Television (SVT), showcased their entries through alternative television specials. The EBU organised "Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light", a non-competitive replacement show broadcast from Hilversum on 16 May 2020, hosted by Chantal Janzen and featuring performances from artists like John Lundvik and Netta Barzilai. Financially, the cancellation resulted in significant losses for the host city Rotterdam and the Dutch broadcasters, who had invested heavily in preparations. The event's absence also impacted the broader music industry and fan community, leading to the creation of online fan contests and increased engagement on platforms like YouTube. The planned stage design, by German designer Florian Wieder, was later adapted for use in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

Planned contest

The contest was scheduled to take place on 12, 14, and 16 May 2020. The first semi-final was to include performances from countries like Sweden, Australia, and Israel, while the second semi-final featured entries from nations including Iceland, Poland, and Serbia. The Big Five—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom—alongside the host country Netherlands, were automatically qualified for the grand final. Among the highly anticipated entries were The Mamas for Sweden, Destiny Chukunyere for Malta, and Ulrikke Brandstorp for Norway. The interval acts for the final were to include a "Flag Parade" segment and a musical tribute to the contest's 65-year history. The voting system was to remain a 50/50 split between national juries and public televoting, with results delivered by spokespersons from each participating country, such as Duncan Laurence for the Netherlands.

Category:Eurovision Song Contest by year Category:2020 in European music Category:Cancelled events in the Netherlands