Eurovision Song Contest 2020
The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was the planned 65th edition of the annual international song competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its active member broadcasters, scheduled for semi-finals on 12 and 14 May and a grand final on 16 May at the Rotterdam Ahoy indoor arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands.[1][2] The event's hosting rights were awarded to the Netherlands after its victory in the 2019 contest with Duncan Laurence's song "Arcade", marking the country's fifth time hosting following editions in 1958, 1970, 1976, and 1980.[3] With the slogan "Open Up", the contest anticipated participation from 41 countries, including returning entrants like Bulgaria, Hungary, and Ukraine after their absences in 2019, though Montenegro had withdrawn its intent to participate prior to the cancellation announcement.[4][5] The edition's defining event was its unprecedented cancellation on 18 March 2020, prompted by the rapid spread of COVID-19 across Europe and the resulting government-imposed restrictions on public gatherings, travel, and international events, which rendered staging the live shows infeasible under EBU safety protocols and national regulations.[5][6] This marked the first cancellation in the competition's 64-year history, disrupting preparations that included selected entries from nearly all participating nations and an allocation draw for running orders conducted on 28 January 2020.[5] In lieu of the live event, the EBU produced a special non-competitive broadcast titled Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light on 16 May 2020, featuring pre-recorded performances of the 2020 entries from artists' home countries to honour the selected songs without crowning a winner.[7] The cancellation highlighted the contest's vulnerability to exogenous shocks, influencing subsequent editions by prioritising health measures and leading to the reuse of several 2020 songs in national selections for 2021, while underscoring the EBU's logistical challenges in coordinating dozens of broadcasters amid global disruptions.[8]Host Selection and Venue
Bidding Process and Announcement
The Netherlands secured the hosting rights for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 after Duncan Laurence won the 2019 edition on 18 May 2019 with the song "Arcade", granting the previous year's victorious country automatic selection as host under European Broadcasting Union (EBU) rules.[9] Dutch public broadcasters Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), and Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep (AVROTROS) launched the host city bidding process on 29 May 2019, inviting submissions from Dutch municipalities capable of meeting EBU requirements such as a suitable venue with capacity for at least 10,000 spectators, adequate accommodation for delegations and visitors, international airport access, and overall logistical feasibility.[10] Five cities submitted bids: Arnhem, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and 's-Hertogenbosch; these were evaluated by a joint Reference Group comprising representatives from the broadcasters and EBU, focusing on venue infrastructure, event delivery capacity, and value for money without public funding mandates.[11][12] On 16 July 2019, the process shortlisted Rotterdam and Maastricht as finalists, with the decision hinging on their venues' technical compliance—Rotterdam Ahoy's modular arena offering superior scalability for production needs compared to Maastricht's MECC.[12] Rotterdam was announced as the host city on 30 August 2019 during a televised reveal event, selected for its venue's proven track record with large-scale events, central location facilitating delegate travel, and comprehensive bid emphasizing sustainability and fan zones, thereby ensuring procedural transparency and alignment with EBU standards.[1][3] The announcement also confirmed contest dates: semi-finals on 12 and 14 May 2020, and the final on 16 May.[1]Rotterdam as Host City
Rotterdam was designated as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, with the Ahoy arena serving as the primary venue due to its modern facilities and proven capability for major international events, including the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019.[3] The arena's main hall offered a capacity of approximately 15,000 to 16,000 spectators, fulfilling the European Broadcasting Union's technical and logistical criteria for accommodating performers, delegations, and audiences.[4] [1] Its location in southern Rotterdam provided logistical advantages, such as direct access to the city's metro system via the adjacent Zuidplein station and proximity to major motorways, enhancing reach for visitors arriving by air, rail, or road from Rotterdam The Hague Airport and beyond.[13] The planned contest dates—semi-finals on 12 and 14 May, and the grand final on 16 May—followed the established mid-May schedule to align with peak European spring weather and minimize conflicts with competing broadcasts, thereby supporting sustained high viewership levels observed in prior editions.[1] [2] Rotterdam's selection emphasized integration with local infrastructure, including enhanced public transport coordination to handle influxes of tourists and fans, leveraging the city's role as a key economic hub with efficient connectivity to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport via high-speed rail.[13] Sustainability measures were incorporated into hosting plans, with Dutch rail operator ProRail promoting train travel to the event as a low-emission alternative to air and car journeys, in collaboration with national infrastructure authorities to reduce the overall carbon footprint of attendee travel.[14] These efforts reflected broader commitments in the city's bid to balance large-scale event demands with environmental considerations, including optimized venue operations for energy efficiency.[15]Infrastructure Preparations
The Rotterdam Ahoy arena, selected as the venue, had undergone significant renovations including a complete roof renewal to enhance clearance height and truss load capacity, enabling advanced technical installations for lighting, rigging, and other production elements required for the event.[15] The estimated total cost for hosting, including infrastructure and operational preparations, stood at €26.5 million, with funding sourced from the European Broadcasting Union contributing €9.6 million via participation fees, the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO) allocating €2.5 million, AVROTROS providing €2 million, and additional support from the City of Rotterdam municipality along with sponsor revenues.[16][17] Initial assessments included site visits by officials from Dutch host broadcasters NPO, NOS, and AVROTROS to Rotterdam Ahoy on July 19, 2019, to evaluate venue infrastructure and logistical capabilities.[18] Production partnerships were established, such as between NEP and United Productions, to handle technical requirements for broadcasting to a global audience, with installations for sound, lighting, and video systems slated for early 2020 implementation at the arena.[19] Planning encompassed Heads of Delegation meetings and initial site activities set to begin in March 2020, focusing on operational testing and rehearsal setups.[20]Participating Nations and Entries
Country Allocations and Withdrawals
A total of 41 countries, comprising active members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and associate member Australia, confirmed their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 on 13 November 2019.[21] This figure included the return of broadcasters from Bulgaria and Ukraine following their absences in 2019, as well as the Czech Republic after its one-year withdrawal, reflecting decisions by national broadcasters to re-engage with the event amid varying domestic priorities and EBU eligibility requirements.[22] Participation eligibility hinged on active EBU membership, which mandates public service broadcasters to meet standards of independence, accountability, and innovation, though geopolitical tensions in regions like Eastern Europe occasionally influenced broadcaster commitments without leading to opt-outs in this cycle. The "Big Five" countries—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom—along with host nation Netherlands, were automatically allocated to the grand final due to their fixed financial contributions to the EBU, ensuring direct qualification regardless of semi-final performances.[23] The remaining 35 countries were divided into two semi-finals through an allocation draw held on 28 January 2020 at Rotterdam City Hall, with participants grouped into five pots based on empirical voting patterns from previous contests, as analyzed by the EBU's televoting partner Digame.[24] This methodology aimed to distribute potential voting alliances—such as observed Nordic-Baltic or Balkan blocs in prior years—across semi-finals to promote competitive balance, drawing from historical data where geographically or culturally proximate nations exhibited correlated televote and jury preferences. No countries withdrew from participation prior to the event's cancellation, despite earlier speculation around Hungary's involvement stemming from changes to its national selection process; its public broadcaster MTVA ultimately confirmed entry, underscoring the stability of commitments once formalized with the EBU.[25] Associate member Australia's continued involvement highlighted the EBU's flexibility for non-European broadcasters with strong ties to member states, a status granted via SBS in line with contest rules allowing exceptional participation beyond strict geographic or membership bounds.[26]Semi-Final Running Orders
The running orders for the semi-finals were determined by the producers following the allocation draw and officially announced by the EBU in May 2020 as part of the Eurovision Song Celebration tribute events.[27][28]Semi-Final 1 (12 May 2020)
| Position | Country | Artist(s) | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweden | The Mamas | "Move" |
| 2 | Belarus | VAL | "Da Vidna" |
| 3 | Australia | Montaigne | "Don't Break Me" |
| 4 | North Macedonia | Vasil | "You" |
| 5 | Slovenia | Ana Soklič | "Voda" |
| 6 | Lithuania | The Roop | "On Fire" |
| 7 | Ireland | Lesley Roy | "Story of My Life" |
| 8 | Russia | Little Big | "Uno" |
| 9 | Belgium | Hooverphonic | "Release Me" |
| 10 | Malta | Destiny | "All of My Love" |
| 11 | Croatia | Damir Kedžo | "Divlji vjetre" |
| 12 | Azerbaijan | Efendi | "Cleopatra" |
| 13 | Cyprus | Sandro | "Running" |
| 14 | Norway | Ulrikke | "Attention" |
| 15 | Israel | Eden Alene | "Feker Libi" |
| 16 | Romania | Roxen | "Alcohol You" |
| 17 | Ukraine | Go_A | "Solovey" |
Semi-Final 2 (14 May 2020)
| Position | Country | Artist(s) | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greece | Stefania | "SUPERG!RL" |
| 2 | Estonia | Uku Suviste | "What Would Love Be" |
| 3 | Austria | Vincent Bueno | "Alive" |
| 4 | Moldova | Natalia Gordienko | "Prison" |
| 5 | San Marino | Senhit | "Freaky!" |
| 6 | Czech Republic | Benny Cristo | "Kemama" |
| 7 | Serbia | Hurricane | "Hasta La Vista" |
| 8 | Poland | Alicja | "Empires" |
| 9 | Iceland | Daði og Gagnamagnið | "Think About Things" |
| 10 | Switzerland | Gjon's Tears | "Répondez-moi" |
| 11 | Denmark | Ben & Tan | "Yes" |
| 12 | Albania | Arilena Ara | "Fall from the Sky" |
| 13 | Finland | Aksel | "Looking Back" |
| 14 | Armenia | Athena Manoukian | "Chains on You" |
| 15 | Portugal | Elisa | "Medo de Sentir" |
| 16 | Georgia | Tornike Kipiani | "Take Me as I Am" |
| 17 | Bulgaria | Victoria | "Tears Getting Sober" |
| 18 | Latvia | Samanta Tīna | "Still Breathing" |