Eurovision Song Contest Won’t Be Taking Place This Year

By
Nikoleta P
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Duncan Laurence of the Netherlands during the Rehearsal for Eurovision song contest. Photo by IBL/REX/Shutterstock (10238273ah)

Eurovision Song Contest has been bringing mind-blowing stage performances into our homes for decades, but it won’t be doing so this year. The biggest musical competition of the old continent is the latest major entertainment event to be canceled in the face of current global health crises.

This is the first time in its history that Eurovision Song Contest has been canceled, but representatives said they have explored many alternative options in the last few weeks and felt it would be best for the competition not to go on as the world battles the pandemic of the coronavirus.

“We are very proud that the Eurovision Song Contest has united audiences every year, without interruption, for the past 64 years and we, like the millions of fans around the world, are extremely saddened that it cannot take place in May,” reads the official statement.

Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was supposed to take place in Rotterdam after the Dutch contestant Duncan Laurence won last year’s contest with his song “Arcade.” The competition was scheduled for two semifinal nights on May 12th and 14th, and the big finale on May 16th.

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It is with deep regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam. . Over the past few weeks we have explored many alternative options to allow the Eurovision Song Contest to go ahead. . However the uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe – and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities – means the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken the difficult decision that it is impossible to continue with the live event as planned. . We are very proud that the Eurovision Song Contest has united audiences every year, without interruption, for the past 64 years and we, like the millions of fans around the world, are extremely saddened that it cannot take place in May. . The EBU, NPO, NOS, AVROTROS and the City of Rotterdam will continue a conversation regarding the hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021. . We would ask people to bear with us while we work through the ramifications of this unprecedented decision and patiently await any further news in the coming days and weeks. . We would like to pay tribute to all the host broadcaster team in the Netherlands and our 41 Members who have worked so hard on planning this year’s event. . We are all as heartbroken as they are that the Eurovision Song Contest will not be able to be staged in May and know that the whole Eurovision family, across the world, will continue to provide love and support for each other at this difficult time.

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