Overview

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was the planned 65th edition of the long‑running international music competition. The Netherlands had earned hosting rights after Duncan Laurence won the previous contest with the song "Arcade" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. The event was scheduled to take place in Rotterdam under the slogan "Open Up" and with the venue selected as Rotterdam Ahoy.

Planned format and entries

Organisers intended the usual format of two semi‑finals and a grand final in mid‑May. Semi‑finals were scheduled for 12 and 14 May 2020 and the grand final for 16 May 2020. Broadcasters across Europe had completed national selection processes, and most participating countries had already announced or internally selected their artists and songs. The event was to be a televised live music competition featuring original songs submitted by each participating national broadcaster.

Cancellation and causes

On 18 March 2020 the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced the cancellation of the 2020 contest because of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in Europe and related public‑health restrictions, travel limits and concerns for the safety of performers, crews and audiences. This marked the first time in the contest's history that the annual show was cancelled rather than postponed or relocated.

Replacement programming and aftermath

Rather than a competitive event, the EBU and its partners produced a special non‑competitive broadcast titled "Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light" to coincide with the date of the planned grand final. The programme presented the songs and artists that would have competed, paid tribute to healthcare workers and featured messages of solidarity. Although the 2020 songs were showcased to viewers, they were not eligible to compete at Eurovision in the following year; many broadcasters chose to reselect the same artists for 2021 with new songs.

Impact and notable facts

  • The cancellation affected participating artists, production crews, host city plans and local economies, and raised questions about contract, broadcast and selection rules.
  • Rotterdam later remained designated as the host city for the next contest, and local organisers worked with the EBU on plans for a future event in the city: Rotterdam.
  • The decision was framed by public‑health authorities and international travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

Distinctive aspects

Eurovision 2020 is remembered less for performances and more as a unique instance in the contest's modern era where global circumstances prevented the live competition. The episode highlighted the contest's role as a cultural institution and the adaptability of organisers: rather than cancelling all programming, they created a unified broadcast that celebrated the selected entries while acknowledging the wider crisis.