The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest has been cancelled due to COVID-19. Alternative options have been discussed over the past few weeks, however there was no other option but to cancel as the virus continues to spread across Europe.
The official statement from the EBU is as follows:
An official statement from the European Broadcasting Union on the #Eurovision Song Contest 2020. pic.twitter.com/b3h7akxvpF
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) March 18, 2020
The beginning of this week has seen all four planned preview party events cancelled in line with guidance from national Governments regarding gatherings.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was scheduled to take place in at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam on the May 12, 14 and 16. The Netherlands won the right to host the competition following their win in 2019 with Duncan Laurence and the song “Arcade”.