Iceland’s public broadcaster RUV has become the latest to confirm that it will be participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Iceland is the latest country to confirm that it will be returning to the Eurovision Song Contest stage in 2021. The broadcaster confirmed that it will be competing in Rotterdam next May to ESC Today.
Daði og Gagnamagnið had been selected to represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song “Think About Thing”. The group had been the favourites to win the competition winning a number of nations votes during what would have been the build-up to the contest, as well as topping the betting odds.
RUV has not yet announced how it will select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2021
The 2021 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on the 18th, 20th and 22nd of May, following the cancellation of the 2020 contest due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
To date the following artists have been confirmed as competing in the contest:
- Australia – Montaigne
- Austria – Vincent Bueno
- Azerbaijan – Samira Efendi
- Belgium – Hooverphonic
- Bulgaria – Victoria
- Czech Republic – Benny Cristo
- Georgia – Tornika Kipiani
- Greece – Stefania
- Israel – Eden Alene
- Latvia – Samanta Tina
- Malta – Destiny Chukunyere
- Netherlands – Jeangu Macrooy
- Romania – Roxen
- San Marino – Senhit
- Slovenia – Ana Soklic
- Spain – Blas Cantó
- Switzerland – Gjon’s Tears
- Ukraine – Go_A
While the following nations have confirmed their participation:
- Armenia
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Lithuania
- Norway
- Serbia
- Sweden
Image Source: RUV / Source: ESC Today
Iceland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1986 and, aside from 2 years of relegation in 1998 and 2002, has participated every year since. The contest is incredibly popular in Iceland, regularly being one of the most watched programmes of the year. Iceland has yet to win the contest but has finished in 2nd on two occasions. In 1999, Selma missed out on victory in Jerusalem by 17 points, and in 2009 Yohanna became the most successful Icelandic entrant ever finishing 2nd in the final with the song “Is it True?”. She scored 218 points, yet still finished 169 points behind the runaway winner Norway.