RÚV has confirmed that a total of 132 songs have been submitted for Söngvakeppnin 2023.
RÚV has confirmed to Eurovoix that a total of 132 songs have been submitted to the Icelandic selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The number of songs submitted this year is down 28 songs compared to Söngvakeppnin 2022.
As in previous years, a total of ten songs will be selected to compete in the Icelandic selection. The ten entries will be selected by representatives of FTT, FÍH and RÚV, with experienced and popular songwriters also invited to take part. Söngvakeppnin 2023 will be held on:
- Semi-Final One – February 18
- Semi-Final Two – February 25
- Final – March 4
The ten songs that will compete in Söngvakeppnin 2023 will be announced by RÚV in January. RÚV encourages all artists regardless of the genre to apply to take part in the contest.
Systur represented Iceland in the final of Eurovision 2022 with “Með hækkandi sól”. They placed 23rd out of 25 entries scoring a total of 23 points, including 8 points from the Ukrainian televote.
Image source: EBU / Nathan Reinds | Source: RÚV
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 programs 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.
