As the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates 70 years, a number of different contests have been created and cancelled. Take a look back at the formats that we’ve lost during that time.
Eurovision Choir – Held in 2017 and 2019
Eurovision Choir was the newest cultural edition of the Eurovision family, having been first held in Riga, Latvia, in 2017. The competition was proposed by the Latvian broadcaster LTV and developed with the European Broadcasting Union. The contest was announced in 2016 under the name ‘Eurovision Choir of the Year’, and was held for the first time on July 22, 2017.
Each country was represented by a choir or a cappella ensemble who would perform a set that was six minutes in length. The winner of the competition was chosen entirely by jury voting. The 2017 contest was won by Slovenia, with Denmark taking victory in 2019. Unlike the Eurovision Song Contest the winner of the contest did not automatically host the next edition, with the contest being held in the host city of the European Choir Games thanks to a collaboration with Interkultur.
The competition would ultimately be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the contest unable to be held during restrictions. In 2022 and 2023, work took place to revive the competition, however the EBU cancelled plans for a third edition in 2023.
Thirteen countries competed across two editions of Eurovision Choir, the contest marked the first time that Scotland and Wales competed in a Eurovision contest:
- Austria (ORF) – 2017
- Belgium (RTBF) – 2017, 2019
- Denmark (DR) – 2017, 2019
- Estonia (ERR) – 2017
- Germany (WDR) – 2017, 2019
- Hungary (MTVA) – 2017
- Latvia (LTV) – 2017, 2019
- Norway (NRK) – 2019
- Scotland (BBC Alba) – 2019
- Slovenia (RTVSLO) – 2017, 2019
- Sweden (SVT) – 2019
- Switzerland (RTS) – 2019
- Wales (S4C) – 2017, 2019
Eurovision Dance Contest – 2007 to 2008
The Eurovision Dance Contest was announced in early 2007 as dance competitions became ratings hits across Europe. The rules of the competition allowed a pair of dancers to compete for their country, in 2007 professional couples could compete, but for 2008, one dancer could be a professional and the other a well known person from that country. In 2007, couples performed twice, once with a ballroom or latin dance, and a second freestyle performance, for 2008 couples only performed once.
The first contest was held in London, United Kingdom on September 1 with 16 countries competing in the contest, and a further eight countries airing the contest. Finland took victory in London represented by Katja Koukkula and Jussi Väänänen, 11 points ahead of Ukraine.
In 2008, the contest would head to Glasgow with the BBC hosting for a second time. The contest on September 6 saw 14 countries compete; Germany, Spain and Switzerland withdrew despite having signed a two year contract to compete, while Azerbaijan debuted. Jury voting was introduced for 2008. Poland took victory represented by Edyta Herbuś and Marcin Mroczek.
Azerbaijan was due to host the 2009 contest, however due to the financial crisis a number of broadcasters pulled out of competing in the contest. This meant that the contest was not viable to be held. The EBU delayed the contest back to 2010, before eventually cancelling the contest in January 2010, due to a lack of interest.
Find out all about the cancelled contest below:
Eurovision Talent Contest – Cancelled before it could be held
The Eurovision Talent Contest was launched as the sixth spin-off contest of the Eurovision brand at the end of 2007. The contest would follow in the footsteps of the Eurovision Song Contest, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and the recently started Eurovision Dance Contest.
The Eurovision Talent Contest would:
Uncover the best, most unique and surprising talents wherever they may be in a pan-European event set up along competitive lines and keying into the most powerful elements of the Eurovision brand and formula.
The format is based on broadly speaking non-verbal material in order to overcome language barriers. A key format element is the creation and integral use of a dedicated user-generated platform where candidates upload a video of their special talent or act onto the site for the material to be accessed by show producers for a possible call to audition. In traditional Eurovision fashion, each country will manage and produce its own local auditions/countdown series. Winning contestants will be selected by televoting.
The contest would be a two-hour production, presented in both English and French. At the time of the contest’s launch, it was not stated which countries would participate or who would host the event.
It was announced after the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest that the first edition of the contest would be hosted in Russia. In September 2008 it was announced that a third country had signed up to compete in the contest. Belgium would be represented by VRT the Flemish broadcaster.
The Eurovision Talent Contest did not take place in 2009 and no information has been released since 2008 regarding the contest. The financial crisis of 2008 is assumed to be the cause of a lack of interest from EBU member broadcasters.
Eurovision Young Dancers – Held Biennially Between 1985 and 2017
Eurovision Young Dancers was first held on the 16th of June, 1985 in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The inaugural contest saw 11 countries compete, with Spain winning. The contest from its inception, had been a contest for traditional dance styles; however, interest in the contest in 2003 and 2005 had seen the contest decline.
During the first phase of the contests history between 1985 and 2005, a total of 32 countries competed in the contest. This included Bulgaria (1991), Latvia (1997), Czechia (1999), Ukraine (2001) and Armenia (2003) who all made their debuts in Young Dancers before going on to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest,
In 2007, the contest was cancelled due to declining interest, and again was cancelled in 2009 due to the financial crisis. On its return in 2011, the contest was revamped with a focus on Modern Dance; non-professional dancers between the ages of 15 and 21 would be eligible to compete in the contest.
In 2011, Kosovo made its only appearance in a Eurovision contest represented by Tringa Hysa. The competition would go on to be held up to 2017, after which the contest was cancelled due to declining interest. During the final four editions 17 countries competed in the contest, including debuts from the likes of Belarus and Malta.
Overall, 36 countries competed across 15 editions of the competition. Spain was the most successful country with 5 victories in the contest, with four back to back victories in the contest between 1991 and 1997. While Poland holds the record for hosting the contest three times.
Additional Formats
A number of international versions of the contest have been proposed, as well as spin-off shows. You can find out more below:
