The EBU have announced that 41 countries will participate at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Eurovision fans may notice that the list of countries is the same as last year’s list. It is the first time since 1990 that there has been no debuting, returning or withdrawing countries in the contest.
The news today also confirms the participation of Belarus and the United Kingdom. Prior to today, neither country had confirmed their participation in the 2021 contest.
“We are thrilled that they will all return”
Eurovision’s Executive Supervisor, Martin Österdahl, has welcomed the news that all 41 countries from 2020 will return next year. Talking about the contest to Eurovision.tv, he said:
We are grateful for the commitment of the 41 participating broadcasters in helping us bring the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2021. We have the exact same line up of countries that would have competed in 2020 and we are thrilled they will all return next year.
– Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest
Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, Sieste Bakker also shares Martin’s excitement following the news:
It is fantastic that the same 41 countries that would have taken part this year still want to come to the Netherlands in May 2021. This demonstrates their confidence in our country still being able to organize a successful Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next year, after the cancellation of the 2020 edition.
– Sieste Bakker, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Which countries are taking part?
- Albania (RTSH)
- Armenia (AMPTV)
- Australia (SBS)
- Austria (ORF)
- Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV)
- Belarus (BTRC)
- Belgium (VRT)
- Bulgaria (BNT)
- Croatia (HRT)
- Cyprus (CyBC)
- Czech Republic (CT)
- Denmark (DR)
- Estonia (ERR)
- Finland (YLE)
- France (FT)
- Germany (ARD/NDR)
- Georgia (GPB)
- Greece (ERT)
- Iceland (RUV)
- Ireland (RTE)
- Israel (KAN)
- Italy (RAI)
- Latvia (LTV)
- Lithuania (LRT)
- Malta (PBS)
- Moldova (TRM)
- The Netherlands (AVROTROS)
- North Macedonia (MKRTV)
- Norway (NRK)
- Poland (TVP)
- Portugal (RTP)
- Romania (TVR)
- Russia (Channel One)
- San Marino (RTV)
- Serbia (RTS)
- Slovenia (RTVSLO)
- Spain (TVE)
- Sweden (SVT)
- Switzerland (SRG SSR)
- Ukraine (UA:PBC)
- United Kingdom (BBC)
Are you excited that 41 countries will be taking part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest? Are you sad that we won’t see any new countries in 2021?
Let us know in the comments below and on social media @ESCXTRA.