Iceland’s entries for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest will be announced on January 17, as confirmed by RÚV, the country’s state broadcaster. The songs will compete in Söngvakeppnin, Iceland’s annual national selection process, to determine who will represent the nation in Basel, Switzerland.
Söngvakeppnin Kicks Off
Söngvakeppnin will begin with two semi-finals on February 8 and 15, each featuring five songs. From these rounds, three entries per night will advance to the grand final on February 22. This year’s final will include six songs, one more than usual, as RÚV has removed the wild card selection process in favor of a direct path for semi-finalists.
RÚV reports that 110 songs were submitted for this year’s contest, maintaining similar interest levels to 2024. The entries will be unveiled during a special broadcast on January 17.
Changes to Voting
A significant change in the competition is the removal of the duel format in the final. Previously, the top two songs would compete in a second voting round. In 2025, the winner will be decided through a single public vote combined with input from an international jury.
The jury, consisting of seven members, will provide half of the final score, while the public vote will account for the other half. Söngvakeppnin’s executive director, Rúnar Freyr Gíslason, highlighted the similarity of this approach to Sweden’s Melodifestivalen and Eurovision itself.
The Road Ahead
The winning song from Söngvakeppnin will represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest in May. With anticipation building, fans will get their first glimpse of the competing entries on January 17, setting the stage for a competitive season ahead.
