Organizer: Europäischen Rundfunkunion (EBU)
The 65th Eurovision Song Contest 2021 will be held in the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam. The final will take place on May 22, 2021, starting at 9 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the German public broadcaster Ersten. The semifinal shows on May 18th and 20th will be broadcast by the ARD digital channel ONE. All shows will be streamed live on eurovision.de. The ESC should actually have already taken place in Rotterdam in 2020 – but due to the Corona pandemic, the competition for 2020 had been canceled.
ESC despite Corona: audience possible
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that up to 3,500 fans per show can be present in the Ahoy Arena in May. In a field trial, the Dutch government thus wants to investigate how large events with an audience can take place under Corona measures. A final decision on this will be made at the end of April. Previously, the EBU had set up three possible scenarios for the upcoming ESC. From a show with few restrictions to a show in lockdown, everything would be considered. How exactly the ESC 2021 will be held is to be decided at the end of April. What is already certain is that Chantal Janzen, Jan Smit and Edsilia Rombley, who have already been selected for the canceled ESC 2020, will be the presenters. Nikkie de Jager is also one of the main presenters.
Tickets: refund and re-purchase option for tickets.
Since there will be less audience in scenario B and C of the Corona stage plan, the organizers have decided to refund the purchase price to all those who already have tickets. They will get the opportunity to buy new tickets for the same shows later. The number of tickets available per show depends on the official spacing rules. Organizers stress that if possible, more tickets will be sold later.
Interval Acts: Måns Zelmerlöw, Lordi and Afrojack.
In the finale, various artists will perform a mix of classical music and dance music as Interval Act Music Binds Us. DJ Afrojack, Wulf, Glennis Grace and a symphony orchestra of young talents will be among the performers. A film by Dutch director Tim Oliehoek will also be performed. There will also be a reunion with previous ESC winners. In addition to Måns Zelmerlöw, the Finnish hard rock band Lordi will also perform. The intermission acts are completed by Helena Paparizou, Sandra Kim, Teach-In and Lenny Kuhr.
It has already been decided who will open the second semifinal as a show act: breakdander Redouan Ait Chitt and singer Eefje de Visser will present a dance and song performance. The Interval Act will be performed by ballet dancer Ahmad Joudeh and BMX rider Dez Maarsen.
ESC motto “Open Up” from 2020 remains in place
The motto will remain “Open Up” and the stage from last year will also be carried over, as it has already been prepared in 2020. “Apart from that, a lot depends on what is possible at that time, on the availability of everyone involved and on what fits the spirit of 2021,” said Sietse Bakker, executive producer of the ESC. For example, there is a new concept for the postcards: Instead of clips filmed in the Netherlands, images shot in the home country of the respective act will run before the performance.
More information can be found here.
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