41 countries prepare to participate at Eurovision 2021

With the slogan "Open Up", the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed the 41 countries competing in next year's Eurovision contest.

Eurovision 2021 will be hosted at the Rotterdam Ahoy in The Netherlands on 18, 20 and 22 May.

This year the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the contest for the first time in its 64-year history. But instead of cancelling it all together, the song contest decided to air a live two-hour special, Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light.

“We have the exact same line up of countries [41] that would have competed in 2020 and we are thrilled that they will all return next year," said Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Greek-Dutch singer Stefania Liberakakis, will represent Greece at Eurovision 2021! (Unfortunately due to the pandemic, she was unable to represent the country this year at the contest)

The 41 countries competing (and their broadcasters) are:

• 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)

"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 organise a successful Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next year, after the cancellation of the 2020 edition. We have set the bar high to create 3 amazing live shows for an audience of 180 million people, even in these challenging times. To achieve this, we are working on an extensive protocol that guarantees the health of employees, participants, the press and visitors as much as possible," said Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.