Eurovision Song Contest 2021

The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 was the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, following the country's win at the 2019 contest with the song "Arcade" by Duncan Laurence. The Netherlands was set to host the 2020 contest, before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcasters Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) and AVROTROS, the contest was held at Rotterdam Ahoy, and consisted of two semi-finals on 18 and 20 May, and a final on 22 May 2021. The three live shows were presented by Dutch television presenters and singers Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit, and Dutch YouTuber and make-up artist Nikkie de Jager.

Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Open Up
Dates
Semi-final 118 May 2021
Semi-final 220 May 2021
Final22 May 2021
Host
VenueRotterdam Ahoy
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Presenter(s)
Directed by
Executive supervisorMartin Österdahl
Executive producer
  • Sietse Bakker
  • Astrid Dutrénit
Host broadcaster
Websiteeurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021 Edit this at Wikidata
Participants
Number of entries39
Number of finalists26
Debuting countriesNone
Returning countries Bulgaria
 Ukraine
Non-returning countries Armenia
 Belarus
 Hungary
 Montenegro
Vote
Voting systemEach country awards two sets of 12, 10, 8–1 points to ten songs.
Winning song Italy
"Zitti e buoni"
2019 ← 2020 ← Eurovision Song Contest → 2022

Thirty-nine countries participated in the contest, of which twenty-six re-entered the artists chosen for 2020 (albeit with different songs, as per the contest's rules). Bulgaria and Ukraine returned after their absence from the 2019 contest, while Hungary and Montenegro did not return after their participation in the 2019 edition. Armenia and Belarus had originally planned to participate, but Armenia withdrew due to its social and political crises following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, and Belarus was disqualified after submitting entries in violation of the rules twice, and not providing an eligible entry before the deadline.

The winner was Italy with the song "Zitti e buoni", performed by Måneskin and written by the band's members Damiano David, Ethan Torchio, Thomas Raggi and Victoria De Angelis. France, Switzerland, Iceland and Ukraine rounded out the top five, with France and Switzerland achieving their best results since 1991 and 1993 respectively. Italy won the combined vote and televote, but placed fourth in the jury vote after Switzerland, France, and Malta. Italy was the second member of the "Big Five" since its introduction to win the contest after Germany in 2010. For the first time since 1995, none of the top three entries were performed in English, with France and Switzerland performing in French, and Italy in Italian.

Also, for the first time since the current voting system was implemented in 2016, more than one country received no points from the televote in the final; these countries were Germany, Spain, the host country the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, the last of those becoming the first country to receive no points from both the jury and televote. It was the second time that the United Kingdom had received no points in the contest, the last time having been in 2003. For the first time since its debut in 2015, Australia failed to qualify for the final, making Ukraine the only country that has never failed to qualify from the semi-finals since their introduction in 2004.[a]

The EBU reported that the contest had an audience of 183 million viewers in 36 European markets, an increase of a million viewers from the previous edition, with an increase of seven percent in the 15–24 year old age range.[1][2]

Location

Rotterdam Ahoy – host venue of the 2021 contest
Location of host venue (red) and other contest-related sites and events (blue)

The 2021 contest was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands,[3] following the country's victory at the 2019 edition with the song "Arcade", performed by Duncan Laurence. It was the fifth time that the Netherlands had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1958, 1970, 1976 and 1980. The selected venue was the 16,400-seat Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam Ahoy, a convention centre and multi-purpose indoor arena located on Ahoyweg, which serves as a venue for many events, including concerts, exhibitions, trade fairs, and conferences. Rotterdam Ahoy had previously hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007, and was set to host the 2020 contest before its cancellation. The "Turquoise Carpet" event, where the contestants and their delegations[b] are presented before the accredited press and fans, took place at the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal on 16 May 2021.[5][6]

Host city selection

By Eurovision tradition, the Netherlands received the right to host the Eurovision Song Contest after the country won the competition in 2019.[7] The Dutch host broadcasters NPO, NOS and AVROTROS launched the bidding process in the same month on 29 May,[8] in which five cities – Arnhem, 's-Hertogenbosch, Maastricht, Rotterdam, and Utrecht – submitted their bid books during a ceremonial event held in Hilversum on 10 July 2019.[9] On 16 July, Maastricht and Rotterdam were shortlisted,[10] and after NPO visited both cities,[11] on 30 August 2019, Rotterdam was announced as the host city of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.[12]

Following the cancellation of the 2020 contest, the EBU began talks with broadcasters NPO, NOS and AVROTROS, as well as the city of Rotterdam, on the possibility of staging the 2021 contest in the city.[13] On 23 April 2020, the municipal council of Rotterdam approved an increased budget after Dutch media reported that the city would require an additional €6.7 million to host the contest.[14][15] The decision was imminent as it was required that the EBU be informed by late April if Rotterdam was willing to host the contest. If Rotterdam declined to host the event, NPO, NOS and AVROTROS had until mid-May 2020 to find an alternative.[16] During the broadcast of Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, which aired on 16 May 2020, Rotterdam was confirmed as the host city of the 2021 contest.[17]

Participating countries

Eurovision Song Contest 2021 – Participation summaries by country

Eligibility for potential participation in the Eurovision Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with active EBU membership capable of receiving the contest via the Eurovision network and broadcasting it live nationwide. The EBU issued an invitation to participate in the contest to all active members. Associate member Australia did not need an invitation for the 2021 contest, as it had previously been granted permission to participate at least until 2023.[18]

The EBU initially announced on 26 October 2020 that 41 countries would participate in the contest, featuring the same line-up of countries that were set to participate in the cancelled 2020 edition. Bulgaria and Ukraine returned after their absences from the 2019 contest, while Hungary and Montenegro were confirmed as non-returning following their latest appearances in 2019.[19]

In March 2021, Armenia and Belarus confirmed their non-participation in the contest; Armenia withdrew due to its social and political crises in the aftermath of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, while Belarus was disqualified from the contest after submitting entries in violation of the rules twice, and not providing an eligible entry before the deadline, thereby reducing the number of participating countries to 39.[20][21]

Participants of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021[19][22]
CountryBroadcasterArtistSongLanguageSongwriter(s)
 AlbaniaRTSHAnxhela Peristeri"Karma"Albanian
  • Kledi Bahiti
  • Olti Curri
 AustraliaSBSMontaigne"Technicolour"English
 AustriaORFVincent Bueno"Amen"English
 AzerbaijanİTVEfendi"Mata Hari"English
  • Luuk van Beers
  • Tony Cornelissen
  • Josh Earl
  • Amy van der We
 BelgiumVRTHooverphonic"The Wrong Place"English
 BulgariaBNTVictoria"Growing Up Is Getting Old"English
 CroatiaHRTAlbina"Tick-Tock"English, Croatian
  • Tihana Buklijaš Bakić
  • Max Cinnamon
  • Branimir Mihaljević
 CyprusCyBCElena Tsagrinou"El Diablo"English
 Czech RepublicČTBenny Cristo"Omaga"English
 DenmarkDRFyr og Flamme"Øve os på hinanden"DanishLaurits Emanuel
 EstoniaERRUku Suviste"The Lucky One"English
 FinlandYleBlind Channel"Dark Side"English
  • Joel Hokka
  • Aleksi Kaunisvesi
  • Olli Matela
  • Niko Moilanen
  • Joonas Porko
 FranceFrance TélévisionsBarbara Pravi"Voilà"French
 GeorgiaGPBTornike Kipiani"You"EnglishTornike Kipiani
 GermanyNDR[c]Jendrik"I Don't Feel Hate"English
 GreeceERTStefania"Last Dance"English
 IcelandRÚVDaði og Gagnamagnið"10 Years"EnglishDaði Freyr Pétursson
 IrelandRTÉLesley Roy"Maps"English
  • Emelie Eriksson
  • Lukas Hällgren
  • Lesley Roy
  • Philip Strand
 IsraelIPBCEden Alene"Set Me Free"English
  • Ron Carmi
  • Amit Mordechai
  • Ido Netzer
  • Noam Zlatin
 ItalyRAIMåneskin"Zitti e buoni"Italian
 LatviaLTVSamanta Tīna"The Moon Is Rising"English
 LithuaniaLRTThe Roop"Discoteque"English
 MaltaPBSDestiny"Je me casse"English
  • Pete Barringer
  • Malin Christin
  • Amanuel Dermont
  • Nicklas Eklund
 MoldovaTRMNatalia Gordienko"Sugar"English
 NetherlandsAVROTROSJeangu Macrooy"Birth of a New Age"English, Sranan Tongo
 North MacedoniaMRTVasil"Here I Stand"English
 NorwayNRKTix"Fallen Angel"English
 PolandTVPRafał"The Ride"English
  • Thomas Karlsson
  • Johan Mauritzson
  • Joakim Övrenius
  • Clara Rubensson
 PortugalRTPThe Black Mamba"Love Is on My Side"EnglishPedro "Tatanka" Caldeira
 RomaniaTVRRoxen"Amnesia"English
  • Adelina Stîngă
  • Victor Bouroșu
 RussiaC1RManizha"Russian Woman"Russian, English
 San MarinoSMRTVSenhit[d]"Adrenalina"English
 SerbiaRTSHurricane"Loco loco"Serbian
 SloveniaRTVSLOAna Soklič"Amen"English
 SpainRTVEBlas Cantó"Voy a quedarme"Spanish
 SwedenSVTTusse"Voices"English
  SwitzerlandSRG SSRGjon's Tears"Tout l'univers"French
 UkraineUA:PBCGo_A"Shum" (Шум)Ukrainian
 United KingdomBBCJames Newman"Embers"English

Returning artists

After the cancellation of the 2020 contest, the participating broadcasters of 24 countries announced that, for the 2021 contest, they would internally select the same artists initially selected for 2020. Those artists were: Efendi for Azerbaijan, Montaigne for Australia, Vincent Bueno for Austria, Hooverphonic for Belgium (albeit with a different lead singer), Victoria for Bulgaria, Benny Cristo for the Czech Republic, Tornike Kipiani for Georgia, Stefania for Greece, Eden Alene for Israel, Lesley Roy for Ireland, Daði og Gagnamagnið for Iceland, Samanta Tīna for Latvia, Destiny for Malta, Natalia Gordienko for Moldova, Roxen for Romania, Jeangu Macrooy for the Netherlands, Vasil for North Macedonia, Senhit for San Marino, Hurricane for Serbia, Ana Soklič for Slovenia, Blas Cantó for Spain, Gjon's Tears for Switzerland, Go_A for Ukraine, and James Newman for the United Kingdom. In addition, the artists initially selected for Estonia and Lithuania in 2020, Uku Suviste and The Roop respectively, won their countries' national finals again to represent their countries in 2021.[24]

Discounting 2020, the contest featured three representatives who also previously performed as lead vocalists for the same country, and five artists who participated in other Eurovision events or as backing vocalists for the same or for another country. Among the representatives who returned as lead vocalists, Natalia Gordienko had previously represented Moldova in 2006 with Arsenium and Connect-R;[25] Senhit had represented San Marino in 2011;[26] and Sanja Vučić, a member of Hurricane, had previously represented Serbia in 2016 in a solo performance.[27]

Former backing vocalists who competed as lead artists included Ksenija Knežević, a member of Hurricane, who had previously served as a backing vocalist for Montenegro's entrant Knez in 2015;[27] Destiny, who had provided backing vocals for Malta's Michela in 2019;[28] Vincent Bueno, who had backed Austria's Nathan Trent in 2017;[29] and Vasil, who had provided backing vocals for North Macedonia's Tamara Todevska in 2019.[30] Two artists had previously competed in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Malta's Destiny, who had won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015, and Greece's Stefania, who had competed for the Netherlands in the 2016 Junior contest as a member of the group Kisses.[28][31] Mladen Lukić, who had previously competed for Serbia in 2018 as a member of Balkanika, returned as a backing vocalist for Hurricane.

Other countries

Active EBU members

  •  Armenia – Having intended to compete in 2020, Armenia was initially confirmed for the 2021 contest when the list of participants was announced by the EBU in October 2020, and was set to perform in the second half of the second semi-final.[19][32] However, on 5 March 2021, the Public Television Company of Armenia (AMPTV) confirmed that it was subsequently unable to participate due to social and political crises in the country in the aftermath of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.[20]
  •  Belarus – Having intended to compete in 2020, Belarus was initially confirmed for the 2021 contest when the list of participants was announced by the EBU in October 2020, and was set to perform in the first half of the first semi-final. However, on 26 March 2021, Belarus was disqualified by the EBU after its intended entry "Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)" by Galasy ZMesta was rejected due to violating the rules, and not being able to submit an eligible replacement entry.[21] Six days after the Eurovision final, the EBU voted to suspend Belarusian broadcaster BTRC's membership due to concerns about the content that it was broadcasting. BTRC was given two weeks to respond before the suspension comes into effect on 11 June, but there was no public response.[33] The broadcaster was expelled from the EBU on 1 July, rendering future participations impossible until at least 2025.[34]

In November 2019, Democrats for Andorra, the ruling party of former participant Andorra, stated that they would assess the costs in order to grant the country's return to the contest;[35] in 2020, 2009 Andorran representative Susanne Georgi claimed to have secured the funding[36] and held a meeting with Prime Minister of Andorra Xavier Espot Zamora, ultimately agreeing to push the Andorran return to 2022 in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic.[37] Former participants Morocco and Turkey, despite rumours of a possible return in 2021,[38][39] did not appear on the final list of participants.[19] Active EBU member broadcasters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Monaco and Slovakia confirmed non-participation prior to the announcement of the participants list by the EBU.[40][41]

Associate EBU members

In August 2020, the EBU stated that it did not intend to invite Kazakhstan for this year.[42]

Non-EBU members

In August 2020, the EBU stated that it did not intend to invite Kosovo to become a member.[42] Liechtensteiner broadcaster 1 FL TV, despite previous attempts to become an EBU member, halted its plans after director Peter Kölbel's unexpected death, and did not resume them due to the lack of sufficient funds and of government support; thus it ruled out debuting in 2021.[43]

Production

The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 was a co-production between three related Dutch television organisations — Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) and AVROTROS — of which each assumed a different role.[44] Sietse Bakker and Astrid Dutrénit served as executive producers, while Emilie Sickinghe and Jessica Stam served as deputy executive producers.[45] Marnix Kaart, Marc Pos and Daniel Jelinek served as directors of the three live shows,[46][47] and Gerben Bakker served as head of show.[48][49] Background music for the shows was composed by Eric van Tijn.[50][51]

In January 2020, the EBU announced that Martin Österdahl would become the executive supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest after the 2020 edition, succeeding Jon Ola Sand.[52] Before his appointment, Österdahl had been an executive producer for the 2013 and 2016 editions, and had been a member of the Eurovision Song Contest reference group between 2012 and 2018.[53]

The total budget for the shows was 22 million, of which €3.7 million was left unspent after the contest, according to the municipal executive. The additional money was allocated to contingency scenarios that were eventually discarded.[54]

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

On 7 May 2020, the Dutch authorities prohibited all mass gatherings in the country until a COVID-19 vaccine became available.[55] The host broadcasters stated that they were assessing the decision and how it would impact the event.[56]

On 18 September 2020, the EBU released a summary of contingency scenarios for the contest in order for it to take place regardless of the pandemic situation, including:[57][58]

In February 2021, the EBU and the host broadcasters stated that they had ruled out hosting the contest as normal (Scenario A). Scenario C was also modified – all acts would perform remotely like in scenario D.[59] A health and safety protocol was published on 2 March 2021, with the EBU affirming that the contest would be held under scenario B, while reiterating that downscaling options remained on the table should circumstances change.[60] On 30 April 2021, the EBU confirmed that the contest would be held under scenario B.[61]

Overview of the hosting scenarios[59]
Contest aspectScenario A
(Normal)
Scenario B
(1.5-metre) †
Scenario C
(Travel restrictive)
Scenario D
(Lockdown)
Shows from AhoyYesYesYesYes
Participants in RotterdamAllAll/mostSomeNone
Audience in the arena100%0–80%0–80%None
Side events in RotterdamYesAdaptedReducedNone
Press centre1,500 on site500 on site
1,000 virtual
1,500 virtual1,500 virtual

On 1 April 2021, it was announced that an audience of 3,500 people would be allowed at each of the nine shows, including the three live shows and six rehearsals;[62] the Dutch cabinet later gave its approval on 29 April.[63] All audience members must have had tested negative for COVID-19.[64]

Due to pandemic precautions, the "Turquoise Carpet" event was the only in-person side event to take place in 2021. Impacted side events included: the Opening Ceremony event, which was not held;[65] the Eurovision Village, which took place from 15 to 23 May in an online-only form;[66][67] and the EuroClub, which was cancelled for this year.[68]

Visual design

The graphic design of the 2021 contest on display in Rotterdam

On 18 September 2020, along with possible scenarios, the EBU confirmed that the planned visual design and slogan for 2020, "Open Up", would be used in 2021 as well.[57] The revamped official logo and branding was unveiled on 4 December 2020. Designed by Clever°Franke, it is "an abstract presentation inspired by the map of the world and visually connects the location of the capitals of the [then] 41 participating countries with Rotterdam as Europe's beating heart".[69][70] The revamped visual identity, designed by MediaMonks and NEP, was built around patterns and 'tracks' that symbolises the Netherlands and the concept of "opening up".[71][72][73]

Stage design

Stage and green room in the arena

During the announcement of the dates of the 2021 contest, executive producer Sietse Bakker stated that the planned stage design for 2020 would also be used in 2021.[74] The design was inspired by the slogan "Open Up" and the typical Dutch flat landscape. The Eurovision stage was designed by German stage designer Florian Wieder, who also designed the stages for the contests in 2011–12, 2015, and 2017–19.[75][76] Its features included a revolvable primary LED screen that is 52 metres (171 ft) wide and 12 metres (39 ft) high, and a retractable semi-transparent LED screen which could be used as a backdrop for the secondary stage.[77][78][79] The stage design was complemented by augmented reality effects.[80] Unlike the 2019 contest, the green room was placed in the main performance venue, and encompassed the entire floor space previously reserved for the standing audience, so as to facilitate social distancing.[81]

Postcards

The "postcards" were 40-second video introductions shown on television whilst the stage was being prepared for the next contestant to perform their entry.[82] Filmed between January and April, and directed by Martijn Nieman and Laurence Drenthe, with Kevin Soares serving as executive producer, the 2021 postcards were based on the "Open Up" theme of the contest. In a departure from the initial concept created for the 2020 contest owing to travel restriction concerns, the postcards involved the acts being presented through footage shot in their country of origin. These were inserted via chroma keying onto the framework of a 'tiny house' set-up in various locations around the Netherlands, and decorated with items personal to the artist. At the end of each postcard, a light streak hit the house and was refracted into a country-specific coloured streak, mimicking the prism and transitions to the stage, where the ceiling was lit up with that country's flag colours using augmented reality.[73] The postcards were produced by Amsterdam-based production company IDTV, with additional post-production and VFX work by Antwerp-based agency Storm.[83][84] The following locations were used for each participating country:[85][86]

Presenters

Chantal Janzen, Jan Smit, Edsilia Rombley and Nikkie de Jager, presenters of the 2021 contest

On 18 September 2020, along with possible scenarios, the EBU confirmed that the 2020 planned presenters would be appointed as presenters for the 2021 contest as well: actress and television host Chantal Janzen, singer and commentator for the contest Jan Smit, singer Edsilia Rombley, who represented the Netherlands in the 1998 and 2007 contests, and beauty vlogger Nikkie de Jager (NikkieTutorials).[57][87][88]

In addition, De Jager and Krista Siegfrids (Finland's representative in the 2013 contest) were the presenters of the contest's online content. Siegfrids hosted Krista Calling, a weekly YouTube series with behind-the-scenes coverage from Rotterdam,[89][90] and De Jager hosted LookLab with NikkieTutorials, an online talk show series featuring 38 participants with Queen Máxima as a special guest.[e][92][93] Koos van Plateringen [nl], Hila Noorzai [nl] and Samya Hafsaoui [nl] moderated the contest's press conferences, while Van Plateringen and Fenna Ramos [nl] hosted the "Turquoise Carpet" event.[94][5]

Format

Entries

For this year, delegations were given the option to use pre-recorded backing vocals. Each delegation could still choose to use backing singers, whether on or off stage, or a combination of live and recorded backing vocals. All lead vocals performing the melody of the song must still be live, according to the rules.[95][96] As a measure to guarantee that all participants could take part in the contest, every national broadcaster were required to create a 'live-on-tape' backup recording prior to the contest, which could be used if a participant was unable to travel to Rotterdam, or subjected to quarantine on arrival. The recordings took place in a studio setting, in real-time (as it would be at the contest) without any edits to the vocals or any part of the performance itself after the recording. A set of production guidelines was also revealed to ensure fairness and the integrity of the recordings.[97]

Other rules for the entries stayed the same in the 2021 contest. This includes that the maximum length for a song is three minutes, that there can be at most six performers on stage, and that the compositions (lyrics and music) must not have been commercially released before 1 September of the year before.[98] Following the cancellation of the 2020 contest, the EBU explored the option of allowing the songs selected for the 2020 contest to compete in the 2021 contest, which needed to be discussed with the Eurovision Song Contest reference group and the national broadcasters.[13] Victoria, Bulgaria's representative for 2020 and 2021, publicly expressed her support for such a move.[99] However, on 20 March 2020, the reference group decided that, in accordance with the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, the 2020 songs would not be eligible to compete in the 2021 contest.[100]

Semi-final allocation draw

Results of the semi-final allocation draw for the 2020 contest, which was retained for 2021
  Participating countries in the first semi-final[f]
  Pre-qualified for the final but also voting in the first semi-final
  Participating countries in the second semi-final[g]
  Pre-qualified for the final but also voting in the second semi-final

On 17 November 2020, the EBU confirmed that the semi-final allocation draw for the 2021 contest would not be held. Instead, the semi-finals would feature the same line-up of countries as determined by the draw for the 2020 contest's semi-finals, which was held on 28 January 2020 at the Rotterdam City Hall and hosted by contest presenters Chantal Janzen, Jan Smit and Edsilia Rombley. The draw also determined which semi-final each of the six automatic qualifiers – host country the Netherlands and "Big Five" countries France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – would broadcast and vote in. The EBU also decided to maintain the Netherlands' grand final running order position – 23.[32]

The pots used initially for the 2020 contest featured as follows:

Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4Pot 5

Contest overview

Semi-final 1

The first semi-final took place on 18 May 2021 at 21:00 (CEST).[74] Sixteen countries participated in this semi-final, with the running order published on 30 March 2021.[103] Malta won the most points, followed by Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania, Israel, Cyprus, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Belgium, and Norway. The countries that failed to reach the final were Slovenia, Australia, North Macedonia, Ireland, Croatia, and Romania. All the countries competing in this semi-final were eligible to vote, plus Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.[32] Belarus was originally allocated to participate in the first half of the semi-final, but was disqualified from the contest after submitting entries in violation of the rules twice, and not providing an eligible entry before the deadline.[21]

This semi-final was opened by Duncan Laurence performing "Feel Something",[104] and featured singer and YouTuber Davina Michelle and actress Thekla Reuten in an interval act titled "The Power of Water", centering on the Netherlands' history of water management.[105][106] Michelle performed her new single "Sweet Water" in the performance. In both acts, augmented reality was used. The Dutch, German, and Italian artists were then interviewed, and clips of their competing songs were played.

  Qualifiers
R/OCountryArtistSongPointsPlace
1  LithuaniaThe Roop"Discoteque"2034
2  SloveniaAna Soklič"Amen"4413
3  RussiaManizha"Russian Woman"2253
4  SwedenTusse"Voices"1427
5  Australia[h]Montaigne"Technicolour"2814
6  North MacedoniaVasil"Here I Stand"2315
7  IrelandLesley Roy"Maps"2016
8  CyprusElena Tsagrinou"El Diablo"1706
9  NorwayTix"Fallen Angel"11510
10  CroatiaAlbina"Tick-Tock"11011
11  BelgiumHooverphonic"The Wrong Place"1179
12  IsraelEden Alene"Set Me Free"1925
13  RomaniaRoxen"Amnesia"8512
14  AzerbaijanEfendi"Mata Hari"1388
15  UkraineGo_A"Shum"2672
16  MaltaDestiny"Je me casse"3251

Semi-final 2

The second semi-final took place on 20 May 2021 at 21:00 (CEST).[74] Seventeen countries participated in this semi-final, with the running order published on 30 March 2021.[103] Switzerland won the most points, followed by Iceland, Bulgaria, Portugal, Finland, Greece, Moldova, Serbia, San Marino, and Albania. The countries that failed to reach the final were Estonia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Georgia, Latvia, and Denmark. All the countries competing in this semi-final were eligible to vote, plus France, Spain and the United Kingdom.[32] Armenia was originally allocated to participate in the second half of the semi-final, but withdrew from the contest due to its social and political crises in the aftermath of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.[20]

This semi-final was opened by breakdancer Redouan "Redo" Ait Chitt and singer-songwriter Eefje de Visser,[109][110] with ballet dancer Ahmad Joudeh and BMX-er Dez Maarsen performing during the interval;[111] the acts are titled "Forward Unlimited" and "Close Encounter of a Special Kind", respectively. The British, French, and Spanish artists were then interviewed, and clips of their competing songs were played.

  Qualifiers
R/OCountryArtistSongPointsPlace
1  San MarinoSenhit[d]"Adrenalina"1189
2  EstoniaUku Suviste"The Lucky One"5813
3  Czech RepublicBenny Cristo"Omaga"2315
4  GreeceStefania"Last Dance"1846
5  AustriaVincent Bueno"Amen"6612
6  PolandRafał"The Ride"3514
7  MoldovaNatalia Gordienko"Sugar"1797
8  Iceland[i]Daði og Gagnamagnið"10 Years"2882
9  SerbiaHurricane"Loco loco"1248
10  GeorgiaTornike Kipiani"You"1616
11  AlbaniaAnxhela Peristeri"Karma"11210
12  PortugalThe Black Mamba"Love Is on My Side"2394
13  BulgariaVictoria"Growing Up Is Getting Old"2503
14  FinlandBlind Channel"Dark Side"2345
15  LatviaSamanta Tīna"The Moon Is Rising"1417
16   SwitzerlandGjon's Tears"Tout l'univers"2911
17  DenmarkFyr og Flamme"Øve os på hinanden"8911

Final

The final took place on 22 May 2021 at 21:00 (CEST).[74] Twenty-six countries participated in the final, with all thirty-nine participating countries eligible to vote. The running order for the final was published on 21 May 2021.[114] Italy won with 524 points, also winning the televote. France came second with 499 points, with Switzerland (who won the jury vote), Iceland, Ukraine, Finland, Malta, Lithuania, Russia, and Greece completing the top ten. San Marino, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom occupied the bottom five positions, of which the last four countries received no points from the televote.

The final was opened by the traditional flag parade, introducing all twenty-six finalists, accompanied by a remix of "Venus" produced and performed by 16-year-old DJ Pieter Gabriel, with co-presenters Chantal Janzen, Jan Smit and Edsilia Rombley singing parts of the song.[115][116] The interval acts included a medley of "Hero", "Ten Feet Tall" and "Titanium" performed by DJ Afrojack, singers Wulf and Glennis Grace, and an orchestra composed of young Dutch musicians;[117][118] the "Rock the Roof" interval act, where six former Eurovision winners – Måns Zelmerlöw, Teach-In, Sandra Kim, Lenny Kuhr, Helena Paparizou and Lordi – performed their winning songs – "Heroes", "Ding-a-dong", "J'aime la vie", "De troubadour", "My Number One" and "Hard Rock Hallelujah" respectively – atop several venues in Rotterdam;[119] and Duncan Laurence, who performed his winning song "Arcade" and his new single "Stars".[j][121][116] A dance sketch titled "The Human Countdown" was then performed, which signified the closure of the voting window.[116]

R/OCountryArtistSongPointsPlace
1  CyprusElena Tsagrinou"El Diablo"9416
2  AlbaniaAnxhela Peristeri"Karma"5721
3  IsraelEden Alene"Set Me Free"9317
4  BelgiumHooverphonic"The Wrong Place"7419
5  RussiaManizha"Russian Woman"2049
6  MaltaDestiny"Je me casse"2557
7  PortugalThe Black Mamba"Love Is on My Side"15312
8  SerbiaHurricane"Loco loco"10215
9  United KingdomJames Newman"Embers"026
10  GreeceStefania"Last Dance"17010
11   SwitzerlandGjon's Tears"Tout l'univers"4323
12  Iceland[i]Daði og Gagnamagnið"10 Years"3784
13  SpainBlas Cantó"Voy a quedarme"624
14  MoldovaNatalia Gordienko"Sugar"11513
15  GermanyJendrik"I Don't Feel Hate"325
16  FinlandBlind Channel"Dark Side"3016
17  BulgariaVictoria"Growing Up Is Getting Old"17011
18  LithuaniaThe Roop"Discoteque"2208
19  UkraineGo_A"Shum"3645
20  FranceBarbara Pravi"Voilà"4992
21  AzerbaijanEfendi"Mata Hari"6520
22  NorwayTix"Fallen Angel"7518
23  NetherlandsJeangu Macrooy"Birth of a New Age"1123
24  ItalyMåneskin"Zitti e buoni"5241
25  SwedenTusse"Voices"10914
26  San MarinoSenhit[d]"Adrenalina"5022

Spokespersons

The spokespersons announced the 12-point score from their respective country's national jury in the following order:[122]

  1.  Israel – Lucy Ayoub
  2.  Poland – Ida Nowakowska
  3.  San Marino – Monica Fabbri
  4.  Albania – Andri Xhahu
  5.  Malta – Stephanie Spiteri
  6.  Estonia – Sissi [et]
  7.  North Macedonia – Vane Markoski
  8.  Azerbaijan – Ell and Nikki
  9.  Norway – Silje Skjemstad Cruz
  10.  Spain – Nieves Álvarez
  11.  Austria – Philipp Hansa
  12.  United Kingdom – Amanda Holden
  13.  Italy – Carolina Di Domenico
  14.  Slovenia – Lorella Flego
  15.  Greece – Manolis Gkinis
  16.  Latvia – Aminata Savadogo
  17.  Ireland – Ryan O'Shaughnessy
  18.  Moldova – Sergey Stepanov (also known as "Epic Sax Guy")
  19.  Serbia – Dragana Kosjerina
  20.  Bulgaria – Joanna Dragneva [bg]
  21.  Cyprus – Loukas Hamatsos
  22.  Belgium – Danira Boukhriss
  23.  Germany – Barbara Schöneberger
  24.  Australia – Joel Creasey
  25.  Finland – Katri Norrlin [fi]
  26.  Portugal – Elisa
  27.  Ukraine – Tayanna
  28.  Iceland – Hannes Óli Ágústsson (as Olaf Yohansson from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga)
  29.  Romania – Cătălina Ponor
  30.  Croatia – Ivan Dorian Molnar
  31.  Czech Republic – Taťána Kuchařová
  32.  Georgia – Oto Nemsadze
  33.  Lithuania – Andrius Mamontovas
  34.  Denmark – Tina Müller
  35.  Russia – Polina Gagarina
  36.  France – Carla
  37.  Sweden – Carola
  38.   Switzerland – Angélique Beldner
  39.  Netherlands – Romy Monteiro[k]

Detailed voting results

Semi-final 1

  Qualifiers
Split results of semi-final 1
PlaceCombinedJuryTelevoting
CountryPointsCountryPointsCountryPoints
1  Malta325  Malta174  Ukraine164
2  Ukraine267  Russia117  Malta151
3  Russia225  Ukraine103  Lithuania137
4  Lithuania203  Israel99  Russia108
5  Israel192  Cyprus92  Israel93
6  Cyprus170  Sweden91  Azerbaijan91
7  Sweden142  Belgium70  Cyprus78
8  Azerbaijan138  Lithuania66  Norway77
9  Belgium117  Romania58  Croatia53
10  Norway115  Croatia57  Sweden51
11  Croatia110  Azerbaijan47  Belgium47
12  Romania85  Norway38  Romania27
13  Slovenia44  Slovenia36  North Macedonia11
14  Australia28  Australia26  Slovenia8
15  North Macedonia23  Ireland16  Ireland4
16  Ireland20  North Macedonia12  Australia2

The ten qualifiers from the first semi-final were determined by televoting and/or SMS-voting (50%) and five-member juries (50%).[123] All sixteen countries competing in the first semi-final voted, alongside Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.[32] The ten qualifying countries were announced in no particular order, and the full results of how each country voted was published after the final had been held.

Detailed jury voting results of semi-final 1[124]
  • Voting procedure used:
  •   100% televoting
  •   100% jury vote
Total score
Jury score
Televoting score
Jury vote
Lithuania
Slovenia
Russia
Sweden
Australia
North Macedonia
Ireland
Cyprus
Norway
Croatia
Belgium
Israel
Romania
Azerbaijan
Ukraine
Malta
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Contestants
Lithuania20366137272536212814473
Slovenia4436836437445
Russia22511710810677883812651217512
Sweden142915137611710165463101245
Australia282628122121
North Macedonia231211426
Ireland2016413213321
Cyprus17092784128410445101032853
Norway11538772381237264
Croatia1105753173810511158322
Belgium1177047105624472101010
Israel19299937210108121874163128
Romania855827510235771261
Azerbaijan1384791843567662
Ukraine2671031641215545675104108786
Malta32517415166121212101212121288121051087
Detailed televoting results of semi-final 1[124]
  • Voting procedure used:
  •   100% televoting
  •   100% jury vote
Total score
Jury score
Televoting score
Televote
Lithuania
Slovenia
Russia
Sweden
Australia
North Macedonia
Ireland
Cyprus
Norway
Croatia
Belgium
Israel
Romania
Azerbaijan
Ukraine
Malta
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Contestants
Lithuania2036613771084121212385631271288
Slovenia4436835
Russia22511710887378174102125862675
Sweden142915152243107213102
Australia2826211
North Macedonia231211812
Ireland20164121
Cyprus17092784154666363644412121
Norway11538776661232126431026413
Croatia1105753122512721327
Belgium11770471043522115347
Israel192999324641510544101275536
Romania8558273515310
Azerbaijan13847913310117468577108254
Ukraine2671031641210127125867121081274101210
Malta325174151758810101088712108688612

12 points

Below is a summary of all 12 points received in the first semi-final. In the jury vote, Malta received the maximum score of 12 points from eight countries, while Russia received three sets of 12 points. Israel were awarded two sets of 12 points, while Australia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, and Ukraine were each awarded one set of 12 points. In the public vote, Ukraine received six sets of 12 points, while Lithuania received the maximum score of 12 points from five countries. Croatia and Malta each received two sets of 12 points, while Cyprus, Israel, Norway, and Russia were each awarded one set of 12 points.[124]

12 points awarded by juries
N.ContestantNation(s) giving 12 points
8  Malta  Australia,  Croatia,  Cyprus,  Ireland,  Norway,  Romania,  Russia,  Sweden
3  Russia  Azerbaijan,  Belgium,  Netherlands
2  Israel  Italy,  North Macedonia
1  Australia  Ukraine
 Cyprus  Slovenia
 Lithuania  Israel
 Romania  Malta
 Sweden  Germany
 Ukraine  Lithuania
12 points awarded by televoting
N.ContestantNation(s) giving 12 points
6  Ukraine  Australia,  Croatia,  Italy,  Lithuania,  Romania,  Russia
5  Lithuania  Cyprus,  Germany,  Ireland,  Norway,  Ukraine
2  Croatia  North Macedonia,  Slovenia
 Malta  Belgium,  Netherlands
1  Cyprus  Malta
 Israel  Azerbaijan
 Norway  Sweden
 Russia  Israel

Semi-final 2

  Qualifiers
Split results of semi-final 2
PlaceCombinedJuryTelevoting
CountryPointsCountryPointsCountryPoints
1   Switzerland291   Switzerland156  Finland150
2  Iceland288  Bulgaria149  Iceland148
3  Bulgaria250  Iceland140   Switzerland135
4  Portugal239  Portugal128  Moldova123
5  Finland234  Greece104  Portugal111
6  Greece184  Finland84  Bulgaria101
7  Moldova179  San Marino76  Denmark80
8  Serbia124  Albania74  Greece80
9  San Marino118  Serbia56  Serbia68
10  Albania112  Moldova56  San Marino42
11  Denmark89  Austria53  Albania38
12  Austria66  Estonia29  Estonia29
13  Estonia58  Czech Republic23  Poland17
14  Poland35  Poland18  Georgia15
15  Czech Republic23  Denmark9  Austria13
16  Georgia16  Latvia4  Latvia10
17  Latvia14  Georgia1  Czech Republic0

The ten qualifiers from the second semi-final were determined by televoting and/or SMS-voting (50%) and five-member juries (50%).[123] All seventeen countries competing in the first semi-final voted, alongside France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.[32] The ten qualifying countries were announced in no particular order, and the full results of how each country voted was published after the final had been held.

Detailed jury voting results of semi-final 2[125]
  • Voting procedure used:
  •   100% televoting
  •   100% jury vote
Total score
Jury score
Televoting score
Jury vote
San Marino
Estonia
Czech Republic
Greece
Austria
Poland
Moldova
Iceland
Serbia
Georgia
Albania
Portugal
Bulgaria
Finland
Latvia
Switzerland
Denmark
France
Spain
United Kingdom
Contestants
San Marino1187642121011010321822225834
Estonia58292914313173312
Czech Republic23230416552
Greece1841048010351287810310612127
Austria665313443572651736
Poland35181712231
Moldova17956123812274312413
Iceland288140148181071036127410812886812
Serbia124566845436225434545
Georgia161151
Albania112743872163655844551021
Portugal2391281112612571287101878104101010
Bulgaria25014910151078851210108212126126457
Finland23484150376526646676776
Latvia144104
Switzerland29115613561281287125121271010123128
Denmark899803411
Detailed televoting results of semi-final 2[125]
  • Voting procedure used:
  •   100% televoting
  •   100% jury vote
Total score
Jury score
Televoting score
Televote
San Marino
Estonia
Czech Republic
Greece
Austria
Poland
Moldova
Iceland
Serbia
Georgia
Albania
Portugal
Bulgaria
Finland
Latvia
Switzerland
Denmark
France
Spain
United Kingdom
Contestants
San Marino1187642422331271242
Estonia58292913171016
Czech Republic23230
Greece184104805212581010108212311
Austria6653132344
Poland35181717117
Moldova17956123121212126761212512123
Iceland2881401488710510106771761277126812
Serbia12456687541211142101272
Georgia16115333231
Albania1127438210221214383
Portugal239128111354375484656510810126
Bulgaria250149101426644546885423551010
Finland2348415010108851281010656128610268
Latvia14410154
Switzerland2911561356677881075312871067873
Denmark899801831361224243845455

12 points

Below is a summary of all 12 points received in the second semi-final. In the jury vote, Switzerland received the maximum score of 12 points from seven countries, while Bulgaria received four sets of 12 points. Iceland were awarded three sets of 12 points, Greece and Moldova each received two sets of 12 points, while Poland and Portugal were each awarded one set of 12 points. In the public vote, Moldova received eight sets of 12 points, while Iceland received the maximum score of 12 points from three countries. Finland and Serbia each received two sets of 12 points, while Denmark, Greece, Portugal, San Marino, and Switzerland were each awarded one set of 12 points.[125]

12 points awarded by juries
N.ContestantNation(s) giving 12 points
7   Switzerland  Albania,  Austria,  Denmark,  Estonia,  Georgia,  Iceland,  Spain
4  Bulgaria  Finland,  Moldova,  Portugal,   Switzerland
3  Iceland  Latvia,  Serbia,  United Kingdom
2  Greece  France,  Poland
 Moldova  Bulgaria,  Greece
1  Poland  San Marino
 Portugal  Czech Republic
12 points awarded by televoting
N.ContestantNation(s) giving 12 points
8  Moldova  Czech Republic,  Estonia,  France,  Latvia,  Greece,  Portugal,  San Marino,  Serbia
3  Iceland  Denmark,  Finland,  United Kingdom
2  Finland  Bulgaria,  Poland
 Serbia  Austria,   Switzerland
1  Denmark  Iceland
 Greece  Moldova
 Portugal  Spain
 San Marino  Georgia
  Switzerland  Albania

Final

  Winner
Split results of the final
PlaceCombinedJuryTelevoting
CountryPointsCountryPointsCountryPoints
1  Italy524   Switzerland267  Italy318
2  France499  France248  Ukraine267
3   Switzerland432  Malta208  France251
4  Iceland378  Italy206  Finland218
5  Ukraine364  Iceland198  Iceland180
6  Finland301  Bulgaria140   Switzerland165
7  Malta255  Portugal126  Lithuania165
8  Lithuania220  Russia104  Russia100
9  Russia204  Ukraine97  Serbia82
10  Greece170[l]  Greece91  Greece79
11  Bulgaria170[l]  Finland83  Sweden63
12  Portugal153  Israel73  Moldova62
13  Moldova115  Belgium71  Norway60
14  Sweden109  Lithuania55  Malta47
15  Serbia102  Moldova53  Cyprus44
16  Cyprus94  Cyprus50  Albania35
17  Israel93  Sweden46  Azerbaijan33
18  Norway75  San Marino37  Bulgaria30
19  Belgium74  Azerbaijan32  Portugal27
20  Azerbaijan65  Albania22  Israel20
21  Albania57  Serbia20  San Marino13
22  San Marino50  Norway15  Belgium3
23  Netherlands11  Netherlands11  United Kingdom0[m]
24  Spain6  Spain6  Spain0[m]
25  Germany3  Germany3  Germany0[m]
26  United Kingdom0  United Kingdom0  Netherlands0[m]

The results of the final were determined by televoting and jury voting in all thirty-nine participating countries.[123] The announcement of the jury points was conducted by each country individually, with the country's spokesperson announcing their jury's favourite entry that received 12 points, with the remaining points shown on screen. Following the completion of the jury points announcement, the public points were announced as an aggregate by the contest hosts in ascending order starting from the country which received the fewest points from the jury.

Detailed jury voting results of the final [126]
  • Voting procedure used:
  •   100% televoting
  •   100% jury vote
Total score
Jury score
Televoting score
Jury vote
Israel
Poland
San Marino
Albania
Malta
Estonia
North Macedonia
Azerbaijan
Norway
Spain
Austria
United Kingdom
Italy
Slovenia
Greece
Latvia
Ireland
Moldova
Serbia
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Belgium
Germany
Australia
Finland
Portugal
Ukraine
Iceland
Romania
Croatia
Czech Republic
Georgia
Lithuania
Denmark
Russia
France
Sweden
Switzerland
Netherlands
Contestants
Cyprus945044374261217422
Albania57223521271
Israel93732068836412375115544
Belgium7471363315633456373616
Russia2041041007111282110672141024210338
Malta2552084754781571284756210751058121451123713441267
Portugal153126278752577625611210101128687
Serbia10220821127
United Kingdom000
Greece1709179866101138381224712
Switzerland432267165127412101267101087125312121010127812785108121755
Iceland378198180108427121081010857338884108641037510
Spain66024
Moldova1155362581012612
Germany33021
Finland30183218213271410441013858181
Bulgaria17014030136164558511265621012824426610
Lithuania2205516510622126413234
Ukraine36497267454631176105523571283
France499248251812103107441281232531241277127761064610561212
Azerbaijan653233222635822
Norway75156027132
Netherlands1111032312
Italy52420631851043105612488108266631273126121010108
Sweden109466383510444521
San Marino50371312513754
Detailed televoting results of the final[126]
  • Voting procedure used:
  •   100% televoting
  •   100% jury vote
Total score
Jury score
Televoting score
Televote
Israel
Poland
San Marino
Albania
Malta
Estonia
North Macedonia
Azerbaijan
Norway
Spain
Austria
United Kingdom
Italy
Slovenia
Greece
Latvia
Ireland
Moldova
Serbia
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Belgium
Germany
Australia
Finland
Portugal
Ukraine
Iceland
Romania
Croatia
Czech Republic
Georgia
Lithuania
Denmark
Russia
France
Sweden
Switzerland
Netherlands
Contestants
Cyprus945044822612212
Albania5722351010717
Israel93732012215
Belgium7471312
Russia2041041001021616711101267351143544
Malta25520847533263412832221
Portugal15312627122886
Serbia102208241212412532123112
United Kingdom000
Greece170917978873212281210
Switzerland43226716567312274275154434134257676553665657
Iceland3781981801853105101063510556121236471312141058
Spain660
Moldova11553626712281212237
Germany330
Finland301832184643712256247846855784683581266477811244
Bulgaria1701403025887
Lithuania2205516534610124312512122571265104311042713
Ukraine364972671212541548567412756810866104101010878106121712425
France4992482518510637524126516837610108121046125787258366612
Azerbaijan653233231214434234
Norway75156031047122211141588
Netherlands11110
Italy52420631871012101288107108310107681212108778712510106810510103102
Sweden109466311818113133421011023
San Marino503713337

12 points

Below is a summary of all 12 points received in the final. In the jury vote, France and Switzerland each received the maximum score of 12 points from eight countries, with Italy and Malta each receiving four sets of 12 points. Bulgaria, Greece, and Moldova received the maximum score from two countries, while Albania, Cyprus, Iceland, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, and Ukraine were each awarded one set of 12 points.

In the public vote, Italy, Lithuania, Serbia, and Ukraine each received the maximum score of 12 points from five countries, with France receiving four sets of 12 points. Finland and Iceland received the maximum score from three countries, Cyprus, Greece, and Moldova were each awarded two sets of 12 points, and Israel, Russia, and Switzerland were each awarded one set of 12 points.[126]

12 points awarded by juries
N.ContestantNation(s) giving 12 points
8  France  Germany,  Ireland,  Netherlands,  San Marino,  Serbia,  Spain,   Switzerland,  United Kingdom
  Switzerland  Albania,  Belgium,  Denmark,  Estonia,  Finland,  Iceland,  Israel,  Latvia
4  Italy  Croatia,  Georgia,  Slovenia,  Ukraine
 Malta  Australia,  Norway,  Romania,  Sweden
2  Bulgaria  Moldova,  Portugal
 Greece  Cyprus,  France
 Moldova  Bulgaria,  Russia
1  Albania  Malta
 Cyprus  Greece
 Iceland  Austria
 Lithuania  Italy
 Portugal  Czech Republic
 Russia  Azerbaijan
 San Marino  Poland
 Serbia  North Macedonia
 Ukraine  Lithuania
12 points awarded by televoting
N.ContestantNation(s) giving 12 points
5  Italy  Bulgaria,  Malta,  San Marino,  Serbia,  Ukraine
 Lithuania  Germany,  Ireland,  Latvia,  Norway,  United Kingdom
 Serbia  Austria,  Croatia,  North Macedonia,  Slovenia,   Switzerland
 Ukraine  France,  Israel,  Italy,  Lithuania,  Poland
4  France  Belgium,  Netherlands,  Portugal,  Spain
3  Finland  Estonia,  Iceland,  Sweden
 Iceland  Australia,  Denmark,  Finland
2  Cyprus  Greece,  Russia
 Greece  Cyprus,  Georgia
 Moldova  Czech Republic,  Romania
1  Israel  Azerbaijan
 Russia  Moldova
  Switzerland  Albania


Broadcasts

All participating broadcasters may choose to have on-site or remote commentators providing an insight about the show and voting information to their local audience. While they must broadcast at least the semi-final they are voting in and the final, most broadcasters air all three shows with different programming plans. Similarly, some non-participating broadcasters may still want to air the contest.

The European Broadcasting Union provided international live streams of both semi-finals and the final through their official YouTube channel with no commentary. The live streams were geo-blocked to viewers in Australia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, United States and the United Kingdom. After the live broadcasts, all three shows were made available for every country listed above except the United States.[127][128][129][130]

Broadcasters and commentators in participating countries
CountryShow(s)Broadcaster(s)Commentator(s)Ref(s)
 AlbaniaAll showsRTSH, RTSH Muzikë, Radio TiranaAndri Xhahu[131][132][133]
 AustraliaAll shows[n]SBSMyf Warhurst and Joel Creasey[134][135]
 AustriaAll showsORF 1Andi Knoll[136]
 AzerbaijanAll showsİTVMurad Arif and Husniyya Maharramova[137]
 BelgiumAll showséénPeter Van de Veire[138][139]
KetnetDutch audio description
FinalRadio 2Anja Daems and Showbizz Bart [nl]
All showsLa Une,[o] RTBF AuvioJean-Louis Lahaye [fr] and Fanny Jandrain [fr][p][140][141]
SF1/FinalVivaCité[q]
 BulgariaAll showsBNT 1, BNT 4Elena Rosberg and Petko Kralev[142][143][144]
 CroatiaAll showsHRT 1Duško Ćurlić[145][146]
FinalHR 2Unknown[147]
 CyprusAll showsRIK 1, RIK HD, RIK SatLouis Patsalides[148]
 Czech RepublicSemi-finalsČT2Jan Maxián [cs] and Albert Černý[149][150]
FinalČT1
 DenmarkAll showsDR1Henrik Milling [da] and Nicolai Molbech[151]
 EstoniaAll showsETVMarko Reikop[152]
ETV+Aleksandr Hobotov and Julia Kalenda[153]
ERRSign language: Various interpreters[154]
 FinlandAll showsYle TV1
[155][156]
Yle Radio SuomiSanna Pirkkalainen and Toni Laaksonen [fi]
Yle X3MEva Frantz and Johan Lindroos
 FranceSemi-finalsCultureboxLaurence Boccolini[157][158]
FinalFrance 2Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini
 GeorgiaAll shows1TVNika Lobiladze[159][160]
 GermanyAll showsOnePeter Urban[161][162]
FinalDas Erste, Deutsche Welle
 GreeceAll showsERT1Maria Kozakou and Giorgos Kapoutzidis[163]
Deftero Programma, Voice of GreeceDimitris Meidanis[164]
FinalGiorgos Katsaros[165]
 IcelandAll showsRÚVGísli Marteinn Baldursson[166]
RÚV 2Sign language: Elsa G. Björnsdóttir[167][168][169]
SF2/FinalRás 2Unknown[170][171][172]
All showsRUV.isAlex Elliott[173]
 IrelandSemi-finalsRTÉ2Marty Whelan[174][175]
FinalRTÉ One
SF1RTÉ Radio 1Neil Doherty and Zbyszek Zalinski[176][177]
FinalRTÉ 2fm
 IsraelAll showsKan 11, Kan Educational[r], Kan Tarbut [he]Asaf Liberman [he] and Akiva Novick [he][178][179][non-primary source needed]
 ItalySemi-finalsRai 4, Rai Radio 2Ema Stokholma [it] and Saverio Raimondo [it][180][181][182]
FinalRai 1Gabriele Corsi [it] and Cristiano Malgioglio
Rai Radio 2Ema Stokholma and Gino Castaldo [it]
 LatviaSemi-finalsLTV1Toms Grēviņš [lv][183][184][185]
FinalToms Grēviņš and Marie N
 LithuaniaAll showsLRT televizija, LRT RadijasRamūnas Zilnys [lt][186][187]
 MaltaAll showsTVMNo commentary[188]
 MoldovaAll showsMoldova 1, Radio MoldovaDoina Stimpovschi[189]
 NetherlandsAll showsNPO 1, BVNCornald Maas and Sander Lantinga[190][191]
NPO 1 ExtraSign language: Various interpreters[192]
NPO Zappelin ExtraDutch audio description
FinalNPO Radio 2Wouter van der Goes and Frank van 't Hof [nl][193]
 North MacedoniaAll showsMRT 1, MRT 2Eli Tanaskovska[194][195]
 NorwayAll showsNRK1Marte Stokstad [no][196][197]
FinalNRK3Martin Lepperød [no] and Adelina Ibishi [no][198]
NRK P1Ole-Christian Øen[199]
 PolandAll showsTVP1, TVP PoloniaMarek Sierocki [pl] and Aleksander Sikora [pl][200][201][202]
 PortugalAll shows[s]RTP1, RTP Internacional, RTP ÁfricaJosé Carlos Malato and Nuno Galopim[205]
 RomaniaAll showsTVR 1, TVRiBogdan Stănescu[206][207]
 RussiaAll showsChannel OneYana Churikova and Yuri Aksyuta [ru][208][209]
 San MarinoAll showsSan Marino RTV, Radio San MarinoLia Fiorio and Gigi Restivo[210]
 SerbiaAll showsRTS 1, RTS Planeta, RTS SvetDuška Vučinić[211][212][213]
FinalRadio Belgrade 1Katarina Epštajn and Nikoleta Dojčinović[214]
 SloveniaSemi-finalsTV SLO 2Mojca Mavec [sl][215][216][217][218][219]
FinalTV SLO 1
All showsRTV 4D, Radio Val 202Miha Šalehar [sl], Neja Jerant and Uršula Zaletelj
 SpainSemi-finalsLa 2Tony Aguilar, Julia Varela and Víctor Escudero[220]
FinalLa 1, TVE Internacional
Radio Nacional, Radio Exterior, Radio 5Imanol Durán[221][222]
 SwedenAll showsSVT1Edward af Sillén and Christer Björkman[223]
SR P4Carolina Norén[224]
  SwitzerlandSemi-finalsSRF zweiSven Epiney[225]
FinalSRF 1
Semi-finalsRTS 2Jean-Marc Richard and Nicolas Tanner[226]
FinalRTS 1Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner and Joseph Gorgoni [fr]
SF2RSI La 2Clarissa Tami [it][227][228]
FinalRSI La 1Clarissa Tami and Sebalter
 UkraineAll showsUA:FirstTimur Miroshnychenko[229]
STBSerhiy Prytula[230]
FinalUA:Ukrainian RadioOlena Zelinchenko[231][232]
UA:Radio Promin [uk]Anna Zakletska and Dmytro Zakharchenko[233]
 United KingdomSemi-finalsBBC FourScott Mills, Sara Cox[t] and Chelcee Grimes[235][236]
FinalBBC OneGraham Norton
BBC Radio 2Ken Bruce
Broadcasters and commentators in non-participating countries
CountryShow(s)Broadcaster(s)Commentator(s)Ref(s)
 CanadaAll showsOmni TelevisionNo commentary[237]
 KazakhstanAll showsKhabar TVKaldybek Zhajsanbaj and Mahabbat Esen[238][239]
 KosovoAll showsRTKUnknown[240]
 SlovakiaFinalRádio FMDaniel Baláž [sk], Lucia Haverlík, Pavol Hubinák and Juraj Malíček [sk][241][242]
 SurinameFinalATVUnknown[243]
 United StatesAll showsPeacockNo commentary[u]
FinalWJFD-FMEwan Spence and Ross Middleton[250]

Incidents

Disqualification of Belarus

Two days after "Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)" was announced as the Belarusian entry for the contest, the EBU ruled that the song did not comply with the contest's rules against political entries, and that the song was not eligible to compete in the contest unless it was modified or replaced.[251] After failing to meet an extended deadline for submitting an eligible entry, with their second submission "Pesnya pro zaytsa (Song About Hares)" also being found to not comply with the rules, it was announced on 26 March 2021 that Belarus was disqualified from the contest.[21]

Ukrainian rehearsal stand-in

Before Ukraine's second rehearsal on 12 May, the lead singer of Go_A, Kateryna Pavlenko, reported feeling unwell. In accordance with the contest's health and safety protocols, Pavlenko was required to quarantine in her hotel room. The other band members tested negative and were able to rehearse, with Dutch stand-in singer Emmie van Stijn providing vocals instead of Pavlenko.[252][253][254] Pavlenko took a COVID-19 PCR test, which came back negative the following day, allowing her to perform again.[255]

Van Stijn received positive reactions for her performance, in particular for her pronunciation of the Ukrainian lyrics, and was invited to sit with the Ukrainian delegation in the green room during the first semi-final.[256]

COVID-19 infections

A COVID-19 testing zone was set up outside Rotterdam Ahoy during the Eurovision event weeks.

Ahead of the "Turquoise Carpet" event, one member of each of the Polish and Icelandic delegations tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, those delegations were absent from the event, having gone into self-isolation in accordance with the contest's health and safety protocols.[257][258] The Romanian and Maltese delegations were also absent from the event on a precautionary measure, as they were based in the same hotel as the Polish and Icelandic delegations.[259]

All other members of the Polish and Icelandic delegations tested negative, and remained in quarantine until the jury show of the second semi-final.[260][261] However, it was later confirmed that a member of the Icelandic group Daði og Gagnamagnið had tested positive, and as a result, the group withdrew from performing in the live shows. Footage from their rehearsal at Rotterdam Ahoy was broadcast instead during both the jury show and the live show of the second semi-final; this footage was also shown in the final.[112][113] The remaining members of the Polish delegation were subsequently released from isolation.[262]

On 20 May, the EBU confirmed that Duncan Laurence had tested positive and would not perform live in the final.[263] He was due to perform his winning song "Arcade" and his new single "Stars" during the interval, and present the points on behalf of the Dutch jury; the latter role was filled by Romy Monteiro.[121][264] Pre-recorded rehearsal footage of Laurence's interval performance was broadcast instead during the final. Due to the positive test result, Laurence was also not present to hand over the trophy to the winner; the presenters handed over the trophy instead.[120][116]

The day after the final, a member of the Norwegian delegation tested positive and was forced to remain in Rotterdam for isolation. It was later confirmed that six additional members of the delegation had tested positive after returning to Norway.[265]

Technical issues

Jury show issues

During the jury show of the first semi-final, the Romanian, Ukrainian and Maltese delegations reported problems with their performances; most notably, Roxen was heard to be off-beat with the chorus of their song "Amnesia". The EBU later confirmed that in-ear monitoring issues had occurred and that all artists involved would be given a second chance to perform.[266] No issues occurred during the second performances.

During San Marino's jury final performance, the rotating platform did not stop when it was supposed to, leading Senhit to have to jump from it while in motion. The Sammarinese delegation later filed a complaint, also claiming that all the camera shots were distorted due to these timing issues. The delegation offered to allow Senhit and Flo Rida to withdraw from the event, though they ultimately decided to stay. The contest's executive supervisor, Martin Österdahl, apologised to the delegation and reaffirmed that the issue would be addressed moving forward and that they would be protected to the highest degree.[267]

Camera breaking prior to Ireland's performance

During the setup for Ireland's performance in the first semi-final, a camera broke, which caused an extended delay after the postcard was shown. Co-presenter Chantal Janzen improvised in the green room during the live broadcast to fill in the time.[268]

False allegation of drug use

During a green room segment in the final, Damiano David, lead singer of the Italian band Måneskin, was claimed by some online viewers on social media to be seen snorting a line of cocaine when leaned over a table, although there were no drugs in the footage and the singer was sitting away from the table, close to the Italian delegation members.[269][270][271] In the band's press conference following their victory, Torbjörn Ek, a journalist working at the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, asked about the allegations, which David denied by suggesting that fellow member Thomas Raggi had broken a glass which David was picking up off the floor, going on to say "I don't use drugs, please guys, do not say that."[272][273] The band later released a statement on their official Instagram account, stating: "We are really shocked about what some people are saying about Damiano doing drugs. We really are AGAINST drugs and we never used cocaine. We are ready to get tested, cause we got nothing to hide."[274] The EBU released a statement the following day, stating that the band, their management and the Italian head of delegation had denied any allegation, and the singer in question, Damiano, requested to be tested the same night, but as testing could not be immediately organized, he would "take a voluntary drug test after arriving home". It was also confirmed that "broken glass was found after an on site check".[275] The allegations were mostly covered by the French press and briefly commented on by the French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian,[276] but the French participating broadcaster France Télévisions announced that it won't file any official charges, while in the Italian press, it was described as a social media joke that had gone too far and become fake news.[277][278]

On 24 May, the EBU released a statement confirming that no drug use took place in the green room during the final, following a negative drug test and inspection of all available footage. The EBU also expressed concern over "inaccurate speculation leading to fake news [that] has overshadowed the spirit and the outcome of the event and unfairly affected the band."[279]

Dutch televoting issues

The EBU confirmed on 24 May that they had issues handling the Dutch televote in the final. Numerous Dutch viewers complained on social media about their votes not being counted and had only received their confirmation texts hours after the show. The EBU later confirmed to NOS that those votes were not counted due to a problem with the Dutch branch of the telecom provider T-Mobile, while clarifying that they had no authority over the issue. The Dutch televoting results, therefore, remained valid.[280][281][282]

Reception

Måneskin performing at Rock am Ring, at Nürburgring, Germany, in June 2022.

Italy's win in the 2021 contest marked the breakthrough of its entrant, Måneskin, in the international music market.[283] Following the contest, the band's releases, including their second studio album Teatro d'ira: Vol. I (2021), which contained their winning song "Zitti e buoni" as well as tracks "I Wanna Be Your Slave" and "Coraline", entered European and global weekly charts.[284][285][286][287] "Zitti e buoni" and "I Wanna Be Your Slave" also entered the top ten of the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.[288][289][290] "Zitti e buoni" became the first Italian-language song in 30 years to chart on the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 17,[291] as well as "I Wanna Be Your Slave" peaking at number five,[292] which was the first song by an Italian rock band to reach the UK top ten,[293][294][295][296] thus making the band the first Eurovision winning act since Céline Dion to have two songs in the UK top 40,[297][298] and a top ten hit with a non-contest song.[299] Buoyed by viral success on video sharing service TikTok, their 2017 cover of "Beggin'" peaked at number six,[300] thus making them the first Italian act and the first Eurovision-associated act to have two songs charting in the UK top ten at the same time.[301][302] "Beggin'" later debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 78 and went on to peak at number 13,[303] making them the second Eurovision winning act in recent history to enter the chart, after 2019 winner Duncan Laurence had done so earlier in the year with his winning song "Arcade".[304][305]

Several other entries in the 2021 contest also impacted the charts after the event.[306] France's entry "Voilà" entered the Billboard Global 200 chart dated 5 June 2021 at number 148, followed by Ukraine's entry "Shum" at number 158, which also marked the first time that a Ukrainian-language song had entered the chart. On the Billboard Global Excl. US chart also dated 5 June 2021, in addition to "Zitti e buoni" (at number 11), "Voilà" (at number 70) and "Shum" (at number 80), four other entries entered the chart: Finland's "Dark Side" at number 105, Switzerland's "Tout l'univers" at number 119, Iceland's "10 Years" at number 128, and Cyprus' "El Diablo" at number 170.[307][308]

Other awards

In addition to the main winner's trophy, the Marcel Bezençon Awards and the Barbara Dex Award were contested during the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The OGAE, "General Organisation of Eurovision Fans" voting poll also took place before the contest.

Marcel Bezençon Awards

The Marcel Bezençon Awards, organised since 2002 by Sweden's then-Head of Delegation and 1992 representative Christer Björkman, and winner of the 1984 contest Richard Herrey, honours songs in the contest's final.[309] The awards are divided into three categories: the Artistic Award, the Composers Award, and the Press Award.[310] The winners were revealed shortly before the Eurovision final on 22 May.[311]

CategoryCountrySongPerformer(s)Songwriter(s)
Artistic Award  France"Voilà"Barbara Pravi
Press Award
Composers Award   Switzerland"Tout l'univers"Gjon's Tears

OGAE

OGAE, an organisation of over forty Eurovision Song Contest fan clubs across Europe and beyond, conducts an annual voting poll first held in 2002 as the Marcel Bezençon Fan Award. After all votes were cast, the top-ranked entry in the 2021 poll was Malta's "Je me casse" performed by Destiny; the top five results are shown below.[312][313][314]

CountryPerformer(s)SongOGAE result
 MaltaDestiny"Je me casse"363
  SwitzerlandGjon's Tears"Tout l'univers"358
 FranceBarbara Pravi"Voilà"318
 LithuaniaThe Roop"Discoteque"301
 CyprusElena Tsagrinou"El Diablo"238

Barbara Dex Award

The Barbara Dex Award, created in 1997 by fansite House of Eurovision and organised by fansite Songfestival.be since 2017, was awarded to the performer voted to have worn the most notable outfit. The top-ranked entry this year was Norway's representative Tix, who was the last person to ever receive the award, due to its cancellation the following year.[315]

PlaceCountryPerformer(s)
1  NorwayTix
2  RomaniaRoxen
3  CroatiaAlbina
4  United KingdomJames Newman
5  IsraelEden Alene

Eurovision Awards

The Eurovision Awards, first held in 2021, saw competing acts celebrated across ten categories. Shortlists were determined by major Eurovision fansites and podcasts, with editors and presenters nominating their favourites in each category; the final result was determined by followers of the official Eurovision Instagram channel who cast votes for their favourite act.[316]

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡). Runners-up are indicated with a single dagger (†).

Most Innovative StagingBest Vocals
Most Iconic PropBest Non-Qualifier
Best SpokespersonBest Dressed
Best HairstyleBest Choreography
Best Official VideoMoment of the Year

Eurovision Song Celebration: Live-On-Tape

The EBU announced on 29 March 2021 that the Eurovision Song Celebration would return for a second edition, premiering on the contest's official YouTube channel. Krista Siegfrids presented the show, which was aired in two parts on 28 and 29 May, and provided a showcase for the 'live-on-tape' back-up performances.[89][317] The first part featured the back-up performances of the semi-finalists that failed to qualify for the final (excluding Ireland), while the second part featured those of the finalists (excluding the United Kingdom).[318][319] As with the previous year's Song Celebration, fans were asked to contribute to the show by sending video clips of their favourite entries.[320]

Official album

Cover art of the official album

Eurovision Song Contest: Rotterdam 2021 is the official compilation album of the contest, put together by the European Broadcasting Union and released by Universal Music Group digitally on 16 April 2021 and physically on 23 April 2021.[321][322] The album features all 39 entries including the semi-finalists that failed to qualify for the final.

Charts

Chart performance for Eurovision Song Contest: Rotterdam 2021
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[323]23
Austrian Compilation Albums (Ö3 Austria)[324]2
Dutch Compilation Albums (Compilation Top 30)[325]1
German Compilation Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[326]2
Greek Albums (IFPI)[327]5
Irish Compilation Albums (IRMA)[328]26
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[329]54
UK Compilation Albums (OCC)[330]3

See also

Notes

References

External links