The organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC 2021) intend, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to hold the event offline, but all participants will need to comply with a number of ‘coronavirus’ security measures.

All performers are advised to undergo quarantine five days before flying to the Netherlands. At the same time, they must have a negative test result for COVID-19 received at least 72 hours before departure.
Upon arrival, country delegations must remain at their hotels, except for trips to the concert hall for rehearsals, live performances and other programme-related activities. Individuals involved in the competition, including members of delegations, performers and journalists, will be tested regularly in a special room near the stage.

“Our aim is to prevent the transmission of the virus during the event. If anyone is found to be infected, our isolation protocol will come into effect,” assured Sitse Bakker of the Dutch competition organisers. – If a participant cannot perform live because of this, a back-up recording will be used.”

The number of members of delegations from different countries and media representatives will also be reduced. A decision on whether spectators will be able to attend the show will be made at a later date.

Recall that the 65th Eurovision Song Contest was to be held from 12 to 16 May 2020 at the Ahoy Concert Hall in Rotterdam under the slogan “Open Up”. But on 18 March the European Broadcasting Union decided to cancel the contest due to a coronavirus pandemic. The final of Eurovision 2021 will take place on 22 May in the same venue with the same slogan.