The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
The 65th edition of the annual song contest which was set to be hosted at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands, until the final on 16 May.
“Over the past few weeks, we have explored many alternative options to allow the Eurovision Song Contest to go ahead,” said organizers in a statement. “However, the uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe – and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities – means the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken the difficult decision to not continue with the live event as planned. The health of artists, staff, fans and visitors, as well as the situation in the Netherlands, Europe and the world, is at the heart of this decision.”
Organizers also rejected the idea of hosting the show remotely, with every contestant performing via satellite link: “It’s in the DNA of the Eurovision Song Contest to bring delegations, artists and fans together in one place and provide an equal platform for all artists to compete together on the same stage. We felt that under the extreme circumstances we face this year, organising the Eurovision Song Contest in another way would not be in keeping with our values and the tradition of the event.”
The news of Eurovision cancellation came on the same day that Glastonbury, the UK’s biggest music festival, also announced its cancellation.
