Iceland's Söngvakeppnin 2020: Format and dates announced
Three live shows in February 2020 will select Iceland's representative at Eurovision Song Contest 2020 through the well known Söngvakeppnin
Iceland’s broadcaster RÚV has announced the format and dates for next year's Söngvakeppnin.
The format of Söngvakeppnin 2020 will be exactly the same as this year, with two Semi-finals and a Final. The Semi-finals will be held in Háskólabíói and the Final in Laugardalshöll:
- Semi-final 1: 8 February 2020
- Semi-final 2: 15 February 2020
- Final: 29 February 2020
10 songs will be picked to compete in Söngvakeppnin 2020 – Five songs for each Semi-final. Two songs from each Semi-final will qualify to the Final.
All the songs have to be performed in Icelandic language in the semi-finals. In the final it's optional for each singer if he/she will perform the song in Icelandic or in English.
Samúel J. Samúelsson will again be the music director of Söngvakeppnin, while Lee Proud from United Kingdom will be the artistic director.
Songs can be submitted to RÚV until 17 October 2019. A selection committee with representatives of the Icelandic FTT, FÍH and RÚV will select the 10 songs.
Iceland in Eurovision Song Contest
Iceland's debut in Eurovision Song Contest was back in 1986, and has been participating 32 times since.
Best result are two second-places with Yohanna in 2009 and Selma in 1999.
Since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004 Iceland qualified to the Grand Final 9 out of 16 times.
Iceland is the only Northern European country that has yet to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
