Eurovision Song Contest 2021: Difference between revisions

| director = {{Ubl|Marnix Kaart|[[Marc Pos]]|Daniel Jelinek}}

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). Compared to the 2019 edition, {{Esccnty|Bulgaria}} and {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} returned after their absence from the 2019 contest, while {{Esccnty|Hungary}} and {{Esccnty|Montenegro}} did not return after their participation in the 2019 edition. {{Esccnty|Armenia}} and {{Esccnty|Belarus}} had originally planned to participate, but Armenia withdrew due to its [[2020–2021 Armenian protests|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 {{Esccnty|Italy|y=2021}} with the song "{{lang|it|[[Zitti e buoni]]|italics=no}}", performed by [[Måneskin]] and written by the band's members [[Damiano David]], Ethan Torchio, Thomas Raggi, and [[Victoria De Angelis]]. {{Esccnty|France|y=2021}}, {{Esccnty|Switzerland|y=2021}}, {{Esccnty|Iceland|y=2021}} and {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2021}} rounded out the top five, with France and Switzerland achieving their best results since {{Escyr|1991}} and {{Escyr|1993}}, respectively. Italy won the combined vote and televote, but placed fourth in the jury vote after Switzerland, France, and {{Esccnty|Malta|y=2021}}. Italy was the second member of the "[[Big Five (Eurovision)|Big Five]]" since its introduction to win the contest after {{Esccnty|Germany}} in {{Escyr|2010}}. For the first time since {{Escyr|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 [[Eurovision Song Contest 2016#New voting system|current voting system]] was implemented in {{Escyr|2016}}, more than one country received [[nul points|no points]] from the televote in the final; these countries were {{Esccnty|Germany|y=2021}}, {{Esccnty|Spain|y=2021}}, the host country the {{Esccnty|Netherlands|y=2021}}, and the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom|y=2021}}, 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 {{Escyr|2003}}. For the first time since its debut in 2015, {{Esccnty|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 {{Escyr|2004}}.{{efn|No country has always participated in the final since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004. Ukraine, despite having always reached the final, did not participate in the 2015 and 2019 contests. Additionally, the 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.}}

The 2021 contest was held in [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 May 2021|title=Eurovision 2021: How this year's acts are aiming for a Covid-safe contest|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-57079037|access-date=16 May 2021}}</ref> following the country's victory at the 2019 edition with the song "[[Arcade (song)|Arcade]]", performed by [[Duncan Laurence]]. It was the fifth time that the Netherlands had hosted the contest, having previously done so in {{Escyr|1958}}, {{Escyr|1970}}, {{Escyr|1976}} and {{Escyr|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 [[concert]]s, [[exhibition]]s, [[trade fair]]s, and [[conference]]s. 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{{Efn|The {{esccnty|Iceland|y=2021|t=Icelandic}}, {{esccnty|Malta|y=2021|t=Maltese}}, {{esccnty|Poland|y=2021|t=Polish}}, and {{esccnty|Romania|y=2021|t=Romanian}} delegations were absent from the event due to [[Eurovision Song Contest 2021#COVID-19 infections|suspected spread of COVID-19 among them]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muldoon |first=Padraig |date=2021-05-16 |title=Turquoise carpet: Romania and Malta to miss Eurovision 2021 opening ceremony...Iceland and Poland were previously ruled out |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/05/16/turquoise-carpet-romania-and-malta-to-miss-eurovision-2021-opening-ceremony-iceland-and-poland-were-previously-ruled-out/265253/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=[[Wiwibloggs]] |language=en-US}}</ref>}} are presented before the accredited press and fans, took place at the [[Rotterdam Cruise Terminal]] on 16 May 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=13 May 2021 |title=Sunday: The Turquoise Carpet Live |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/sunday-the-turquoise-carpet-live |access-date=13 May 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=28 April 2021|title=Eurovision'21: New Details About The Opening Ceremony Revealed|url=https://eurovoix.com/2021/04/28/eurovision-opening-ceremony-cruise/|access-date=29 April 2021|work=Eurovoix|language=en-GB}}</ref>

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. {{Esccnty|Bulgaria}} and {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} returned after their absencesabsence from the 2019 contest, while {{Esccnty|Hungary}} and {{Esccnty|Montenegro}} were confirmed as non-returning following their latest appearances in 2019.<ref name="Participants">{{cite web |title=41 Countries to participate at Eurovision 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/41-countries-to-participate-at-eurovision-2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=26 October 2020 |date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029044004/https://eurovision.tv/story/41-countries-to-participate-at-eurovision-2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Albania|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Australia|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Austria|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Azerbaijan|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Belgium|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Bulgaria|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Croatia|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Cyprus|y=2021}}

| {{hlist|[[Laurell (singer)|Laurell Barker]]|Cleiton "Oxa" Sia|Thomas Stengaard|[[Jimmy Thörnfeldt|Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt]]}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Czech Republic|y=2021}}

| English{{efn|Contains one sentence in [[Czech language|Czech]]|name=CZE}}<!-- Don't include Czech unless the language takes up a whole part of the song-->

| {{hlist|[[Benny Cristo|Ben da Silva Cristóvão]]|Filip Vlček}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Denmark|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Estonia|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Finland|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|France|y=2021}}

| {{hlist|Antoine "Igit" Barrau|Lili Poe|[[Barbara Pravi]]}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Georgia|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Germany|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Greece|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Iceland|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Ireland|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Israel|y=2021}}

| English{{efn|Contains several phrases in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]|name=ISR}}<!-- Don't include Hebrew because it does not take a whole part of the song-->

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Italy|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Latvia|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Lithuania|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Malta|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Moldova|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Netherlands|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|North Macedonia|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Norway|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Poland|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Portugal|y=2021}}

| Pedro "Tatanka" Caldeira

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Romania|y=2021}}

| {{hlist|Adelina Stîngă|VikyVictor RedBouroșu}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Russia|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|San Marino|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Serbia|y=2021}}

| [[Serbian language|Serbian]]{{efn|Contains one phrase in English and one repeated word in [[Spanish language|Spanish]]|name=SER}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Slovenia|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Spain|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Sweden|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Switzerland|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|Ukraine|y=2021}}

! scope="row" | {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=2021}}

| [[James Newman (musiciansinger)|James Newman]]

* {{Esc|Armenia}}{{snd}}Having intended to compete in 2020, Armenia werewas initially confirmed for the 2021 contest when the list of participants was announced by the EBU in October 2020, and werewas set to perform in the second half of the second semi-final.<ref name="Participants" /><ref name="Draw" /> However, on 5 March 2021, the [[Public Television Company of Armenia]] (AMPTV) confirmed that theyit werewas subsequently unable to participate due to [[2020–2021 Armenian protests|social and political crises]] in the country in the aftermath of the [[Second Nagorno-Karabakh War]].<ref name="Armenia withdraws" />

* {{Esc|Belarus}}{{snd}}Having intended to compete in 2020, Belarus werewas initially confirmed for the 2021 contest when the list of participants was announced by the EBU in October 2020, and werewas set to perform in the first half of the first semi-final. However, on 26 March 2021, Belarus was disqualified by the EBU after theirits 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.<ref name="Belarus withdraws" /> Six days after the Eurovision final, the EBU voted to suspend Belarusian broadcaster [[Belteleradio|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2021/05/ebu-executive-board-agrees-to-suspension-of-belarus-member-btrc|title=EBU EXECUTIVE BOARD AGREES TO SUSPENSION OF BELARUS MEMBER BTRC|date=28 May 2021|access-date=28 May 2021|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528124149/https://www.ebu.ch/news/2021/05/ebu-executive-board-agrees-to-suspension-of-belarus-member-btrc|archive-date=28 May 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The broadcaster was expelled from the EBU on 1 July, rendering future participations impossible untilfor atan leastindefinite amount of 2025time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Белтэлерадыёкампанію выключылі з Еўрапейскага вяшчальнага саюза|url=https://euroradio.fm/belteleradyyokampaniyu-vyklyuchyli-z-eurapeyskaga-vyashchalnaga-sayuza|access-date=2021-07-01|website=Навіны Беларусі {{!}} euroradio.fm|date=30 June 2021 |language=be}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2024/04/23/belarus-btrc-indefinitely-suspended-from-ebu/|title=Belarus: BTRC Indefinitely Suspended From EBU|first=Neil|last=Farren|website=Eurovoix|date=23 April 2024|access-date=23 April 2024}}</ref>

In November 2019, [[Democrats for Andorra]], the ruling party of former participant {{Esccnty|Andorra}}, stated that they would assess the costs in order to grant the country's return to the contest;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/11/20/andorra-rtva-to-return-to-the-eurovision-song-contest|title=Andorra: Government Plans for RTVA's Return to Eurovision Song Contest|first=Anthony|last=Granger|date=20 November 2019|work=Eurovoix|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123101846/https://eurovoix.com/2019/11/20/andorra-rtva-to-return-to-the-eurovision-song-contest|archive-date=23 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> in 2020, {{Escyr|2009}} Andorran representative [[Susanne Georgi]] claimed to have secured the funding<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2020/05/19/andorra-susanne-georgi-states-she-has-secured-funding-to-bring-andorra-back-to-eurovision|title=Andorra: Susanne Georgi States She Has Secured Funding To Bring Andorra Back To Eurovision|first=Anthony|last=Granger|work=Eurovoix|date=19 May 2020|access-date=19 May 2020|archive-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526153313/https://eurovoix.com/2020/05/19/andorra-susanne-georgi-states-she-has-secured-funding-to-bring-andorra-back-to-eurovision/|url-status=live}}</ref> and held a meeting with [[Prime Minister of Andorra]] [[Xavier Espot Zamora]], ultimately agreeing to push the Andorran return to {{Escyr|2022}} in consideration of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/08/01/andorra-is-planning-a-eurovision-2022-comeback-says-susanne-georgi/256548|title="A verbal green light" – Andorra is planning a Eurovision 2022 comeback, says Susanne Georgi|date=1 August 2020|access-date=1 August 2020|first=William Lee|last=Adams|work=[[Wiwibloggs]]|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135120/https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/08/01/andorra-is-planning-a-eurovision-2022-comeback-says-susanne-georgi/256548/|url-status=live}}</ref> Former participants {{Esccnty|Morocco}} and {{Esccnty|Turkey}}, despite hopes and rumours of a possible return in 2021,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2020/02/01/morocco-snrt-spokesperson-unaware-of-any-discussions-regarding-eurovision|title=Morocco: SNRT Spokesperson Unaware of Any Discussions Regarding Eurovision|first=Anthony|last=Granger|date=1 February 2020|work=Eurovoix|access-date=1 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201173727/https://eurovoix.com/2020/02/01/morocco-snrt-spokesperson-unaware-of-any-discussions-regarding-eurovision|archive-date=1 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=23 May 2020|title=Turkey: Turkish deputy minister hopes for Eurovision return|url=http://escxtra.com/2020/05/23/turkish-deputy-minister-hopes-for-eurovision-return|access-date=9 June 2020|work=ESCXTRA|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609201420/http://escxtra.com/2020/05/23/turkish-deputy-minister-hopes-for-eurovision-return/|url-status=live}}</ref> did not appear on the final list of participants.<ref name="Participants" /> Active EBU member broadcasters in {{esccnty|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}, {{esccnty|Luxembourg}}, {{esccnty|Monaco}} and {{esccnty|Slovakia}} confirmed non-participation prior to the announcement of the participants list by the EBU.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jiandani|first=Sanjay|title=Bosnia & Herzegovina: BHRT confirms non-participation at Eurovision 2021|url=http://esctoday.com/180731/bosnia-herzegovina-bhrt-confirms-non-participation-at-eurovision-2021/|work=ESCToday|date=6 October 2020|access-date=6 October 2020|archive-date=10 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010035333/http://esctoday.com/180731/bosnia-herzegovina-bhrt-confirms-non-participation-at-eurovision-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://escxtra.com/2020/07/30/luxembourg-eurovision-2021|title=No Eurovision return for Luxembourg in 2021|first=Tom|last=Ryan|date=30 July 2020|work=ESCXTRA|access-date=30 July 2020|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807234002/https://escxtra.com/2020/07/30/luxembourg-eurovision-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2020, the EBU stated that theyit haddid nonot intentionintend to invite {{Esccnty|Kazakhstan}} for this year.<ref name="Kazakhstan and Kosovo">{{Cite web|last=Jumawan|first=Tim|date=18 August 2020|title=EBU: "No plans to invite Kazakhstan or Kosovo to participate at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest"|url=https://escxtra.com/2020/08/18/ebu-kazkahstan-kosovo-eurovision-2021|access-date=18 August 2020|work=ESCXTRA|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818233621/https://escxtra.com/2020/08/18/ebu-kazkahstan-kosovo-eurovision-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2020, the EBU stated that theyit haddid nonot intentionintend to invite {{Esccnty|Kosovo}} to become a member.<ref name="Kazakhstan and Kosovo" /> {{Esccnty|Liechtenstein|t=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 theyit ruled out debuting in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Herbert|first=Emily|date=30 July 2020|title=Liechtenstein: 1FLTV Rules Out Eurovision Debut in 2021|url=https://eurovoix.com/2020/07/30/liechtenstein-1fltv-eurovision-debut-2021|access-date=30 July 2020|work=Eurovoix|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815194503/https://eurovoix.com/2020/07/30/liechtenstein-1fltv-eurovision-debut-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref>

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; the [[Cabinet of the Netherlands|Dutch cabinet]] later gave its approval on 29 April. All audience members must have had [[COVID-19 testing|tested negative for COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web |urldate=https://nos.nl/artikel/2374944-alsnog-songfestival-met-publiek-ongeveer-helft-van-toeschouwers-welkom1 April 2021 |title=Alsnog Songfestival met publiek, ongeveer helft van toeschouwers welkom|language=nl |trans-title=Eurovision with an audience after all; about half of the spectators welcome |dateurl=1https://nos.nl/artikel/2374944-alsnog-songfestival-met-publiek-ongeveer-helft-van-toeschouwers-welkom April 2021|workurl-status=[[NOSlive News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428163747/https://nos.nl/artikel/2374944-alsnog-songfestival-met-publiek-ongeveer-helft-van-toeschouwers-welkom |archive-date=28 April 2021 |url-statuswork=live[[NOS News]] |language=nl}}</ref> the [[Cabinet of the Netherlands|Dutch cabinet]] later gave its approval on 29 April.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 April 2021 |title=Kabinet hakt knoop door: publiek welkom bij Eurovisiesongfestival |url=https://www.rtlboulevard.nl/special/songfestival/artikel/5228209/kabinet-hakt-knoop-door-publiek-welkom-bij |access-date=29 April 2021 |work=[[RTL Boulevard]] |language=nl}}</ref> All audience members must have had [[COVID-19 testing|tested negative for COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 April 2021|title=Eurovision Song Contest to proceed with limited audience|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-fieldlab|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504040447/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-fieldlab|archive-date=4 May 2021|access-date=29 April 2021|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|language=en}}</ref>

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;<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 2021 |title=Hollanti haluaa näyttää, että iso tapahtuma voidaan järjestää turvallisesti – Euroviisuissa lähes kaikki on toisin kuin ennen |trans-title=The Netherlands wants to show that a big event can be held safely – in Eurovision almost everything is different than before |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11933243 |access-date=17 May 2021 |work=[[Yle Uutiset]] |language=fi}}</ref> the Eurovision Village, which took place from 15 to 23 May in an online-only form; and the EuroClub, which was cancelled for this year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2021 |title=Streep door Eurovision Village met publiek |url=https://www.rtlboulevard.nl/entertainment/showbizz/artikel/5226835/streep-door-eurovision-village-met-publiek |access-date=23 April 2021 |work=RTL Boulevard |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 May 2021 |title=Open Up to the Online Eurovision Village |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/open-up-to-the-online-eurovision-village |access-date=6 May 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |language=en}}</ref> and the EuroClub, which was cancelled for this year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 April 2021|title=Las entradas de Eurovisión 2021 se pondrán a la venta a inicios de mayo|url=https://eurovision-spain.com/las-entradas-de-eurovision-2021-se-pondran-a-la-venta-a-inicios-de-mayo/|access-date=23 April 2021|website=eurovision-spain.com|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hollanti haluaa näyttää, että iso tapahtuma voidaan järjestää turvallisesti – Euroviisuissa lähes kaikki on toisin kuin ennen|trans-title=The Netherlands wants to show that a big event can be held safely – in Eurovision almost everything is different than before|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11933243|access-date=17 May 2021|work=[[Yle Uutiset]]|date=16 May 2021|language=fi}}</ref>

The "postcards" were 40-second video introductions shown on television whilst the stage was being prepared for the next contestant to perform their entry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jumawan |first=Tim |date=9 December 2019 |title=Details about the Eurovision 2020 postcards have been revealed |url=https://escxtra.com/2019/12/09/%F0%9F%87%B3%F0%9F%87%B1-details-about-the-eurovision-2020-postcards-have-been-revealed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211162823/https://escxtra.com/2019/12/09/%F0%9F%87%B3%F0%9F%87%B1-details-about-the-eurovision-2020-postcards-have-been-revealed/ |archive-date=11 December 2019 |work=ESCXTRA}}</ref> 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 key]]ing 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 (optics)|prism]] and transitions to the stage, where the ceiling was lit up with that country's flag colours using augmented reality.<ref name=":4" /> The postcards were produced by Amsterdam-based production company IDTV, with additional post-production and VFX work by Antwerp-based agency STORMStorm.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 December 2020 |title=Eurovision Song Contest shows the Netherlands in 41 introductory films |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-shows-the-netherlands-in-41-introductory-films |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201070027/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-shows-the-netherlands-in-41-introductory-films |archive-date=1 December 2020 |access-date=1 December 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2021 |title=Filming Eurovision Song Contest Postcards |url=https://www.livedesignonline.com/news/filming-eurovision-song-contest-postcards |access-date=24 May 2021 |work=LiveDesign |publisher=Questex, LLC |language=en}}</ref> The following locations were used for each participating country:<ref name="Postcard SF1">{{Cite web |last=van Lith |first=Nick |date=17 May 2021 |title=Postcard locations for semi-final one revealed |url=https://escxtra.com/2021/05/18/postcard-locations-semifinal-one/ |access-date=21 May 2021 |work=ESCXTRA |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Postcard SF2">{{Cite web |last=van Lith |first=Nick |date=19 May 2021 |title=Postcard locations for semi-final two revealed |url=https://escxtra.com/2021/05/20/postcard-semi-two/ |access-date=21 May 2021 |work=ESCXTRA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

[[File:ESC 20212019 Semi-Finals 2.svg|thumb|299px|Results of the semi-final allocation draw for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2020|2020 contest]], which was retained for 2021{{legendLegend|#D4000029ADFF|Participating countries in the first semi-final{{efn|name="BLR"}}}} {{legendLegend|#FFAAAAC2E8FF|Pre-qualified for the final but also voting in the first semi-final}} {{legendLegend|#000080FDA011|Participating countries in the second semi-final{{efn|name="ARM"}}}} {{legendLegend|#99CCFFFFE1B3|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 (Eurovision)|Big Five]]" countries [[France in the Eurovision Song Contest|France]], [[Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest|Germany]], [[Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest|Italy]], [[Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest|Spain]] and the [[United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest|United Kingdom]] – would broadcast and vote in. The EBU also decided to maintainretain the Netherlands' grand final running order position in the final – 23.<ref name="Draw">{{Cite web|last=Groot|first=Evert|date=17 November 2020|title=2020 Semi-final line-up to stay for 2021|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/2020-semi-final-line-up-to-stay-this-year|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118125722/https://eurovision.tv/story/2020-semi-final-line-up-to-stay-this-year|archive-date=18 November 2020|access-date=17 November 2020|publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}</ref>

| {{Unbulleted list|<s>{{Esc|Armenia}}</s>{{efn|Armenia, which had originally been allocated into semi-final 2, withdrew from the contest on 5 March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 March 2021 |title=Armenia withdraws from Eurovision Song Contest 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/armenia-withdraws-from-eurovision-2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305165043/https://eurovision.tv/story/armenia-withdraws-from-eurovision-2021 |archive-date=5 March 2021 |access-date=18 March 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}</ref>|name="ARM"}}|{{Esc|Azerbaijan|y=2021}}|<s>{{Esc|Belarus|y=2021}}</s>{{efn|Belarus, which had originally been allocated into semi-final 1, was disqualified from the contest on 26 March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 March 2021 |title=EBU statement on Belarusian participation |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-statement-on-belarusian-entry-2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}</ref>|name="BLR"}}|{{Esc|Georgia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Moldova|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Russia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Ukraine|y=2021}}}}

The final took place on 22 May 2021 at 21:00 (CEST).<ref name="EscDate" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 May 2021 |title=Grand Final Running Order |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-running-order-revealed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521033223/https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-running-order-revealed |archive-date=21 May 2021 |access-date=21 May 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |language=en-gb}}</ref> MaltaItaly won with 524 points, also winning the televote. France came second with 499 points, with Switzerland (who won the jury vote), Iceland, Ukraine, Finland, ItalyMalta, 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.

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| [[TIXTix]]<!-- Don't write "TIX" in all caps: see [[MOS:TMSTYLE]] -->

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| "{{lang|it|[[PiedistalloZitti e buoni]]|italics=no}}"

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| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ert.gr/radiofono/eurovision-2021-o-giorgos-katsaros-sto-deytero-programma-scholiazei-ton-megalo-teliko-22-05-2021/|title=Eurovision 2021 - Ο Γιώργος Κατσαρός στο Δεύτερο Πρόγραμμα σχολιάζει τον Μεγάλο Τελικό {{pipe}} 22.05.2021 - ERT.GR|date=21 May 2021|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927141004/https://www.ert.gr/radiofono/eurovision-2021-o-giorgos-katsaros-sto-deytero-programma-scholiazei-ton-megalo-teliko-22-05-2021/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

! rowspan="45" scope="row" | {{Flagu|Iceland}}

| <ref>{{Citecite web |title=DagskráEurovision {{!}}2021 með táknmálsþul RÚV|url=https://www.ruv.is/dagskrasjonvarp/ruv2spila/20210518eurovision-2021-med-taknmalsthul/30841 |publisher=RÚV |access-date=1623 MayJanuary 2022 2021|websitearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102011858/https://www.ruv.is/sjonvarp/spila/eurovision-2021-med-taknmalsthul/30841 |archive-date=2 November 2021 |language=is |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dagskrá {{!}} RÚVRÚV2 {{!}} 22. mai 2021|url=https://www.ruv.is/dagskra/ruv2/2021052020210522|access-date=1629 May 20212024|website=www.ruv.is}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dagslrá {{!}} RÚV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515235411/https://www.ruv.is/dagskra/ruv2/20210522 |accessarchive-date=1615 May 2021 |websiteurl-status=www.ruv.isdead}}</ref>

| <ref>{{Cite web|title=Dagskrá {{!}} RÚVRás 2 {{!}} 20. mai 2021|url=https://www.ruv.is/dagskra/ruv2ras2/2021051820210520|access-date=1729 May 20212024|website=www.ruv.is}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dagskrá {{!}} RÚV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423054138/https://www.ruv.is/dagskra/ruv2ras2/20210520 |accessarchive-date=1723 MayApril 2021 |websiteurl-status=www.ruv.isdead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dagskrá {{!}} RÚV {{!}} 22. mai 2021|url=https://www.ruv.is/dagskra/ruv2ras2/20210522|access-date=1729 May 20212024|website=www.ruv.is|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424030854/https://www.ruv.is/dagskra/ras2/20210522 |archive-date=24 April 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

! style="background:#EEDD85; width:50%" | The MoroccanOil Award for Best Hairstyle

'''''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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 March 2021|title=The official artwork and release date for the Eurovision 2021 CD album is revealed!|url=https://escxtra.com/2021/03/20/eurovision-2021-cd-compilation-album/|access-date=29 March 2021|website=ESCXTRA.com|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=9 April 2021|title=Eurovision Song Contest Rotterdam 2021 by Various Artists|url=https://music.apple.com/nz/album/eurovision-song-contest-rotterdam-2021/1560995557|access-date=9 April 2021|work=[[Apple Music]]|language=en-au|archive-date=26 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526044647/https://music.apple.com/nz/album/eurovision-song-contest-rotterdam-2021/1560995557|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album features all 39 entries including the semi-finalists that failed to qualify for the final.