Eurovision 2021: final running order, songs and acts – and when the UK’s James Newman will be performing

Following two spectacular semi-final events, the final list of contestants for 2021's Eurovision Song Contest has been drawn up, and we know just who will come where in terms of the show’s running order.

The 65th edition of Eurovision was one of the first high-profile cancellations of the pandemic, with the 41 acts scheduled to compete eventually featuring in a non-competitive virtual show on the weekend the final would have taken place.

But the 66th is bringing the annual live showcase of European music back, and this weekend (22 May) sees the grand final. But when on the night can you expect your country of choice to perform?

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What happened at the semi-finals?

In the first of the two semi-finals on 18 May, Ireland’s Eurovision Song Contest entry Lesley Roy missed out on qualifying for the final of the competition.

The singer-songwriter delivered an energetic performance of her song ‘Maps’ live in Rotterdam, but it wasn’t enough to see her through.

Norway, Israel, Russia, Azerbaijan, Malta, Lithuania, Cyprus, Sweden, Belgium, and Ukraine made it through to Saturday’s final.

Australian entry Montaigne, who failed to qualify for the final, performed her song Technicolour remotely after being unable to travel to Rotterdam for the competition.

In addition to Ireland and Australia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania, and Slovenia also missed out on a place in Saturday’s final.

In the second semi-final on 20 May, another 10 nations qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest grand final, with Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Portugal all doing enough to get through.

They were joined by Iceland, San Marino, Switzerland, Greece. and Finland and will all take part in Saturday’s final in Rotterdam.

UK entry James Newman qualifies automatically for the last round of the competition with his song ‘Embers’, as the United Kingdom is part of Eurovision’s so-called ‘Big Five’.

What is the running order?

The final features the 20 successful nations from the week’s two semi-finals, as well as the so-called big five of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

Host nation the Netherlands will also compete in the showpiece event.

How will the show work?

While the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Rotterdam, organisers have said the usual format will be “impossible” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The number of people in each delegation has been largely scaled back from previous editions, and they will have to stay in their hotel, except when they travel to Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena for rehearsals, the live shows and other programme-related activities.

The number of journalists who can attend the event will also be capped at 500, with a further 1,000 able to cover the show in a new online press centre. Everyone in the arena, including crew, artists and press, will be tested regularly in a special facility.

But despite the extra measures in place, proceedings haven’t quite gone off without a Covid-free hitch.

Traditionally, the reigning Eurovision Song Contest champion makes a special performance as part of the show, but Duncan Laurence – who represented the Netherlands in 2019 with the song ‘Arcade’ – has been forced to pull out of the show after a positive coronavirus test.

The 27-year-old singer-songwriter was due to attend the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam but will now take part in the final “in a different form”, organisers said.

The former contestant on The Voice Of Holland delivered a positive result in a rapid antigen test after developing mild symptoms on Wednesday 19 May; the singer had tested negative two days earlier and was therefore able to perform at the first semi-final.

Iceland’s entry, Daoi og Gagnamagnio, have also had to pull out of performing in the live shows after a positive Covid-19 test.

The quirky dance-pop band had been due to perform their song ‘10 Years’ during the second semi-final on Thursday night. Their song remains in the competition, after their rehearsal performance, recorded on the stage on 13 May, was submitted as their semi-final performance. It will also be shown during the final broadcast.

According to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the contest, more than 24,400 tests have been conducted since 6 April, when the first load-in started at the Ahoy Arena.

How can I watch the final?

The final of the competition, which is being held in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, will air on BBC One on 22 May at 8pm in a special programme hosted by Graham Norton.

It will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in a programme hosted by Ken Bruce.

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