Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light
Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light was a live television programme, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and produced by the Dutch broadcasters NPO, NOS and AVROTROS. It replaced the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, which was planned to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
The show was broadcast live from Hilversum, Netherlands on 16 May 2020 and lasted for approximately two hours.[3][4] It was hosted by Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit, who had been chosen to present the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 before its cancellation.[5]
As the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 could not take place due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe, the EBU decided to organise Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light as an alternative programme to fill the space that was initially planned for the competition. The programme's name was inspired by the song "Love Shine a Light" by Katrina and the Waves, which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1997.
This was the fourth time that the EBU organised a special show in the Eurovision format, after the shows for the 25th, 50th and 60th anniversaries. Like the 25th and 60th anniversary shows, this was a non-competitive show.
During the programme, all 41 songs that had been chosen to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 were honoured in a non-competitive format. Participants from the past were invited to make an appearance. Johnny Logan, the hosts and Eurovision fans who uploaded clips for the occasion sang Logan's "What's Another Year", which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 in The Hague.[7] Closing the show, all artists (except Hooverphonic, representing Belgium) performed "Love Shine a Light" from their respective home countries.[8][9]
On 1 April 2020, Hilversum was confirmed as the host city for the event, with Studio 21 in the Hilversum Media Park as the venue of the show.[3] It was the second time Hilversum hosted a Eurovision event, having previously hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1958.[10]
